HURON –– One of the final items on Monday’s Huron City Commission meeting was a notice that the solid waste department would be closed for part of Wednesday, March 5. The reason? Staff will be on hand at the new solid waste facility at 1552 4th St. SE to tour visitors through the new building.

Commissioner Rich Bragg explained that some of the outdoor work will be completed once the ground thaws, but the building is complete, and the community is invited Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for an open house. The Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau is hosting a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. that day.

Bragg also stated publicly during public forum that he would be traveling with a group from Huron to speak in opposition to House Bill 1239 on Thursday in Pierre. He explained that he would be doing so as a private citizen, and that his views are not indicative of views of the City of Huron or the City Commission as a whole.

John McEnelly asked the commission during public forum about the blue and yellow lights that were initially in operation to light up the Campbell Park bandshell after the invasion of Ukraine. After the lights were vandalized multiple times, they were not put back up and the issue became a political one, leading to the Parks & Recreation Department choosing to not reinstitute the lights this winter in order to remain neutral. Bragg gave the commission background on the lights and the reasoning behind not putting them back up. McEnelly was told that the commission would consider the idea formally at a later meeting.

Mayor Mark Robish thanked all the residents who participated in the second Huron Burger Battle in the month of February. He stated that formal numbers are still coming in, but the month was very good for Huron restaurants from the numbers in already. Robish also stated that an announcement on the winner would be made Friday and that residents still had until Wednesday to turn in their completed burger cards to the Chamber office.

The commission approved Steve Lovett as a certified CDL trainer for the city, effective March 3. The CDL training certification classes are currently done by three city staff, and adding Lovett will provide more flexibility in training city staff seeking licensure.

Bragg presented the commission a request to increase the 2025 budget for golf cart lease by $9,500. Bragg explained that an increase in the cost per cart led to the overall increase. He also stated that additional carts would be available year-round at Broadland Creek and also would be available to use at Memorial Golf Course as well. The commission approved the increase request.

Huron Police Department Chief Derek Layher discussed the return of items received by the department through the 1033 federal program. The department has already set up to return eight reflex sights but still has a robot and an armored vehicle that are not in use and could be sent back, at the city’s expense, to get them off federal inventory for the city. The issue was tabled to investigate potential transport options for the armored vehicle.

Commissioners also:
• Approved a raffle by Beadle County Sportsmen’s Club for April 26 at the Izaak Walton Clubhouse, 715 Lawnridge Ave. NE.

• Approved a new sign for the library and Huron Events Center at 5th St. SW and Dakota Ave. from Pride Neon, Inc. for $50,974.40.
• Approved purchase of a snow thrower from Fair Manufacturing for the street department at the cost of $178,803.70.
• Approved the purchase of a truck mount snowplow blade for the street department for $50,685.
• Approved purchase of a rough mower for the golf course for $27,307.
• Approved purchase of two greens mowers and an aerator from Turfworks for $20,000.