[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6535473,"mediaKeyId","3396094-a81e89378d01966a1e6346d6308ffca6","parentId",3396094,"title","Vermillion council adopts utility code updates, funds Shakespeare Festival shortfall, approves housing authority audit payment and other measures","audioSeconds",3905,"startMs",733000,"endMs",4638000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396094-a81e89378d01966a1e6346d6308ffca6&start=733&end=4638","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396094-a81e89378d01966a1e6346d6308ffca6/thumbnail_733000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6535473/Vermillion/Clay-County/South-Dakota/Vermillion-council-adopts-utility-code-updates-funds-Shakespeare-Festival-shortfall-approves-housing-authority-audit-payment-and-other-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535473-3ca660cc8482cd4c18d3bb19dce4a4af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186585&Signature=FjCv~JEjqQAQ7g-yqmFmkDuVEcR69OCPrTyTINfzrUh39LdQOIQtJRTEs5UCa8au0gasREElbQ9GaMrWgng4~SSVja7vDgjzxbsSdMHmBG3WCXaHn4zPCLmIs1NHKYy7AJIs1dnFXLldJusKojJRumkRT4TO1C6xRHIVEVJgI50UAABsRD~WhJghuNalkXF61YGlN4ICN-6dru2D5eZbLdDEqZmny7PdxBMNeKAADLbfHyH6D7Q~zVjzEdtQwsCyqFWXFbP1unCd4X5qgRo2apPlVTIZfoNOz6bhDY5b8QKMyJCZimLxVj137x0lo-q1n73Z5axPqRNAEd0HDRSCzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermillion City Council","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Vermillion City Council on May 19 approved multiple routine and substantive items: two ordinance amendments clarifying city rules on resale of utility services and electrical service language were adopted; the council agreed to cover a $4,849 shortfall for the 2025 Shakespeare Festival; it amended the budget to cover increased Vermillion Housing Authority audit costs; the Vermillion Police Department became an affiliate of the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force; council declared Lots 1–13 of the Jolly Addition surplus; and several street-closure permits and other routine items were approved.

Staff briefed the council that ordinance 15-30 (amending resale of utility services language and moving related provisions to general provisions) and ordinance 15-31 (corresponding electricity code language) had no substantive changes since first readings and would require only publication costs on adoption. Both ordinances passed on second reading with recorded tallies of 8 yeas, 0 nays.

On new business the council considered a funding request from the Vermillion Shakespeare Festival. Greg Huckabee, the festival president, said the company had exhausted a $10,000 carryover and lost an anticipated South Dakota Humanities (Arts) Council grant; the festival’s fiscal year begins July 1 and the organization provides free public performances plus daytime educational programs. Huckabee said the festival’s budget was short by $4,849 after other donations. Council moved to fund the full shortfall from the Bed, Board and Booze (BBB) fund; the motion passed.

The council also approved a budget amendment to cover the Vermillion Housing Authority’s audit costs. Staff said the housing authority is a component unit of the city audit because the city appoints its board members. Audit costs have risen; staff recommended increasing the budgeted contribution to $16,900 to cover payments already made and the forthcoming year-end audit. Council voted to amend the budget accordingly.

Chief Scott Brady described a proposed First Amendment to the South Dakota ICAC Task Force joint-powers agreement and recommended the Vermillion Police Department become an affiliate agency. Brady said affiliate membership brings case referrals, dedicated training, and a laptop for investigations at no cost to the department; the council approved the affiliation.

On property, the council declared Lots 1 through 13 of Block 1, Jolly Addition (the former Jolly School site) surplus so staff and the surplus property committee can set prices and a sales method. Staff noted demolition is underway and that utility stubs and curb alignment work remain before lots will be fully servable.

Routine approvals included event street closures for the downtown Trick-or-Treat (Oct. 31), the Standstill Parade of Lights (Dec. 4), and a Packer Group alley closure for an art opening (May 30). The council also advanced ordinance 15-34, giving the council flexibility to shift the formal budget adoption process later in the calendar year (staff recommended clarifying a stable annual schedule if adopted); the ordinance was moved to second reading.

City Manager John Prescott reported that the city received a $20,000 ICMA/Gates Foundation grant for an economic mobility program and that the city’s Historic Preservation Commission launched a website at vermillionhpc.org. Council approved payment of the bills; invoices showed reimbursements for the city’s Retrieve Vermillion tree-planting program.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 15-30 (amend resale of utility services): adopted, roll call 8 yeas, 0 nays.
- Ordinance 15-31 (corresponding electricity provisions): adopted, roll call 8 yeas, 0 nays.
- Shakespeare Festival shortfall ($4,849): council funded full amount; motion carried.
- Vermillion Housing Authority audit funding (amend budget to $16,900): approved.
- ICAC Task Force affiliation (Vermillion PD affiliate): approved.
- Lots 1–13, Block 1, Jolly Addition: declared surplus; committee to set sale process.
- Ordinance 15-34 (budget process flexibility): advanced to second reading.

Councilors, staff and community representatives said the measures aim to keep ongoing city programs, cultural events and utilities functioning while preparing for future development and fiscal needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-05-19 City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Vermillion City Council on May 19 adopted two utility-code ordinances, approved emergency funding for the Shakespeare Festival and amended the city budget to cover an audit payment for the Vermillion Housing Authority, among several other measures.","taxTitle","Vermillion , Clay County, South Dakota","taxId",55677,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535479,"Vermillion council annexes MARF Track 1 and authorizes notice to rural co-op amid objections from Clay Union Electric",1267,2271000,3538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396094-a81e89378d01966a1e6346d6308ffca6&start=2271&end=3538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396094-a81e89378d01966a1e6346d6308ffca6/thumbnail_2271000.jpg","/articles/6535479/Vermillion/Clay-County/South-Dakota/Vermillion-council-annexes-MARF-Track-1-and-authorizes-notice-to-rural-co-op-amid-objections-from-Clay-Union-Electric","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535479-30c1268e783aaf4d42de3a2ce9d9baaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186585&Signature=kiIDSThRjO8sQ1O3SWXNx7R46jwYWaOBXYn7yS~nLZbw2flv3hB4wolqfvGU8oa8d9M1vc~-z-B~meS3I15pFHH9REXYCdDHqS5pozsPmTI-GJq6IW0RawX3fba75YzuLKdELilxCaHI34jGKzhz~IRqHExICs-YMJHt85~1NKla6vblBNmG0egzNhfD16lKhB~chZmA10Od6g3NAWOMu1CV7-zvsaX0iZtgUftv0gDw28HA9fxJcuAMvuavG57Zo5CJjwv8p~OE7dl~S-IaZHrE4VGZJAZ1~QFxFm4ZwB1u71fv3ObllPTGp-04H7pHN6MyMiwNYBYMv8TYv6sLZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermillion City Council voted May 19 to annex MARF Track 1 — a 37.1-acre parcel near the intersection of South Dakota Highway 50 and Princeton — and authorized city staff to notify Clay Union Electric of the city’s intent to provide electric service to the annexed area.

City staff presented the annexation request from the property owners and said the parcel would be brought into city limits with an initial zoning of NRC (Natural Resource Conservation). Jose (staff member) told the council the owners intend to keep farming the property for now but want the land positioned for future development and for city utilities to be available if development occurs.

The annexation passed after a roll-call motion; the council then considered a separate authorization that would start the statutorily required process to shift electric service territory from Clay Union Electric to the city if the city later extends service. That authorization drew sustained comment from Clay Union Electric representative Chris Larson, who said the co-op received only short notice and urged better notification. \"So why such a big secret?\" Larson asked during his remarks, saying members of his cooperative were surprised by the timing and level of public notice.

City Manager John Prescott defended the council practice of extending city utility territory as the municipality grows, saying, \"as the city grows, our service territory grows,\" and argued that annexation with city utility service better positions land for development. Staff and the council described the legal and fiscal mechanics: state law requires notice to the rural co-op within one year of annexation or the property remains in the co-op’s service territory; if the city elects to serve, the city will purchase service rights and reimburse the co-op for lost revenue according to state statute. Staff explained a typical framework discussed in the meeting: an 11-year lost-revenue window with payments to the co-op for a limited number of years after new customers connect, and payments or reimbursements for any existing infrastructure that must be integrated.

Councilors debated the adequacy of notice to Clay Union and whether more development detail from the property owner should be provided before the city acts. Some members said waiting for a development plan could be appropriate; others said that extending the city’s utilities when annexing land is standard practice and helps attract development. After a motion to authorize staff to give formal notice to Clay Union died for lack of a second, the council reconsidered and ultimately approved authorization to notify the co-op and begin the service territory process.

The annexation resolution was approved; the council also passed the authorization to notify Clay Union Electric of the city’s intent to serve the area, enabling the city to proceed under state procedures for service-right acquisition and lost-revenue payments.

Next steps include working with Clay Union Electric on any existing infrastructure in the area, clarifying whether any current customers or lines are present, and following statutory procedures for service-right negotiation and payments if and when development occurs.","The Vermillion City Council approved annexation of a 37.1-acre parcel known as MARF Track 1 at Highway 50 and Princeton and authorized staff to notify Clay Union Electric of the city's intent to provide electrical service to the annexed area after debate and objections from the co-op.","actionData","errors"]

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Vermillion council adopts utility code updates, funds Shakespeare Festival shortfall, approves housing authority audit payment and other measures

Vermillion council annexes MARF Track 1 and authorizes notice to rural co-op amid objections from Clay Union Electric