With a change in state law, Huron city commissioners have asked city attorney Gerry Kaufman to draft a proposed ordinance permitting the use of electric golf carts on city streets.

As of July 1, such carts are allowed at the discretion of cities in South Dakota. Golf carts with combustion engines are licensed as all-terrain vehicles with the state.

Electric carts would not be allowed on county or state highways except to cross them at right angles.

Commissioners spent time Monday considering what the city would require in terms of safety equipment such as mirrors, lights and horns, and whether there would be an annual renewal and certification sticker.

Also to be considered is the licensing fee, special flashing lights when driven in dark conditions and a slow-moving vehicle emblem. Specifics will be established in the proposed ordinance to be considered within the next week or two.

Meanwhile, commissioners gave first reading of an ordinance repealing the dated dance hall ordinance, but gave first reading of another ordinance requiring that on-sale liquor establishments meet the same basic inspection regulations as dance halls did.

Commissioners gave first reading of another ordinance that would spell out what would happen if a property owner mistakenly asked for the removal of a vehicle from private property.

In that event, according to the ordinance, the property owner would be charged the actual cost of the removal plus storage fees so it would not be paid by taxpayers. The ordinance also doubles the storage fee from $5 to $10 per day.

Commissioners heard an update from Kim Krueger, executive director of the Beadle County Humane Society.

She said many people have been surrendering dogs to the shelter lately. There have not been as many cats and kittens in the shelter, and more animals are running at large in the city.

Adoptions are on a good pace and euthanasia is down, she said. Pending projects include dog room renovations and a dog park.

Commissioner Jan Manolis announced a change in the solid waste department Thursday to allow employees to attend the funeral of fellow employee Mike Doering, who died Sunday. The funeral is Thursday in Wessington Springs.

The rubble site will be open for contractors Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. It will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will reopen from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

The garbage collection routes will start at noon. If routes aren’t completed, they will be finished on Friday.

Also, city engineer Mike Wever said the Highway 14 service road bridge spanning Ravine Lake is being closed to vehicle traffic by the state Department of Transportation because of safety concerns. It will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace the structure.

It will be barricaded, but still open to foot and bike traffic.

Commissioners also:

• Approved a variance request from Tyler Schwartz, 1229 Utah Ave. S.E., to construct a porch on the front of the house closer to the east property line than code allows.

• Approved requests for alcoholic beverage consumption from Bobbi Jo Zavesky July 27 at Ravine Lake and the Huron Volunteer Fire Department Oct. 5 at the north fire station.

The board deferred a request from Hurst’s Corner to have alcoholic beverage consumption Oct. 9 on the sidewalk north of the establishment until receiving more information on Harvest Fest which is that day.

• Set Aug. 9 as the hearing date for a 2010 package off-sale malt beverage license for Mely’s Mexican Store, 256 Kansas Ave. S.E.

• Set Aug. 9 as the hearing date for special event alcohol licenses for the state fairgrounds in September.

• Set Aug. 9 as the hearing date for a Huron water line project and its funding.

• Approved a $46,361 payment request for Asphalt Paving & Materials of Huron for curb and gutter replacement and handicap ramp installation, and a payment request of $24,490 to Excel Underground of Sioux Falls for water main replacement work.

• Renewed home occupation permits for Gregory Peck, 364 Sixth St. N.E., gun repair; Casey McKown, 1284 Wisconsin Ave. S.W., small engine repair; Richard Decker, 77 Colorado Ave. S.W., pest control; April Pimental, 839 Frank Ave. S.E., contractor; Dan Leichtenberg, 65 Prospect Drive, lawn care; Jennifer Winter, 705 Third St. S.E., dog kennel; and Ryan Volkert, 1642 Wisconsin Ave. S.W., handyman.

• Approved the full-time status of Jan Cederquist, library director, after the probationary period.

• Went into executive session for a personnel matter and later had a work session to discuss the beer garden ordinance/building code and the 2011 budget.

For the complete article see the 07-27-2010 issue.

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