[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6655512,"mediaKeyId","5387758-914956d696ab11e47316ae5df149b328","parentId",5387758,"title","Council adopts personnel and parks policy updates; compensation study to be reviewed in executive session","audioSeconds",966,"startMs",129000,"endMs",1095000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387758-914956d696ab11e47316ae5df149b328&start=129&end=1095","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387758-914956d696ab11e47316ae5df149b328/thumbnail_129000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655512/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Council-adopts-personnel-and-parks-policy-updates-compensation-study-to-be-reviewed-in-executive-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655512-9c560478687c679964a6dc5370d01886/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200066&Signature=Gf9Qd1m4b0iaSP8-kq1fhvzAZx2PSwWqu3zoyXTsw-qr7HMK6qHJQ0DDNtjqAHDtIlbm0LdpAlNd9ZWNz7FNv1CNzynNhzjZYjKXfz3fvA8xCsrg9Z6catTuXx4u4LPFDmq9VTNCB36p-6RmbGF3BeEd2dJjYDrFFJQVVuWwl-Hg70vJnxX3BD~C1szZRIaIryKycCg588UJ6zxf6~TZjNpqvwM8p4X5fZ~Nw2H4La28tB1MbvnGz1hR6bBZSUFHTZ~1olCJMSfD99N3q8ZCuYM96x~ZwvmDwYyc6i1NBvL9QTnWddYSAk5jHuwv9bM1exZHcRsSuWIYwFc~zxNz-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lennox","date","2025-07-15T00:22:05Z","article","The Lennox City Council approved updates to the city’s personnel and parks policies as part of the consent agenda, and later discussed results of a nearly completed compensation study and moved into an executive session to review personnel-related matters.

Nate, staff member, explained that the personnel and parks policy updates were intended to align municipal policies with changes in state law that went into effect on July 1. \"These are updates that are gonna be keeping line with current state laws,\" Nate said, and confirmed the changes had been distributed to staff and reviewed by park holdings. The consent agenda, which included the policy updates as item 3f, passed on roll-call voting with Councilmembers Andrew, Swier, Doherty, Peterson, Walt and Teegee recorded as voting \"Aye.\" The motion carried.

Under new business, Aaron, counsel, told the council a compensation study the city engaged earlier in the year was nearly complete and that the consultant had provided results. Aaron said staff intended to form an ad hoc group—likely through the finance committee—to review the study under an executive-session personnel discussion because committee review would involve evaluating qualifications, compensation ranges and performance benchmarks for positions.

Councilmembers agreed to place the review with the finance committee and requested staff to circulate meeting times. The council then voted to move into executive session “for the sole purpose of discussion [of] qualifications, competence, performance, [and] character,” and the chair declared the executive session began at 7:17 p.m. The executive-session motion was seconded and approved.

The council did not disclose details of personnel evaluations or compensation recommendations in public session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lennox City Council 7.14.2025","oneSentenceSummary","As part of the consent agenda the council approved updates to personnel and parks policies to reflect state-law changes that took effect July 1; members also scheduled review of an imminent compensation study and moved into executive session to discuss personnel qualifications and performance.","taxTitle","Lennox, Lincoln County, South Dakota","taxId",75768,"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},6655515,"Lennox council reviews 2024 annual report and warns of ambulance funding strain; ambulance district discussed",476,462000,938000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387758-914956d696ab11e47316ae5df149b328&start=462&end=938","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387758-914956d696ab11e47316ae5df149b328/thumbnail_462000.jpg","/articles/6655515/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Lennox-council-reviews-2024-annual-report-and-warns-of-ambulance-funding-strain-ambulance-district-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655515-4fe57e590f0129811e96ae645c156e29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200066&Signature=BgUXulMRs7dSiKrJygSlElBeC2MAxUrnuvl2yAfTEScWnBlwlFcYB1D3RIxfHzSoFhdZ00XLP2kleLLr~6jLINCkOkc924FxrWnapMYPCApnPiZ73Ar-EC4rr7bwCoEI6sderxfcEMW-W4aDtlUS4KYgz7QS-fDb0e~z2DGMpi3RfycSO1WuuuTV2Vn02-EeivPi6QIRiYGKAPZ8gosaGfljLPXKAMQycMUFRommO08OFBhIie2bPue43QRA3iIaGequEzZWQEP2claAwh13ZtHpy18hgOQUedXZydMcd6~ILKpoMcxu36AmKM5hne6uobxv-PX1fLd~s-foik4grA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented the Lennox 2024 annual report to the city council, summarizing revenues, expenses and debt changes across city funds and prompting council discussion about long-term ambulance funding and a possible ambulance district.

A staff presenter reviewed the report’s headline figures, saying general revenues rose in several categories: property tax by $227,000, sales tax by about $29,000, building-permit revenue by $136,000, interest income by $31,000 and special-assessment revenue by $53,000. The presenter said contributions and donations decreased by $183,000 because a 2023 Lehi School District payment that funded the pool parking lot had been categorized as a private donation in 2023.

The presenter said long-term debt for enterprise funds (water, sewer, ambulance and swimming pool) increased by about $2,000,000, primarily because of CB4 projects, with loans totaling $2,370,000. The presenter also said that, excluding the CB4/loan activity, there was an approximately $3,067,000 decrease in a specified category (as described in the report). The sewer fund revenue increased substantially, the presenter said, from DOC proceeds totaling roughly $10.5 million; excluding federal and state funds, the sewer revenue increase was about $23,500. The presenter described other fund-level changes, including a sharp decrease in a laundry fund’s revenue—largely an effect of ARPA and one-time federal/state funding in 2023—and a modest improvement at the municipal swimming pool (revenues up about $18,500 while expenses fell about $1,200).

Council members used the annual-report presentation to frame a longer discussion about ambulance funding. Councilmember Tyson said the city faces ongoing losses in operating its ambulance service and that those losses are being shouldered by Lennox taxpayers across a small municipal area while the ambulance serves a much larger rural territory. \"It's imperative that this be a shared expense with our townships around us,\" Tyson said, adding that an ambulance district appears to be the only sustainable option other than continuing to use city tax revenue to subsidize service across approximately 200 square miles.

Tyson and other council members raised a separate concern about a state-level policy proposal referenced by council members—a stated goal by some in the state legislature to reduce property taxes by roughly 50%—which they said would create a significant revenue shortfall if enacted. Councilmembers discussed conducting a budget-exercise workshop with staff to model the impact of potential state revenue cuts on local services, particularly public safety and ambulance operations.

Councilmember Tyson asked staff to provide historical figures showing how much the city has subsidized the ambulance service over the past 10 years to quantify the effect on city finances. Staff said they would provide additional information, described previous outreach with neighboring townships on the issue, and noted that creating an ambulance district might require petitions or further intergovernmental steps.

The council voted to approve the 2024 annual report by motion and voice vote.","City staff presented the 2024 annual financial highlights showing mixed revenue changes and rising enterprise debt; council members discussed long-term ambulance funding and the prospect of forming an ambulance district as state-level property-tax reductions loom.",{"_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},6655521,"Lennox council approves commercial club special event permit with fireworks at old football field",249,192000,441000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387758-914956d696ab11e47316ae5df149b328&start=192&end=441","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387758-914956d696ab11e47316ae5df149b328/thumbnail_192000.jpg","/articles/6655521/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Lennox-council-approves-commercial-club-special-event-permit-with-fireworks-at-old-football-field","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655521-6b8bbd7f489112c38fcc0822adbf00f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200066&Signature=ny4XNDcpvQTPX-WChK5ai2SlMD0tFec78BkkO-8zyFFZbsgm2gdongpFzTwOkiU90cHr-oodwKnVHMEjgdJLXak9L7PDtBU2m7pJcC8UsMiOPwzs7yoIvq2HqS4hCNkD3Q6sqEVayp3kd1bH0m3ORFVlhXADDK1yWxyspQ9kPf6GtE2uM1QBkyP2445OEKzC1mey4msBJeRsDscTeOUfpIyx2XUwN4XuPlBensAO8fGqe3IXgT1hiPzDPdFrILHyr~K4-rIqTcGGr18uzPeRN2KSMsAtsgUwVsfbOBkg7gMWuiTs1RWF1KIetSN8uT44H~WT8FsI7A3h8B~AiVG4ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lennox City Council approved a special-event permit for a Commercial Club festival planned for July 25 that will close Park Drive for an evening food-truck, music and a car show, and will include a fireworks display at the city’s old football field.

The permit application was presented by Nate, staff member, who described the event as modeled on other communities’ “First Thursdays” or food-truck evenings. “We’re gonna close down Park Drive during the evening hours of that day for a food truck,” Nate said, adding that a musical performance and a car show are planned and that fireworks would be shot from the old football field at sundown if the council approved the permit.

The council’s motion to approve the special-event permit passed by voice vote after a brief discussion about safety, parking and alcohol service. Council members discussed limiting parking on the old football field because fireworks would be fired from that location and asked staff to place barricades at the highway and L Street entrances and to post staff for crowd control. Council members also asked staff to confirm insurance coverage for the fireworks.

Nate said smaller fireworks will be used this year and that staff will work with organizers in future years to establish a larger safety zone if the event moves toward larger aerial displays. He also recommended against parking on the football field because of the fireworks operation and said staff would coordinate barricades and signage and consult with public-safety staff.

Council members raised neighborhood-notification concerns for residents living near the old football field; staff said they would post notices to nearby residences. There was discussion about whether the school property could be used for fireworks instead, and staff explained the school discouraged firing near new tennis courts and ongoing construction.

The council also discussed the permit’s malt-beverage box on the application. Nate said the application had not been updated to reflect a final decision on alcohol service and advised the council to incorporate any restriction into the motion; the council’s motion to approve proceeded with the understanding that final conditions, including alcohol service, would be clarified and enforced as part of the permit process.

The motion carried by voice vote.","The council approved a July 25 special event permit for a Commercial Club festival on Park Drive that will include a food-truck, music and a fireworks display at the old football field; the permit’s malt-beverage question was discussed and council said conditions would be clarified in the motion.","actionData","errors"]

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Council adopts personnel and parks policy updates; compensation study to be reviewed in executive session

Lennox council reviews 2024 annual report and warns of ambulance funding strain; ambulance district discussed

Lennox council approves commercial club special event permit with fireworks at old football field