[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",6505762,"mediaKeyId","5561690-fe97ed32163666a4b05f0a2358652e82","parentId",5561690,"title","Yankton commissioners debate June vs. November municipal election dates after state law change","audioSeconds",1379,"startMs",883000,"endMs",2262000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561690-fe97ed32163666a4b05f0a2358652e82&start=883&end=2262","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561690-fe97ed32163666a4b05f0a2358652e82/thumbnail_883000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6505762/Yankton-City/Yankton-County/South-Dakota/Yankton-commissioners-debate-June-vs-November-municipal-election-dates-after-state-law-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505762-fc95bd8a17b2ad24f88cd332ba6915b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208032&Signature=AyS1XebZ9UriGji-qJ2bJVuUUcZGYlfJnxnYyUWxMoPQQ3LEN98qiWeX4d170ug7dJbk0FgCR1qnKPShGbaZ-7F2uAfyTRl6EGT7ELeQZbeC7a18JiSwIoxIhf-sTtUAdBKOiMYWAX-07WJrZPVIReSv9Tcmpyvwml2e2stMGt-5zpp~RpCgXcUUOepMcGRxC65BqiUCkVuDt4uNqpUHVP3JRVaPWlLm4myRDP0QQx4iR3UA2JyfI5F0hSaDsAKag-EAOTIXyosySsKbl8bR1chqgAvBkxpy4g6oVrcqI7q74bAHMAcMPXl5zpXMe~xsVmcTZ1IzMgzg9fXIp9af8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Yankton City","date","2025-08-12T12:25:50Z","article","YANKTON, S.D. — The Yankton City Commission discussed whether to move municipal elections from April to either the June primary or November general election dates after state legislation changed allowable municipal election dates. No formal action was taken Aug. 11; staff will prepare ordinance language for introduction at a subsequent meeting.

City staff and commissioners outlined timetable implications, petition and absentee timelines, and operational impacts of each choice.

What changed and timing
City Attorney and staff referenced House Bill 1130, which removed the city’s option to hold municipal elections in April and requires municipal elections to align with either the June primary or the November general. Staff explained proposed timelines for 2026: a June 2, 2026 election with petition circulation potentially beginning Feb. 2 and petitions due March 24; or a Nov. 3, 2026 election with petition circulation starting July 3 and petitions due Aug. 25. Staff also noted absentee voting windows extend when combining with county elections, and that county-administered absentee voting would occur at the county government center for combined-even-year elections.

Commission discussion and considerations
Commissioners raised several factors: voter turnout, onboarding timing for new commissioners, ballot fatigue, and administrative complexity. Commissioner Hanoff presented recent turnout numbers: Yankton’s three-year average city-election turnout was 1,558 voters from about 10,475 registered voters; county totals showed about 2,756 voters for a June primary and 11,046 for a November general. Hanoff and Conkling argued November would likely deliver higher participation and a more balanced voter mix than a primary, and several commissioners echoed a preference for November to maximize turnout and reduce alternating-year absentee-location confusion.

Operational issues
Staff noted practical differences: combining with county elections alters absentee-location logistics (county center vs. city hall) in even vs. odd years, changes petition circulation and due dates, and extends absentee periods per state statute. Staff recommended consulting with the county auditor and schools to coordinate calendars; the county had tentatively recommended November while the school district had indicated interest in June.

Next steps
The discussion was advisory only. Staff will draft ordinance language consistent with either date and bring the ordinance forward toward introduction in the next one or two meetings. The commission indicated informal preference toward November but asked staff to solicit public input and return with a formal ordinance and recommendation for the next regular sessions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 11, 2025 Regular Yankton City Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Following House Bill 1130 the commission discussed whether Yankton should hold future municipal elections in June (primary) or November (general). Commissioners expressed a preference for November due to higher turnout; staff will draft ordinance language for a future vote.","taxTitle","Yankton City, Yankton County, South Dakota","taxId",64144,"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},6505766,"City staff say wastewater treatment plant upgrade is on track; ARPA funds and CMAR delivery used",1472,2800000,4272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561690-fe97ed32163666a4b05f0a2358652e82&start=2800&end=4272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561690-fe97ed32163666a4b05f0a2358652e82/thumbnail_2800000.jpg","/articles/6505766/Yankton-City/Yankton-County/South-Dakota/City-staff-say-wastewater-treatment-plant-upgrade-is-on-track-ARPA-funds-and-CMAR-delivery-used","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505766-a8eed5da0e6cb6dc99aee4d6d9958f36/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208032&Signature=iR-gR3CEMRRe-YL0qqANhxi7vZQyFbzTfRbXYDm2mWk7pGOGzYgMaoL~6LWonywHF1zZKy1r8dJ5xj2J4sjahtiT7nkYMm06Ecs-mEBuFrfX98rEi15bD88v6U5KOT81YehZLQ1mUkDaTXknw7yAcnq-6UoRawmxAp~Astivf89ABfPaDPnn0zBsJlT1tGU-7q~cLhsF3t0zVMc-RK37rdxNTKnB3PNvt80dTk6J51NugHRrn4Mxlnj5L9MY9Sx~v~23ItOSNpnWGOG3lFfOGZnf8kXS9o67SBOPG5ExwFnd4OCehQnBD96rNaTyAykDfLMo9tjHzJZMlwQ0sPnQgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","YANKTON, S.D. — City staff reported substantial progress on Yankton’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade at the Aug. 11 commission meeting, describing construction milestones, funding sources and programmatic reasons for selecting an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process delivered through a construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) contract.

The update explained why AGS was selected, the funding structure, the CMAR delivery and where the project stands on schedule.

Why AGS and CMAR
City wastewater staff said an aerobic granular sludge process was chosen because it provides a smaller footprint and simultaneous nitrification/denitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal in the same tanks — functions that previously required separate anoxic/anaerobic tanks. Staff noted AGS technology has longer operational use in Europe and is newer to U.S. implementations. The CMAR delivery method was chosen to involve contractor input early in design, manage equipment lead times and reduce scheduling risk on a retrofit that must remain operational during construction.

Funding and schedule
Staff reported a complex funding package including ARPA funds and an earlier EDA project; the ARPA award notification timeline required a rapid application and the city was notified of the ARPA award on April 13. Staff stated about $18.6 million in grant funds have been secured for the wider package of wastewater projects. The ARPA funding has a 2026 obligation deadline; staff said the state has allowed project sequencing and front-loading of ARPA-eligible expenses so ARPA funds will be utilized within the required timeframe.

Construction progress and risks
Public works staff described on-site progress: roughly 1,840 cubic yards of concrete poured for new tanks, 247 tons of rebar installed, and deep excavation (grid excavation to 22 feet) at inlet works. Two of three digester lids have been removed, sandblasted and recoated; one heavy lid measured about 1,187,000 pounds and required a large crane. Staff said AGS equipment delivery is expected in late fall and that a harsh winter could affect installation timing. Other identified risks include substantial process piping excavations (up to 25 feet deep) that must maintain operations and weather-related schedule impacts.

Redundancy and resiliency
Staff reminded commissioners earlier EDA-funded work added dual-power feeds to critical buildings and a 1-million-gallon equalization basin to manage high flows. Those steps were cited as deliberate redundancy measures intended to maintain operations during high-flow events and to reduce single-point failures.

Next steps and timeline
Staff said the project’s formal completion date is 2027, with a majority of construction and installations expected to occur in summer–fall 2026. The team reported they remain cautiously optimistic about budget and schedule, but noted portions of the project may need to be deferred or rebid if cost pressures grow.

Ending
Commissioners thanked staff for the proactive management on a technically complex retrofit and encouraged continued communication on schedule and budget.","City staff updated the commission on the wastewater treatment plant retrofit, reporting substantial concrete and excavation progress, ARPA and EDA funding, and use of the construction-manager-at-risk delivery for a new aerobic granular sludge system.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505770,"Yankton commission approves 2026–2030 strategic plan, awards public-works contracts and denies peddler license",0,96000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561690-fe97ed32163666a4b05f0a2358652e82&start=96&end=96","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561690-fe97ed32163666a4b05f0a2358652e82/thumbnail_96000.jpg","/articles/6505770/Yankton-City/Yankton-County/South-Dakota/Yankton-commission-approves-20262030-strategic-plan-awards-public-works-contracts-and-denies-peddler-license","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505770-3a46cac053a3915a5e16bda0754dc5a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208032&Signature=BsE-s2SWWAoeFBHq8GGbTd6vVFvamQSyPU1U-reu2skU6iGw1nWdjR3wrk4fYtiQqhpADFUzaY~QRz9Vgqn-cexmFSaesDdxBQz8ICDyv20-VS5I65D0Zvh01PNbmHL66QkO7SbQvBvF1ZwpDviMPYBwJbdJ7leBQNcO-uLJS7dGaOHetGlV0UHziDirHk0ktxbDW4LY9Bm0aGGkwdm3AjfBlW~QMyTlof8gjhPjQkbfV92-aunWZHL-UpIc9ZHvtbZIrNNGw90cWmmJJkNGOPjesmnil3RsWZGXXy4RnFJnQSPnoGMtPuG~lhOzQ~CSkPW5nH8peAnsq6xao73qIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","YANKTON, S.D. — The Yankton City Commission on Aug. 11, 2025 approved its 2026–2030 strategic plan, awarded multiple public-works contracts and licenses, and denied a peddler's license after a formal complaint about sales practices.

The commission approved the strategic plan and a slate of contracts and permits during its regular meeting at Yankton City Hall. Key votes included awarding the 2025–26 bulk deicing salt contract, multiple street and utility construction bids, approval of a one-day on-sale liquor license for the Yankton Center, backup approval for the Riverboat Days fireworks display, and the denial of a peddler's license for Fox Pest Control.

The actions affect the city budget and near-term public works work packages and formalize the commission's policy priorities for 2026–2030.

Minutes and routine business
The commission approved the minutes of the July 28, 2025 regular meeting by voice vote and authorized payment of bills by roll call, with members voting in favor during that roll call.

Strategic plan
The commission voted to accept memorandum 25-144 and approve the 2026–2030 strategic plan, with discussion from City Manager Ross Leon that the plan may need reprioritization depending on future budget cycles but remains the guiding framework. The motion passed by roll call.

Contracts and bid awards
- Bulk deicing salt (memorandum 25-141): The commission awarded the 2025–26 winter-season supply contract to Blackstrap Inc., Neeley, Neb., at $65.89 per ton. The motion passed by roll call.
- Eighth Street railroad water-main crossing improvements (memorandum 25-148): The commission awarded the bid to Fiber Construction in the amount of $815,515. The public works explanation noted three water-main locations under railroad tracks that have failed and are currently isolated; the project proceeds after permitting and design steps. The motion passed by roll call.
- Fifth and Cedar Street parking-lot construction (memorandum 25-149): The commission awarded the project to Feinberg Construction Inc. for $289,008.92. The project is a partnership with a nearby church to expand parking near City Hall, with the city responsible for ongoing maintenance; discussion noted additional accessible (ADA) spaces beyond the contract minimum. The motion passed by roll call.
- Active transportation project (memorandum 25-150): The commission awarded the Nineteenth Street and Burley Street active-transportation/sidewalk project to Feinberg Construction Inc. for $270,370. The project will add sidewalks on both sides of Nineteenth Street and on the west side of Burley Street. The motion passed by roll call.

Special-event permits and riverboat days
- Special one-day on-sale liquor license (memorandum 25-142): The commission approved a one-day on-sale liquor license for Oct. 25, 2025 at the Yankton Center, 900 Whiting Drive. Commissioner Birch announced a conflict and abstained; the motion carried. The commission recorded the abstention and otherwise approved the license by roll call.
- Riverboat Days fireworks display (memorandum 25-143): The commission approved a backup plan for the Riverboat Days public fireworks display on Aug. 15, 2025 that would use the Meridian’s top deck if the riverbank is unusable due to weather. The motion passed by roll call.

Peddler license denial
The commission voted to deny Fox Pest Control’s peddler license application (memorandum 25-145) based on a formal complaint alleging questionable sales practices and an unlicensed employee engaged in peddling activity; enforcement would be handled by dispatch/police if the company were to operate without a license. The motion to deny passed by roll call.

Rezoning introduction and other business
The commission introduced Ordinance No. 10-98 (memorandum 25-147), a rezoning in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction from A-1 agricultural to B-2 highway business for property on the north side of the 1500 block of Whiting Drive; that introduction was recorded as introduced and will proceed through the ordinance process.

Votes at a glance (formal actions summarized)
- Minutes, July 28, 2025: approved (voice vote)
- Pay the bills: approved (roll call)
- Strategic plan (memorandum 25-144): approved (roll call)
- Bulk deicing salt contract to Blackstrap Inc. (memorandum 25-141): awarded at $65.89/ton (roll call)
- Yankton Center one-day liquor license (memorandum 25-142): approved; Commissioner Birch abstained (roll call)
- Riverboat Days fireworks backup plan (memorandum 25-143): approved (roll call)
- Fox Pest Control peddler license (memorandum 25-145): denied following formal complaint (roll call)
- Introduction of Ordinance No. 10-98 (rezoning, memorandum 25-147): introduced (first reading)
- Eighth Street railroad water-main crossing bid to Fiber Construction (memorandum 25-148): awarded $815,515 (roll call)
- Fifth & Cedar parking lot to Feinberg Construction (memorandum 25-149): awarded $289,008.92 (roll call)
- Active transportation project to Feinberg Construction (memorandum 25-150): awarded $270,370 (roll call)

What the commission directed next
Where an ordinance change is required (election-date discussion later in the meeting), staff will prepare ordinance language for introduction at a subsequent meeting. Several awarded construction contracts will proceed to contractor scheduling and site work as staff and contractors finalize timelines.

Ending
The commission concluded new-business votes and moved into an executive session at the end of the meeting for personnel and contractual discussions under SDCL 1-25-2.","At its Aug. 11 meeting the Yankton City Commission approved the 2026–2030 strategic plan, awarded multiple public-works contracts including the winter deicing salt and several construction bids, approved special-event permits and denied a peddler's license for Fox Pest Control.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Yankton commissioners debate June vs. November municipal election dates after state law change

City staff say wastewater treatment plant upgrade is on track; ARPA funds and CMAR delivery used

Yankton commission approves 2026–2030 strategic plan, awards public-works contracts and denies peddler license