HURON –– The Huron City Commission met Monday evening and arguably the biggest piece of news to come out of the meeting was that People’s Transit in Huron will be partnering in the 2025/2026 school year with Head Start to transport the students to school each day. This will bring approximately 13,000 additional rides each day to the service, according to Transit executive director Gayle Kludt.

Kludt did express that federal matching funds for People’s Transit are notably lower this year than requested, and she doesn’t expect that to change for fiscal year 2026. The additional riders could allow for more causality in grant applications, but there is still no guarantee that it will mean additional federal funds.

Current buses will need to be retrofitted with child restraints for transporting Head Start students, and Kludt mentioned that a grant through USDA should allow Transit to do that work. People’s Transit will also need to expand its staff to accommodate the additional riders, with Kludt mentioning two additional full-time drivers.

The meeting opened with the commission acting as the board of adjustment to consider a conditional use permit filed by Mar Sheffield at 610 Third St. S.E. to use the property as a vacation rental home. This was approved.

Mayor Mark Robisch encouraged all residents of Huron and the surrounding area to look for the schedule of events for Thursday’s Dakota Ave. event and participate as the work done on Dakota is likely something that will be done once in a generation.

Commissioner Rhonda Kludt encouraged attendance at the Karen Soccer Tournament on July 4-6. The police service agreement for the tournament was approved.

Assistant engineer Dennis Bennett brought three items to the commission. The first was a pay request for transfer station work at 12th St. NE and Kansas Ave. of $282,483.92. He also proposed awarding the sanitary sewer replacement work bid on Waibel Dr. to Menning Excavating for $230,603.19 and the drainage improvements bid on Jersey Ave. to VanderPol Dragline Inc. for $227,427.80. All three were approved.

The GIS system contract renewal was approved. A discussion was held regarding potentially moving from the current provider, and data transfer from one software to the next is the biggest hurdle in such a move.

Two quit-claim deeds were approved to Greater Huron Development Corporation in the Southtown Second Addition. These parcels will host governor’s homes that GHDC has acquired for sale.

New equipment for the Huron Fire Department was approved after recommendation from the capital asset committee. This will provide protective equipment for two current firefighters.

Commissioners also:
• Approved completion of probationary period for Daniel Copeland, administrative assistant/scale operator in the solid waste department.

• Approved a special on-sale alcohol permit filed by Sportsman Bar to sell alcohol outside on July 3 from 4:30 p.m. until midnight.
• Approved an alcoholic consumption permit for July 3 from 4:30 p.m. until midnight for downtown Huron celebration.
• Approved street closure for downtown Huron on July 3 for downtown Huron celebration.

Huron city offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, for Independence Day and will be closed on Thursday, July 3, at 4 p.m., to allow city employees to participate in the Dusting Off Dakota celebration.

The Solid Waste Department is closed Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5, for Independence Day. Garbage, recycling, and yard waste receptacle pickup regularly scheduled on Friday will be done on Wednesday, July 2.

The commission ended its public meeting and closed the evening with two executive sessions.