City authorizes first payment for new Vantage Business Park

HURON — A resolution authorizing the first of 10 annual payments of $75,000 to the Community Development Fund to help pay for land acquisition for what’s to be called the Vantage Business Park has been adopted by the City Commission.
Commissioners on Monday took the action to follow through on a commitment they made a month ago to Greater Huron Development Corporation.
GHDC President and Chief Executive Officer David McGirr said the 127-acre site is being acquired from the Nielsen family for industrial and commercial uses.
The land is on the east side of Huron, bordered on the north by Highway 14 and on the west by Custer Avenue. The NorthWestern Energy electrical peaking plant is at the northwest corner of the property, and Dakota Provisions is in the next quarter of land to the east.
The site has highway and rail access and has the infrastructure in place that will save millions of dollars as development occurs, McGirr said.
The north one-third is zoned for office and light industrial uses and the southern two-thirds is zoned for heavy industrial purposes. The dual zoning is the reason GHDC is calling it a business park rather than an industrial park.

In a presentation to the commission in early November, McGirr said GHDC had been looking for more industrial land because only three small parcels of five and six acres remain available in the West Industrial Park.
Meanwhile, commissioners approved second and final reading of an ordinance seeking to clarify where firearms can and cannot be discharged in the area east of Custer Avenue and south of the railroad right of way near the city lagoons in Custer Township.
It pertains to Sections 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 in the township. Parts of those sections are within city limits.
In other action, the board:
• Reminded the public that with the holidays approaching they are again advised that Christmas wrapping paper and Styrofoam are not recyclable items and should be placed in the brown garbage containers and not the recycling containers.
• Approved a special event on-sale alcoholic beverage license filed by Top Floor Events for a chamber mixer today at Farmers & Merchants Bank.
• Approved the rehire of Clint Paulson as a custodian, on a part-time, year-round basis.
• Approved the hiring of Andrea Hofer for a 911 telecommunicator position.
• Approved Scotland Schiltz to work for the parks and recreation department through the Project Skills program with the state.
• Approved the renewal of the agreement with the Huron Rural Community Fire Truck Association for 2019-2024.
• Approved a change order for Kyburz Carlson Construction of Aberdeen for the public works building for a deduction of $11,458, and approved a payment request of $11,390.