City Council - Regular Meeting

call to order for a Watertown City Council meeting for May 18th, 2026. Just as a quick public service announcement, we did have at least one listener um email call in to city hall and just uh remind us to talk into our microphones just to make sure that you can be heard clearly over whatever medium you are watching us on. So just please remember to do that and we'll see how well people listen. Starting with our favorite Watertown Fire Rescue Chaplain, Hank Roso, while he leads us in prayer. talking microphone. Yeah. Yeah, I'd say.

Okay. I'm the only fire chaplain. Well, heavenly father, as we come to you this evening, we first want to say thank you for this wonderful rain we've had. God, thank you. Without the drama of the lightning, and the wind, it's just been so refreshing. It's been really needed around here. So, we just pause to say thank you. Thank you for each one that's gathered here tonight. And Lord, thank you for your presence. I thank you for the talent and the time and all the uh effort that goes into these meetings. And I thank you, Lord, for people who serve endlessly. God, we also say thank you for our first responders, those who protect us, watch over us, help us when we're at our worst. Keep your hand on them and their families. And Lord, I don't want to take for granted either. Tomorrow's garbage day at my place, and we be lost even without those people. So, thank you for all of these city services we enjoy. We thank you for all these things in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right, finance officer, let's find out who's here. Okay. Hoyer here. Helen here. Mormon here. Jirens here. Peters here. Shuty here. Allan here. Thank you. Quorum is established. I will ask if anyone has a conflict of interest tonight. Councilman Hoyer. Uh Mayor, I'm going to go ahead and abstain from 12 alpha through delta. Okay. We will note that in the records for the meeting tonight. Anyone else? All right. Can I get a motion to approve tonight's agenda? Move. Motion made by Councilman Allen, seconded by Councilman Peters. All those in favor of approving the agenda, please say I.

I.

Any oppose, say nay. Motion carries. We are now on to open forum. Is there anyone who would like to address the council on something not on the agenda? I'll close open forum. We will go straight into item 10A which is an approval of FAA equipment relocation project author and authorizing the city manager to sign the non-federal reimburseable agreement with the department of transportation federal aviation administration and authorizing the chief financial officer to issue a special check and allow for prepayment of the project. We'll go to our airport manager, Ian Merryweather.

Thank you, Mayor Councilman. Uh, this is project 2601. The agreement with the FAA represents the final remaining component of the terminal reconstruction project. Uh, this was initiated in 2021 for various reasons, has been pushed multiple times. Uh, the agreement would relocate our communications, weather observation, and instrument landing uh, systems equipment from the current facility. So where LATC currently operates to an FAA approved, engineered, designed and supplied shelter on the airfield itself. Um this would um moving this equipment would ensure that our instrument landing system and operations aren't compromised in the future. uh funding for this portion of the project uh was not included in the original terminal construction project due to the relocation of the terminal site from where LATC or the old terminal currently exists to where the new terminal exists now. Uh as that was was a voluntary change since the U lease and agreement still is in practice. We do not have the ability to move that equipment. Although the uh this project has remained in our capital improvement program for several years again as I had mentioned it's been pushed for a few reasons. Uh the total estimated project cost is approximately 2.2 million of which 1.3 million would be remitted to the FAA via special check for the procurement of the equipment and the shelter. To help reduce the local uh financial obligation, the Department of Transportation has committed a $700,000 G grant from the airport terminal program. Um, and I'll stand by for any questions. Thank you very much. Council, can I get a motion to approve the project and the authorization? Motion made by Councilman Peters,

seconded by Councilman Shotty. Any discussion, council? All right, thank you very much. We'll just go to a voice vote. All those in favor of this, please vote I. I. I. Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries. Item 11 A is a first reading of an ordinance of the city of Watertown, South Dakota, amending chapter 15.04, 04 plumbing licenses of title 15 plumbing regulations of the revised ordinances of the city of Watertown. Finance officer Kristen Bobine, you will tell us more about this.

Thank you, mayor. Yes, in front of the council is a first reading. This is similar to what um we looked at last meeting uh with some of the other licenses that the city produces. Um this again is just a a way to streamline some of those processes. Um, this takes essentially the approval coming to council and puts it in the hands of the city manager or designate, but all the other requirements will still be in place for this license. So, if there's any questions, I can answer them. First reading.

Thank you. So, we'll open it up for questions or comments. I don't see any, but thank you for always trying to streamline the process and the wait for everybody. We'll go into 12A, which is a renewal of a retail malt beverage in South Dakota farm wine license and video lottery license for Magic Mile Entertainment. We will go to our finance officer, Kristen Bobzine. Please tell us more about this.

Okay, thank you mayor. Yes. In front of the council is a renewal for the retail onoff mount beverage and South Dakota farm wine. This one's before you for renewal because it did have a violation. Um it was for a sale to uh underage sale. Essentially everything else is in place. All fees have been paid. Notice published. If there's any questions, I can answer them. Thank you.

Thank you. I will open a public hearing. I know that there is someone here who is representing U. magic mile, but um they don't need to talk, but if there are any questions, they would be ready to. Um but I would invite anybody for up for a public hearing if you want to say something. I'll close the public hearing. Council, can I get a motion to renew this license? So moved.

Motion made by Councilman Allen, seconded by Councilman Jirens. Thank you, council. Any questions? All right, I'll just go to a voice vote. All those in favor of renewing this license, please say I. I.

Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries. 12B is an application for a special event malt beverage retailers license and special event retail wine license to the Watertown area Chamber of Commerce for wine and beer walk which will be on Thursday July 23rd of 2026 officer Bob Zen. Okay. Yes, this is a special event malt beverage license. This has happened in the past. Everything's went smoothly so there's really no concerns. Everything's in place. Notice published, fees have been paid. There's any questions, I can answer them.

Thank you. I'll open a public hearing. Again, same thing. There's someone here who can speak to this, but doesn't need to. There are any questions, you can address them to our good friend at the chamber. So, um, council, can I get a motion to approve this application? Motion made by Councilman Peters. Second. Seconded by Councilman Mormon. Any questions or comments? Council hearing none. All those in I'll just say it's a great event. Go buy your tickets. Go have fun. So all those in favor of this application, please say I.

I. I. Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries. Item 12 C is an application for a special event retail on sale license to the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce for Cooking on Compesca at Stokes Thomas City Park on Thursday, July 16th of 2026 from 11 p.m. on Saturday to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 18th, 2026. Finance Officer Bob Zen, please tell us more. Okay, thank you, Mayor. Yes, another special retail on sale license um for the chamber. another event that's happened in the past with and hasn't had any issues. So, all fees have been paid, notices published. Any questions? I can answer them. Thank you.

Thank you. I will open a public hearing on this. Is there anyone who would like to speak about this? I'll close the public hearing. Council, can I get a motion to approve this application? Motion made by Councilman Shuddy. Second. Seconded by Councilman Allen. Any comments, council? I will. All right, Councilman JS, I hear there's going to be some changes to this this year. Thought that was good news. Uh, music. Tim, does that sound right? I mean, good changes. People are excited. You want to come up and plug the event? We're all in love.

Might as well take the opportunity. It's a great event and it might be something that, you know, might be a few years since someone around Watertown has not been there. Uh, red is on. Red is on. Red is on.

You know, thank you for having me. Um, we've been working hard on changing um, Cooking on Capesa. If you guys remember back in 1981, it started, it was uh, Capesca days and it moved on to wing fling and then Cooking on Capesca. Um, we just feel the need to change it based on a lot of things. Um, but I think this will be my best one, favorite one ever. We will be calling this um somewhat of a pigwing fling. Um, we've discovered pig wings here a couple years ago. I've always thought since we've had the opportunity, let's make this a pigwing fling. If you're not familiar with the pig wing, the pig wing is the first wrist or the f only two per pig, but they cut the wrists off and that makes the pig wing. And we've we we've partnered with the South Dakota Pork Producers to make that a an event. We've been hooking up with those guys. They're they will be here in full fl full-fledged to help us kick off a w pig wing fling. Not sure we're in a collie yet, but that's close enough. In addition to that, we've got I think 13 bands um starting then of course we'll have Thursday night live out at the lake. Then we'll have it about noon or 1:00 on Friday with bands continually throughout the day. And then again on Saturday, uh more music throughout the day as well. It's typically it's different than what we've had. Typically, we've only had three bands out there. One Thursday, one Friday, one Saturday, but this one will be uh a full I would call it a more of a music festival, but with a big wing flare on there as well. A lot of classes, a lot of compet shouldn't say a lot of competitions, but we're working on some type of competitions with Nyberg's Ace to uh there'll be a lot of cooking schools and classes, but we'll have kids entertainment out there on the grills as well. questions about that fun stuff.

Thank you, council. Anything else? All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. What did I say? I was Tim Sheen from the chamber if not Oh, sorry. That was on you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for covering up my mistake. All right. Any other comments, questions? All right. We'll go to a voice vote unless there's an objection. All those in favor of this application, please vote I. I. I.

Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries. Next up is an application for a new retail wine and cider license to DBE Willow Creek LLC doing business as Dakota Butcher Restaurants. Finance. Officer Bob Zen. Please tell us more. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Yes, this is a new retail onoff wine and cider license. They currently do have the malt beverage. So, they just wanted to add this wine in cider. Um, so the location is already approved. All fees have been paid. Notice published. Any questions? I can answer them. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll open a public hearing. Is there anyone who would like to speak on this? I'll close the public hearing. Council, can I get a motion to approve this application? So moved. Motion made by Councilman Allen, seconded by Councilman Peters. Questions or comments? All those in favor of approving this application, please vote I. I.

Any oppose, say nay. Motion carries. Next up is a second reading of an ordinance of a zoning text amendment to chapter 21.61, fences, walls, and hedges of the revised ordinances of the city of Watertown. Community development manager Brandy Hatton is going to tell us more.

Thank you, Mayor. So, as stated, we reviewed this last meeting for the first reading. This is really a cleanup for what we've noticed with our amendments that were made to the fence ordinance. Um, currently it states that you cannot have a fence greater than 4 feet in the front yard setback. And that poses challenges for properties that have double frontages. So, one frontage usually functions as a um more of a sideyard or a rear yard. So, this would this amendment would allow applicants the ability to utilize a secondary front yard to have a larger fence or a taller fence up to 7 ft. So, with that, I'll stand by for any questions.

Thank you. I will open a public hearing on this item. Is there anyone who would like to speak on this? Close the public hearing. Council, can I get a motion to approve this amendment? So moved. Motion made by Councilman Hoyer. Was it seconded by Councilman Shuy? Councel. Right. Hearing no questions or comments, we'll go to a voice vote. All those in favor of approving this amendment, please say I. I. Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries.

Next up is a second reading second reading of a zoning text amendment to chapter 21.10 summary of district regulations of the revised ordinances of the city of Watertown. Manager Hen, you're back up.

Thank you, Mayor. So again, this is a cleanup effort of just what we've noticed throughout the last year basically and variance requests that have come before the board of adjustment. This ordinance amendment, the three main things are it allows for three garage stalls or sorry four instead of three. And then the um it allows for decks that are not expanding their footprint to be reconstructed in the same location as decks were not permitted prior to 2005. So uh with time we're seeing a lot of those decks in need of reconstruction now that it's been that 20 to 25 years. Um, and then the we eliminated some of the restrictions or requirements for garages that were up to 2,352 square ft and then made consistent with the allowance to add additional square footage if somebody is unable to construct an attached or detached garage. So that language was already in ordinance for attached garages and then we added that for detached garages as well. So just a clean up really in staff's mind, but I will stand by for any questions. Thank you. I will open a public hearing on this. Is there anyone who would like to speak about it? I'll close the public hearing. Council, can I get a motion to approve this amendment?

So moved. Motion made by Councilman Hoyer, seconded by Councilman Peters. Councel hearing nothing, we'll go to a voice vote. All those in favor of approving this amendment, please say I. I. Any oppose, say nay. Motion carries. Item 12G is a second reading of an ordinance of the city of Watertown amending business licensing provisions by amending pawn brokers and secondhand dealers license requirements and housemoving business license requirements in the revised ordinances in the city of Watertown. Finance officer Bob Zen.

Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Yes. So, this is amending the ordinance related to those licenses. This takes that approval process and makes it more administrative and it does also um change the appeal process um which is more relative to what we have currently for taxi cab and some of our other licenses. So with that if there's any questions I can answer them. Thank you. Thank you. This doesn't call for a public hearing. I don't see anyone who wants to talk about it anyway. We'll see if anyone on the council wants to talk about it after I get a motion to approve it. Motion made by Councilman Shuddy. Second.

Thank you, Councilman Allen. Council, any conversation on this? All right, we'll go straight into a void a vote. So, all those in favor of approving this ordinance, please say I. I. Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries. 13A is an approval of a resolution of intent to enter into a lease agreement with Lyall Ba. I'm not sure.

Both bath. Okay. I apologize uh for not knowing the correct pronunciation. Um, but it's entering into a lease agreement uh for a Lyle both uh doing business as LJ Farms and Ranch for city-owned real property. We'll go to our city attorney, Lisa Carico, to tell us about this one. There we go. Yes, this actually is just the uh notice of intent to set the hearing for the actual lease. Uh this was is this the Haying Rights one? Yeah, this is for Haying Rights over at St. An's Hill as well as Derby Downs. Um and they have agreed uh which will be in the lease that will be before you at the next council meeting to basically us provide a lot of the hay that is required and needed by the zoo. Um, so that will be worked out in a lease format and you will see that next week and I can answer any other questions if you have any.

All right. Thank you. I'll maybe just add two things. Um, first of all, the existing or or the legacy tenant has notified us that he is no longer interested in hanging these properties. And number two, the new tenant is actually our tenant at the airport as well. So, we do have an existing relationship with LJ Farms. Thank you very much for adding that. Council, can I get a motion to approve this resolution of intent? So moved.

Motion made by Councilman Hoyer, seconded by Councilman Mormon. Council, anything any questions or comments? Probably the wrong question to ask the city attorney, but just out of curiosity, how many bays of hail do or bales of hay smooth uh do we need at the zoo in any given year? I know that that we need round bales as well as square bales and I know one of the kind we need about 400. So that's my the extent of my knowledge right now, but uh city manager stagger may know more.

I I don't know the quantity, but um Stacy Placer, our zoo superintendent, has informed me that different animals require different types of hay. And so having the diversity of hay from the airport, the hill, as well as Derby Downs is is an important part of operating the zoo. All right. Thank you for that, council. Anything else, Councilman Allen?

I would also add that uh for those folks that do a lot of gardening who find that sometimes their zucchini gets away from them and they end up with these large zucchinis that they tend to just throw away. The zoo loves those. Uh there are several animals there who prefer uh homegrown vegetables. So, if you're if you're thinking, I'm just going to waste it and throw it away, take it to the zoo. They'll be happy to see you. I would also add you could also bring it up to city council. There's a few of us who like them.

All right. Anything else, council? All right. We're going to do one roll call vote tonight. If you're favor of this resolution of intent, you're going to vote I. If you're opposed, you're going to vote nay. Officer Bob Zen. Okay. Hyer. I. Helen. I. Mormon. I. Jiren. I. Peters. Hi. Shetty. I. Allan. I. All in favor? Motion carries. Item 13B is an approval of a resolution adopting the governance policy GP01 which establishes signature authority parameters for sponsorship agreements. Finance Officer Bob Zen, please tell us more.

Okay, thank you, Mayor. Yes, in front of the council is a the start of a governance policy. This would be the first one that we're kind of putting in front of the council. Um, throughout the process, we've noticed that different facilities have a need to have more of a blanket type sponsorship that covers more of your basic advertising. So what we did is we created this policy that allows that process to be streamlined um and not have to come to council every time that they sell. An example is at the golf course putting up some advertising sponsorship on the TE's, right? So just to kind of streamline that process. So within here you'll see the parameters are the terms are up to five years. This limits it at $10,000 and then that's the city manager or design's approval of that sponsorship agreement. Um, other than that, that's that's kind of all there is. But if you have any questions, I can answer them. Thank you.

All right. Council, can I get a motion to approve this resolution? So moved. Motion made by Councilman Hoyer. Second. Seconded by Councilman Allen. Council. Councilman Hoyer. I just want to say thank you to the staff for streamlining a lot of this stuff. As someone who does apply for applications and all sorts of licenses, I know what it's like to hit speed bumps and occasionally when it takes a minute for it to go before council. So, it's nice getting some of those fees taken off because then they don't have to do notification fee and a couple of those other things. So, the more we can streamline it and make it easier for our employees, our citizens, all the better. So, thank you. Thank you. Any other comments?

I I'd maybe just add we are trying to take these one or two at a time. I I know in the prior council there was a rather large governance and ends policy implemented that was subsequently repealed and I think doing it in one big brush like that didn't really afford the council the opportunity to understand what we were doing and so doing this one step at a time I think will get us to a sustainable end state. Thank you city manager stagger council. Anything else? The motion is to approve the resolution. If you're in favor of it, if you're in favor, vote I. If you're opposed, vote nay. Officer Bob. Okay. Huer. I. Holene. Hi. Mormon.

Hi. Dur. I. Peters. Hi. Shuty. I. Allan. I. All in favor? Motion carries. City manager. Is there anything to report this week?

A couple of things that I can report on. Um, first of all, thanks to the IT team for working on the microphones and for the public who raised the issue, thanks for doing that as well. Um, now you get to see exactly what's happened behind the scenes here at these meetings and and hear about the mayor's affinity for zucchini and other other comments. Um, next I'd just like to uh report that this week is emergency medical services week. You might recall last week we celebrated our police force in the community and it's a great time to take a step back and just thank all of the men and women who provide the emergency medical services in our community. We have a special treat for our media partners tomorrow. Uh we are actually going to bring our one of our ambulances on site and give the media a behind thescenes tour of what we do and the equipment that we use. Um and as we recognize and thank the important EMS team members this week, I'd like you just to to reflect on one one thing that um really reflects the caliber of our team. Often times when we're sitting in this council chamber, we will see an ambulance go by with lights and sirens on and they're reaching the scene and dealing with the issues that particular patients have. It's rare that you see that same ambulance going the opposite direction back to the hospital with lights and sirens on. And that's largely because of the high caliber medical team and equipment that we have. For the most part, they are transporting stable patients. And with a less trained, less capable team, oftentimes they would be merely a transportation service with lights and sirens trying to get the

patient to the hospital as quickly as possible. So, as we as we recognize that team this week, just remember that when you when you uh see them leave the station. Um secondly, uh we continue the communications on various utility projects and road projects throughout the community. Uh we always strive to keep that communication as timely and accurately accurate as we can. would just call your attention that on on North Lake Drive there are a couple of projects starting uh that will result in some signal control lights leading to one lane traffic in the 600 block and 800 block of North Lake Drive in the coming weeks. Um the semiquincentennial uh planning continues to happen. The Convention and Visitors Bureau through visitwatertown has published a calendar. Uh you can get to it through their website visit watertownd.comward250 events or you can just go to their homepage and I think you can get there as well and it shows all of the events in the community that we are aware of. Finally, I'd like to recognize a member of our team uh who will be retiring at the end of June. Dusty Rodic, our parks, park and recreation director, has announced his retirement and he has had many great contributions to the city in his years with us. And so we will be real soon um making making uh um measures in place to uh to replace Dusty. and you will get some time before his his final day to to thank him in person as well. That's all I have.

Thank you, city manager. Council, uh, does any member have a topic for a future discussion? Councilman Hoyer. Um, something I'd kind of like to look into is for those of us that kind of function around the downtown and stuff, we've just been noticing a little bit of an uptick in some litter. um just maybe getting some interested parties together to find some ways that we can maybe mitigate that a little bit more. Um if we have options on glass, things like that, but I'd love to reach out to some of the local restaurants, bars, see if we can come up with a strategy to just try and uh in our shot group and clean that up a little bit. So maybe we can do that through the city.

Thank you, Councilman. Does anyone else have a topic for future discussion? All right. Thank you very much. I do not believe there's a reason for executive session tonight. So I will take a motion to adjurnn. Councilman Mormon. Second by Councilman Jurns. All right. All those in favor of adjourning, please vote I. I. I. Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries. Good night and God bless you, Watertown.