[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6634076,"mediaKeyId","3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa","parentId",3639613,"title","Council approves RFP to solicit redevelopment proposals for city-owned First Avenue properties","audioSeconds",302,"startMs",4043000,"endMs",4345000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa&start=4043&end=4345","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa/thumbnail_4043000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634076/Mitchell/Davison-County/South-Dakota/Council-approves-RFP-to-solicit-redevelopment-proposals-for-city-owned-First-Avenue-properties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634076-7ff9b147fb2bbac7f144084035d3da27/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989883&Signature=K17szVq31SX0LNNQJt1iN3obKRI3JSRpbkU7nOFM38oOn0HfLBM7qubYZ~WMC0LI2uxuP-Fryv8UbDeCYPws03yW5~r-LYedSi~LS0E8gyE9ezFF1m9vZPvy5WK4BSRPHN7yi6qpfLooBFMm72Xa0ZLPUnl7-Fo5FnJHswgKRaMeBZ6zZevEYN8pyl1-38dtazYcQVAJVhajBydEK6vtOGS4zWRCeQTOCPuDhDrYcACG3z4ZXga6jkIHsS044xejg-b7LIEi3UTYuuhR6-tI~A9-X4W5Tekvr-nj7xXJkuiCOiKFHCWiBdPWUAKEdQLbIwnSkHQTRhIfywOJa29odA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mitchell, SD","date","2025-06-03T02:37:31.22Z","article","The Mitchell City Council approved a request for proposals (RFP) seeking redevelopment proposals for three city-owned lots on East First Avenue.

The RFP splits the property into three separate parcels. The mayor and staff said they expect proposals for rental, owner-occupied, or mixed-use projects and emphasized priorities for affordability and density. The mayor asked for a quick process so construction could begin as early as next year if the council approves a developer agreement.

City staff outlined a proposed schedule: issue the RFP on June 9, receive responses by Aug. 15, conduct evaluations and interviews, and provide a recommendation to council by Oct. 6. The mayor and staff said the city prefers proposals that replace as many of the housing units lost from prior demolitions as possible and that include firm completion timelines; they recommended a completion milestone within two years of council approval and full project completion within three years.

Council approved forming a review committee that will evaluate submissions and recommend finalists for negotiation with the city; council members requested representation from the ward most affected by the development. Staff said an appraisal would be obtained as part of the transactional process and that the council would retain final approval authority for any conveyance or developer agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 2, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The council authorized an RFP for three city-owned lots on East First Avenue aimed at maximizing housing density and affordability; the city outlined a timeline and criteria for proposals and a committee process for review.","taxTitle","Mitchell, Davison County, South Dakota","taxId",68826,"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},6634081,"Council hears extended public debate on partial alley closure; staff told to adjust barricade placement temporarily",1688,2326000,4014000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa&start=2326&end=4014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa/thumbnail_2326000.jpg","/articles/6634081/Mitchell/Davison-County/South-Dakota/Council-hears-extended-public-debate-on-partial-alley-closure-staff-told-to-adjust-barricade-placement-temporarily","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634081-8477904be5eb5ad35f182b1f669d579a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989883&Signature=A1LCQOgK8lLv6u260zaRx-CfR-QAbdUd-1aWSfA-k6JTmdZdn65MphADsjxCMcwbv29xO3wOWy~nxxO2-oZheXg-PkRcB-AUhE95iqJXfy-HebFxJTqbzG4mnyYVaHMt2fwBnWot95oS-6TNVWf5q1Xf9-VabLvrtO~P1S4UiqNZ4GOcnvgjNHnuDw9LNj2q-dOHQJEA9QnBmoLoUdJ5~~9QpzJqeQVuz5dTKTXmgueheur3nnwKiKyGH-iPirqfEaF-oqWTn7QSascBhF1PX2e09tQjvVSowNQ4sZtCdtw1hpEpycwS40QJG6vkuA0kLp~nQkA1RO4bxltrLrKqcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors and business owners debated the partial closure of an alley adjoining Sixth and Seventh streets between Main and Raleigh before giving staff informal direction to adjust the existing barricade layout to allow limited vehicle access for deliveries and property clearance.

The council previously approved closing the alley on a trial basis with temporary barriers. Several downtown business owners and property owners told the council the current configuration blocks vehicle access to the rear of buildings and prevents deliveries and removal of large items; they asked the city to reconfigure the barricades to allow limited, authorized vehicle access to specific parcels.

Public Works staff and property owners discussed options including moving the south barricade northward, installing temporary sliding gates or water-fill plastic barricades that can be moved without heavy equipment, using a single barricade at either end plus a temporary gate, and reserving space for dumpsters and short-term loading. Fire and emergency access concerns were raised and discussed during the session.

Council members expressed a preference for quick interim adjustments rather than reversing the closure; several members noted safety concerns that motivated the closure initially, citing near-miss incidents at the alley and heavy tourist foot traffic. After hearing from property owners and staff, the council’s direction was to allow staff to move the south barricade north toward the Watering Hole/Cornerside area and to trial more flexible, less visually oppressive barricades (such as plastic water-fill barriers and cones) to allow property access with an emphasis on preserving pedestrian safety.

No formal rezoning, vacation or ordinance change was enacted at the meeting; staff said they would act within prior council authority to adjust barricades and then bring any recommended, more permanent design back to council for approval.","City staff were directed by council to explore moving the south barricade north and to use flexible barriers so property owners can access rear building areas while maintaining pedestrian safety in a tourist area. No formal ordinance change was adopted; discussion produced interim operational direction.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634086,"Council rejects proposed rental housing code after large public turnout; city to revisit enforcement options",5380,8016000,13396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa&start=8016&end=13396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa/thumbnail_8016000.jpg","/articles/6634086/Mitchell/Davison-County/South-Dakota/Council-rejects-proposed-rental-housing-code-after-large-public-turnout-city-to-revisit-enforcement-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634086-ed28d16c2237f59e130b31f2a1fe68e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989883&Signature=bhPnHfXkjihaMukOtjfMVjALVFmy2842XS86HiqwZerhEdryAGcozlDwU8EAU8w8Zt1SL3n0ydrwDWrqvnuPeWbBJGbjHr6MlBXKTpLsyJu1OwyHvMJeHhQ5CDF0U4ctFx4HSD9kg0Lmr36Crl2nGPT4NBffckg5UgTgM2z5vfQwOSHsMY153HvBDXLcXHUfiBxHXAwIszb2pG0Gt1N5Q35q7KF-M8OCx7qyqHBqNwnB7wVCWcIO9ty-R1zgbzoG-Z9CqvmL3K5SogeJ8JFgE5EvUyYBUqaidItGLfEvxQYfjAkQH-Va1aIMVzMmt~3fAz28wDbTsAcbkUeJm2~QNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mitchell City Council declined to adopt a proposed rental housing ordinance on second reading, following extensive public comment from landlords, property managers and tenants who said the draft would impose undue costs and complexity on local housing providers.

Supporters of a regulatory approach told the council they were motivated by health-and-safety concerns and by tenant complaints that some units are in poor condition. Opponents said the draft was not user-friendly, would create recurring fees and inspections that would increase rents and that the city’s existing nuisance and code-enforcement tools should be strengthened instead.

At the meeting landlords and property managers representing dozens of units urged the council to abandon the draft as written. Several said their properties already pass common-sense safety checks and that a broad, mandatory inspection regime would be expensive and would require additional staff and recurring fees. Mills Property Management and other local managers noted that program-style licensing fees could be passed on to renters and would reduce affordability.

Council discussion acknowledged the need to address substandard housing cited by residents, but members and staff also said the draft ordinance had drafting errors and open items that required more work. City staff and councilors suggested several alternate paths: revise the draft and return it to committee; expand proactive code enforcement and nuisance inspections; or develop a targeted remediation approach for units or owners with repeated complaints.

A motion to approve the ordinance on second reading failed on the roll call. Several council members said they supported the concept of improving rental housing conditions but believed the current draft would need major revisions and wider stakeholder review before adoption. The council asked staff to return with options that would improve enforcement of existing codes or propose a narrower inspection model that reduces compliance burdens for well-maintained properties.","After hours of public comment from landlords, property managers and tenants, the Mitchell City Council voted down a proposed rental housing code on second reading and signaled it will explore other ways to address complaints and enforcement.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634090,"Mitchell council votes to express interest in proposed state prison after heated public debate",1573,4400000,5973000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa&start=4400&end=5973","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639613-10925c29e1376ff603fcfa1beffc80fa/thumbnail_4400000.jpg","/articles/6634090/Mitchell/Davison-County/South-Dakota/Mitchell-council-votes-to-express-interest-in-proposed-state-prison-after-heated-public-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634090-806812f30e79f35138d3323039932ac2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989883&Signature=cTtJBVruFqybusT-xjlk3MNP2vpfrmSrZ9w5OkyhNPX778n9IRl9emF1E77TZm5-Raclr0Zu2AUd~3crY~m7jOrIZA0LzrwLj2yDh3NVd1wX0s65nVFTOc1KNE486whTbxuDgX3xZZpCnXDDCIoedNZz9QDXtTTwoMd3a7FIj6xf55bxE2V7SDLu9hXMeL2kKdTNtS-4aU6G84bxdqX~Fyj1Cp3yJBOTupWpVc~u6R5SrboeUlNzXCYNcN~n3Mg0i7eVNBoEpDMEf63Z7eqK-wzJc4Vm9OTF0vFvQWVwTr0lRP~PRMwfYHC3ACYX3CwNfldQusbpqiqBZ3~AgZmN9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mitchell City Council voted to approve Resolution R2025-42, expressing the city’s interest in receiving information and participating in discussions about a proposed state correctional facility in Davidson County.

Council moved the measure after several council members said they wanted a seat at the table if the state considered Mitchell-area sites. The resolution does not bind the city to host a prison; it authorizes the mayor to engage with state stakeholders and request information.

Supporters at the meeting said the facility could bring jobs and payroll to the area. Mike Lauritzen of the Mitchell Chamber and Development Corporation called the proposal a major economic opportunity, saying the project could bring “441 new jobs to our community with an annual payroll of $36,700,000” and argued the city should at least seek information before taking a position. Lauritzen urged councilors not to “get too heated” and to wait for the state’s process to unfold.

Opponents — including several residents who live near the proposed sites — raised concerns about public safety, infrastructure and long-term costs to local taxpayers. Resident Dwight Statler said the community had not been shown the downsides, and warned of potential increases in policing, judicial workload and property taxes if the facility and its population weren’t carefully planned. Michelle Studer and others said local roads, schools and utilities could be strained by a sudden increase in population and asked for wider public input.

Council debate emphasized that the resolution is informational, not a commitment. Council members who supported the motion said approving it would let the city ask questions and prepare if Mitchell remained under consideration. Others urged caution and pointed out the compressed schedule for the state review process; several residents said they felt the public had learned of the proposal late in the process.

The motion passed by roll call (motion carried). The council and the mayor said they expected additional briefings and further opportunities for community questions as the state’s selection process continues. Several council members and members of the public asked that the city continue to gather details on traffic, utility needs, potential tax impacts and workforce planning.

Council members said the city will track the state schedule and provide updates to the public about any meetings or hearings where Mitchell’s candidacy is discussed.","The Mitchell City Council approved a resolution expressing interest in learning more about a proposed new state correctional facility in Davidson County, drawing extensive public comment both for and against and divided council discussion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves RFP to solicit redevelopment proposals for city-owned First Avenue properties

Council hears extended public debate on partial alley closure; staff told to adjust barricade placement temporarily

Council rejects proposed rental housing code after large public turnout; city to revisit enforcement options

Mitchell council votes to express interest in proposed state prison after heated public debate