[{"_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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6135337,"mediaKeyId","5673501-c8b09be92aa9b20838c87630b351d875","parentId",5673501,"title","Lenox council opts to start with education on motorized scooters, seeks school and police cooperation","audioSeconds",2486,"startMs",2161000,"endMs",4647000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5673501-c8b09be92aa9b20838c87630b351d875&start=2161&end=4647","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5673501-c8b09be92aa9b20838c87630b351d875/thumbnail_2161000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6135337/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Lenox-council-opts-to-start-with-education-on-motorized-scooters-seeks-school-and-police-cooperation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135337-e9ce3404f077a3af0e9286c93a5a73c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185527&Signature=HGxHAKmPdGbjCPwSzM33McSWH8txwkY0z~TQKlsE6a-M87e~YGJQCaI84mk~1n2ZU1bLhkMJ~vvYCrFtUMz3dTGHBFtxcqSlgRWtoR0KRtvXIvribb0H7b8--7DlcRqINaxDlv34Sjs69BF6n0FCS~qPn2IRm0Ks5ylcbWURvAIVIycSptdD1DHgYHW5OPRm~qw7sCa9CizXWNOR46Ff7GqY8Qa1LlCBgfRLSDXhoDjLi6L13XnW3RiVAGmdOmJQ-kiRd1lnZxeAcmHAFH0zG0jKLZV-IbAtXCoxcA~PGJpI~Jedmn-ydF4Ui27Rq5bu~Y~vbpVYeyUlMkNV9MaRZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lennox, SD","date","2025-08-25T23:55:43Z","article","Lenox — City council members discussed a recent rise in motorized scooter use and agreed to begin with community education and school partnerships rather than an immediate ordinance.

The item was added at the request of council members. A staff memo referenced an attorney‑general opinion and recent ordinances in nearby cities as background. Chief Erickson told council the problem increased markedly this year and said enforcement has been limited by clarity and scale: “This year, somebody had a good sale on them. Everybody's got one,” he said, describing widespread ownership and younger riders this season.

Council members and staff raised safety concerns, including scooters and bicycles running stop signs and operating on streets where vehicle traffic is present. Chief Erickson noted that bicycles operating on roadways are required to follow the same traffic rules as vehicles, and that younger riders often lack that training.

Rather than immediately adopting a local ordinance patterned on another city, council members asked the police and staff to pursue an education‑first approach: coordinate with the school and partners to revive a bike/scooter safety program, distribute helmets and hold a “scooter rodeo” or safety course, and identify an officer to act as a liaison for training and enforcement. One councilmember suggested a permitting or sticker system tied to a safety course as a later option to consider.

No ordinance or rule change was adopted at the meeting; the council’s direction was to develop an education and outreach plan and report back with options for enforcement that would be fair and enforceable for Lenox residents.

Ending — Staff will coordinate with the school, police and community partners on an education campaign and report back with recommendations for any regulatory or permitting steps if education proves insufficient.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lennox City Council Regular Meeting 8.25.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council discussed motorized scooters, safety risks and possible regulation. Police recommended education and parent engagement; council asked staff to pursue safety programs (bike/scooter rodeo) before drafting an ordinance.","taxTitle","Lennox, Lincoln County, South Dakota","taxId",75768,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6135342,"Council accepts updated housing study recommending 156 rental units, 267 owner units over 10 years",0,1962000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5673501-c8b09be92aa9b20838c87630b351d875&start=1962&end=1962","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5673501-c8b09be92aa9b20838c87630b351d875/thumbnail_1962000.jpg","/articles/6135342/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Council-accepts-updated-housing-study-recommending-156-rental-units-267-owner-units-over-10-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135342-f77cda63f8401724df9783145875c070/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185527&Signature=ZfrqkwMRToce5ZNAI25PrIjfAJfZqMDhi2jM0nRF75zaT1WQ6OORsiGCY7Ef4Q1I7Ffrf87vDwLqf5GYCrzCS307bkGFQvcDRSyiy633zun5yEUyDZdzK~Z8eco4QHp9iDeTz2XNgA8kIAgARauSh9svvkbph1R6BLMwA1i1A9Dc-n2Jn6JUEj8QDVLoz9Gh~63RE0P1TTH66bSXyxaU7xDH6W8H6LU3ozsDX-3vuJ8j1N9NoZVs98tMMIsSP16FO-vQtlWIZOR8dLQDHS8PIU1NgJtaHGKxX~rjssStoABQk1yNIlWMQvkU1sX6b9ktdeAKBOkukMc4sp1D3Z~B4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lenox — The city council accepted an updated housing study conducted by Parkside Planning, which projects population and housing demand growth through 2033 and lays out specific rental and ownership targets.

Burke, a consultant with Parkside, presented the study and told council the analysis combines building-permit data, a visual inspection of housing stock and renter surveys to project demand. “The basic reality is Lenox, your housing is in very good shape,” Burke said, summarizing the condition of existing housing stock.

The report projects the city population rising from 2,587 (2023) to about 3,098 by 2033 and estimates a 10‑year need of roughly 156 multifamily rental units and 267 owner‑occupied units if current demographic trends continue. Burke told the council that lower‑income renters (household income below $50,000) were often cost‑burdened—paying more than 30% of income for rent—and that mobile homes were currently meeting some rental demand.

Key recommendations in the report include a focus on rental housing (smaller multifamily developments compatible with Lenox’s scale), continued single‑family construction at current permit rates for owner demand, managed growth and code enforcement to preserve the town’s small‑town character, a collaborative remediation approach for dilapidated mobile homes, and investment in community amenities to support growth.

Councilmembers asked practical questions about product type (Burke clarified that multifamily could mean fourplexes or small apartment buildings rather than large urban complexes) and whether developments already in process—such as Countryside—were counted in the study; Burke said in‑process permits were included in the 2023–2033 modelling.

Following the presentation, a councilmember moved to accept the housing study report. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. No ordinance or regulatory change was enacted at the meeting; council and the Lenox Area Development Corporation were urged to use the study to guide implementation and developer outreach.

Ending — Staff will use the study to inform zoning, codes and development conversations and to coordinate with the Lenox Area Development Corporation as appropriate.","Consultant Burke presented Parkside’s housing study showing population and housing demand growth; council voted to accept the report and asked staff and Lenox Area Development Corp. partners to use it to guide planning.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_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},6135347,"Council weighs options for $4.5 million in corrections proceeds while utility staff highlight water-loss gains",756,501000,1257000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5673501-c8b09be92aa9b20838c87630b351d875&start=501&end=1257","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5673501-c8b09be92aa9b20838c87630b351d875/thumbnail_501000.jpg","/articles/6135347/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Council-weighs-options-for-45-million-in-corrections-proceeds-while-utility-staff-highlight-water-loss-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135347-3a3f29419b9aaf640e99cbc0fc66e516/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185527&Signature=LKy513UqXZT8KJklX1Zp1PRTNAWu17PJJco7UYri3MkDW3ZPXjNnmgc-fu2HAsT-Pf1zRl3L-a3VmQT1AHQBB9Oc-xoC--shExRYlwTtJ~2mTqCVCO2CS4L3HXvt6lEmOFEUtOkYj6xQWzw8wHF5WYmvb7XYdeKLrNxvj-tB6zJXHKOnmc6JhOZbyerJ82Q0suSb9sjTt5cmPTkmjcEZabVTdsCzZokUdwsWqPJX1tMEV3mfngboHmoyLUt-o48cFlG1owlltuzdt4EdbFn5BrL8qTG8EvyAum76zYoudEyo1pbERNwmfS~ZSl~UNnh81z3Ihpu1Zdigsa2R6TGMIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lenox — Council members discussed how to use proceeds tied to the Department of Corrections and directed staff to research legally permissible options and impacts on utility reserves and rates.

At the start of the meeting, staff reported operational gains for the city’s water system. Kyle (staff member) told council that the utility’s measured water loss dropped to 2% last month, down from an average of about 15–20% when he started six years ago. “Last month, I had a 2% water loss,” Kyle said, describing work to correct miswired meters—examples included a baseball-field irrigation meter and other facility meters that were not being captured.

The council then moved to a wider conversation about roughly $4.5 million in proceeds tied to a Department of Corrections arrangement. City staff cautioned council that the final outcome of a September vote on that matter remained uncertain and said the city should avoid committing funds to a single plan until the legal and contractual picture is clear. “I would still caution you against getting too bought into any one idea at this point,” a staff member said, noting the possibility the city may need the funds for plant upgrades.

Councilmembers asked staff to prepare analyses of options and to check what state law would permit. Tyson (staff member) and other staff were asked to: (1) model utility reserve targets and the effect on future rate increases, (2) review the city’s current funds and investment timing (money market accounts, CDs), and (3) identify capital priorities should the proceeds be available. One councilmember summarized the direction: get more work done on utility reserves and rates and report back over the coming months.

Council also discussed the timing and source of revenues used for capital projects. Staff said most internal tracking is done through the city’s fund balances while proceeds currently sit in a money-market account; some investments are structured as CDs maturing over time. Council discussed the possibility of using interest proceeds to cover relatively small ongoing obligations and the option of interfund loans for capital needs.

On implementation details, staff noted that the city’s meter fleet is approaching the end of its expected life and that replacement will be a multi‑year expense. Kyle said an average 3/4‑inch residential replacement meter costs about $380, and council estimated a future replacement program could total roughly $500,000 over the next few years depending on meter sizes and phasing. Staff recommended tracking failures and replacing meters when they fail rather than proactively replacing all at once, given current communications and replacement procedures.

Discussion also covered sewer infrastructure priorities: councilmembers agreed the Northwest lift station will likely need upgrades as the Countryside subdivision grows, and noted that even pump upgrades have hydrological limits. Staff said they will continue work with engineering consultants as needed and consider asking HDR or a similar firm to review proposed rate changes before finalizing.

No formal ordinance or appropriation was adopted at the meeting. Council voted to continue studying options and to receive regular staff updates.

Ending — Staff will return with modeled options for reserve targets, a revised utility rate analysis, and a prioritized capital list for possible use of the proceeds; council did not adopt any spending plan at the meeting.","Council members discussed uses for Department of Corrections proceeds and directed staff to study reserve levels and utility rates; utility staff reported water-loss fell to 2% after meter fixes and flagged an upcoming multi‑year meter replacement expense.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lenox council opts to start with education on motorized scooters, seeks school and police cooperation

Council accepts updated housing study recommending 156 rental units, 267 owner units over 10 years

Council weighs options for $4.5 million in corrections proceeds while utility staff highlight water-loss gains