HURON — Library Director Angela Bailey presented the Huron Public Library strategic plan for 2024-2026 to the Huron City Commission during the commission’s regular meeting Monday evening at City Hall.

Bailey mentioned that the plan is the result of work done by a nine-member planning committee and was influenced by the responses to a community survey. She also noted that the Huron Public Library has met the requirements to be accredited through the South Dakota State Library system.

The goals laid out by the committee for the next three years are to maintain and increase outreach in the community, to bridge the language gap between library staff and patrons, to engage new and current patrons with current and strong library programming, to provide library services for all patrons in the service area of Beadle County, and to plan for the library’s future.

City engineer Brett Runge presented to the commission a proposal by Bender’s Sewer & Drain of Mitchell to clean and televise the sanitary sewer mains in preparation for sewer main lining that will be done from 2024-2026.

The overall sewer main lining project has been approved for a 30% American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant, but all plans and specifications need to be into the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) by March 1, 2024. The cleaning that will be done will allow for submission of plans to DANR and bids to be executed for the project, as contracts for ARPA-approved projects must be in place before the end of 2024.

The cost for the cleaning with Bender’s Sewer & Drain is $39,918.95, which would be eligible for ARPA funding. This was approved.

Runge also presented the second payment request to the commission from First Rate Excavate, Inc. on the parking ramp removal and construction. The payment is for $344,461.95. Runge noted that the project is nearing completion of the first phase, with the potential for paving the south end of the lot as well as completing sidewalks, curb, and gutter by the fall before finishing the paving next spring.

This was approved.

The commission approved a resolution to dedicate two city staff as representatives on the Dakota Mainstem Board of Directors. Runge explained that Dakota Mainstem is still “in process” for future construction of a water system, but that he and the water and sewer superintendent Rob Rieger have been participating in conference calls as the system may impact the City of Huron.

Commissioners also:
• Approved a cancer motorcycle ride raffle for Sept. 1, 2023 through June 22, 2024.
• Approved the transfer of Danyelle Brotherton from Circulation Desk manager to the Children’s Librarian position with Huron Public Library.

City offices will be closed and there will be no commission meeting Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day.

The solid waste department announced that the rubble site will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 2, and Monday, Sept. 4, for Labor Day. Those with Monday garbage, recycling, and green bin pickups on Monday will have their collection done on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

The commission closed the public meeting and entered in a work session regarding the 2024 budget.