Remarks by Jason Salamun
104 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 5
Thank you. Next, we'll have an invocation by Pastor Ron McLaughlin, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. If you are able and willing, would you please rise?
Thanks, everyone. Next, I'll entertain a motion to adopt the agenda.
Got a motion by Biberdorf with a second by Meyer to adopt the agenda. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Next, we have a special presentation regarding Constitution Week. So if you're here for that, would you meet me right over here at the podium, please?
Pleasure to be joined by Cindy from the Daughters of the American Revolution with us here tonight. And they have put a request in for Constitution Week. This is something we do every year and proud to do it again this year. So we'll go ahead and read the proclamation. Whereas September 17th, 2026 marks the 239th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention. And whereas it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations with which…
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
OK. All right. We will do the approval of items 2 through 47, with the exception of 30. The motion is by Meyer, with a second by Seacrest. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 30, authorize Mayor and Finance Director to sign First Amendment to Facilities Management Agreement with Sports Facilities Management, LLC. Councillor Sechrist, you pulled this item, ma'am.
Thank you. Next up, Councillor Armstrong.
Thanks, everyone, for the questions, and thank you, Director Ainslie, for that detailed explanation. Otherwise, I look for a motion to approve. I guess a motion.
Motion to approve by Meyer with a second by Sechrist. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. That takes us to the end of the consent items. Before we move on to non-consent items, I do have another note of personal privilege. This meeting is the final meeting for Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Beigler. Many, many years of service, Jeff. We're so grateful for everything that you've done. I wanted to take this moment in the middle of our meeting. to thank you for your leadership, for your steady hand, and for just being an overall great guy and advocate for our parks. We're better…
Do you mind if we get an explanation from finance director first? Sure. All right, Director Ainsley.
Anything else? Did you want to get Chief Hedrick in this? Chief, did you want to chime in?
Always good news to save money, isn't it? All right, Councilor Strumman.
I yield. Thank you. Yes, sir. Great teamwork all the way around. So we have the motion on the floor to approve. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 49, first reading of ordinance number 6748 regarding fiscal year 2027 appropriation ordinance. This item was continued from the previous special council meeting. Councilor Beberdorf.
Okay, we got a motion by Beberdorf and who was the second by?
Before we get to you, Councillor Maher, a point of clarification from either the finance office or the city attorneys, but with this approval, I imagine there might be various amendments, so do I just keep track of the amendments, or do we vote for each of these line items as we go, and then an overall approval? I just want to make sure that we handle this appropriately before we continue any discussion. So, go to City Attorney Cushman.
Thank you. I just wanted clarification so I didn't get us confused. Okay. Councilor Maher, I accidentally bumped you out of the queue. I apologize for that. The floor is yours.
Thank you. I want to thank the council for your words tonight. I appreciate the spirit in which it's done. I know these are heated discussions and I get just as tough at times as anybody else. I will say this, this position is beyond me. I won't be mayor forever. It's meant to be of service to Rapid City for all future administrations. So we've added this position, which is very common in cities our size and larger. We have a growing complex city. We have a lot going on. Anything that happens in this city is because of a great team, not just in the mayor's office, but all the directors report…
Councillor Stroman's looking to chime in.
We have Fire Chief looking to chime in. Fire Chief Culberson.
And I think that goes to show the forward thinking of our directors. Obviously, if it's requested, obviously this council would have given it. So sometimes in these discussions, when the directors are thinking ahead, they're planting seeds for years even beyond that at times. And I know we all agree that we'd make sure that your folks had everything they need to do their job safely. Councillor Secrets.
So Councillor Meyer is on, has the, are we, you have more comments? Councillor Meyer, the floor is yours.
Director Patrick Dane from the Rapp City Regional Airport.
Because you started talking, we'll have to have that motion by somebody else. You can second it. All right, a motion by Maher for $125,000 added to the personnel line items distributed, I imagine. And a second by Meyer. The floor is still yours, ma'am.