[{"_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",6466118,"mediaKeyId","5825744-4017f19ae7a6ef9158ae79f5934ca024","parentId",5825744,"title","Votes at a glance: Brookings council and county commission approve joint rezoning, sidewalk assessments and project awards","audioSeconds",338,"startMs",3742000,"endMs",4080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825744-4017f19ae7a6ef9158ae79f5934ca024&start=3742&end=4080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825744-4017f19ae7a6ef9158ae79f5934ca024/thumbnail_3742000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466118/Brookings/Brookings-County/South-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Brookings-council-and-county-commission-approve-joint-rezoning-sidewalk-assessments-and-project-awards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466118-f13664bfff8b1928b5a2139eb8657fe9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776682217&Signature=JRZAmT6eE-MRWScB8k-38IlM28J9PN1F3lidYn0ouwVJfw31uvZxrKM0roZkNWUqefRXJFVpln8Wo2hTRBBSVQmg13ZLB9yPYpryziNCh7Bo4eqWRklUKe7ChSa2cmhhJ557-sz4HkQEDz-rO1UjC-HV2qNe1l5WujUrK9xbvceEUOy9AQNrokUONuO1imogqroeReNpqM2kjwjRDFDJTih-uRigDxq9jqE6TQC-G~CYzZZPbdym~7INwusXJPCzN5o46F0frX81fXOxtQFtGkAvh~UUeq3z4Ar0WYL1-dZhNpJtChWGxzS5oT3-GLmT8lkd4Cni~jYEIqxxmPU01g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Brookings","date","2025-09-24T17:01:39.343Z","article","The City of Brookings City Council and Brookings County Commission took several formal actions during the joint session. Below are the items the bodies voted on, the outcomes recorded on the meeting record and available vote rolls.

Ordinance 25‑028 (City) and Brookings County Ordinance 25‑25‑2025‑05 (County) — Rezoning (joint jurisdiction)
- Summary: Rezone property identified as Northeast Quarter, Northeast Quarter, excluding H‑1 and that part east and north of H‑1 in Section 14, Township 109 Range 50 (also described as 216254470 First Avenue) from a joint jurisdiction business (JJ‑B3 heavy) district to a joint jurisdiction industrial (JJ‑I1 light) district. The request was made so the existing business (Ostrand Investments) can continue crushing operations without becoming a nonconforming use after recent amendments to city zoning for asphalt, concrete and rock crushing.
- Presentation: Mike Strzok, Community Development Director, explained the rezoning was requested to bring the existing operations into a conforming industrial district after the City amended rules relating to crushing operations.
- Action & outcome: Motion to approve carried on roll call. City council members recorded “Aye”: Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tiltonburn, Wendell, Avery. County commissioners recorded “Aye”: Miller, Vanderwall, Jensen. Outcome: approved.

Resolution 25‑080 — Award bids: 2025‑03 SWR Twentieth Street South Shared‑Use Path Phase 2
- Summary: Award contract for Twentieth Street South Shared‑Use Path Phase 2 (replace sidewalk along south side of Twentieth Street South from Branch Creek to 20 Second Avenue with an 8‑foot concrete shared‑use trail).
- Bids: Lowest bidder Timmons Construction (Brookings) — low bid $288,722; city staff said this was approximately 28% below the engineer’s estimate.
- Action & outcome: Council approved award; roll call recorded ayes from council membership. Outcome: contract award approved and staff authorized to proceed.

Resolution 25‑081 — Sidewalk assessments (concrete maintenance program; Project 2024‑09 STI)
- Summary: The resolution levies assessments for city‑performed sidewalk repairs under the city’s annual sidewalk program. The city inspects 1/5 of sidewalks each year and notifies property owners; if owners opt not to perform required repairs, the city does the work and assesses the cost to the property.
- Scope: 31 property locations included in this assessment resolution. For defects caused by boulevard trees the city accepts responsibility and pays; other repairs are assessed to property owners. Property owners receive notice and can dispute assessments or pursue assistance through ICAP.
- Action & outcome: Council approved the resolution on roll call (ayes recorded: Becker, Tiltonburn, Wendell, Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer). Outcome: approved and assessments will be placed as indicated.

Licensing and operating agreements — alcohol and medical cannabis
- Transfers and operating agreements: Council approved the transfer of multiple on‑sale and convention licenses for premises at 929–931 20 Fifth Avenue (transfer to SND LLC, DBA Comfort Suites University / Domino’s events; owners Dennis Biafel and Timothy Swenson). Staff recommended and the council approved sending the transfers to the South Dakota Department of Revenue for final review and issuance. The council also approved two 10‑year operating agreements (with a five‑year midterm renewal) authorizing the city manager to enter the agreements for the on‑sale wine and convention liquor licenses for the same ownership.
- Medical cannabis: Resolution 25‑078 authorized the licensing transfer of Flower Shop LLC as a medical cannabis dispensary in Brookings; staff recommended approval and the council voted to approve the transfer and forward to the state cannabis office for final state licensing. City staff confirmed the license transfer should not interrupt patient service and that inventory is part of the business transfer documentation.

Other first/second readings
- Ordinance 25‑032 (first reading): Rezoning the West Half of the Northwest Quarter in Section 20, Township 110, Range 49 (54 acres) from Agriculture to Industrial Light (I‑1). This item was introduced and received a unanimous planning commission recommendation; no final action was taken at this meeting (first reading only).

What happens next
- Rezoning and award decisions become part of the municipal record; staff will implement contract awards and follow assessment processes. Transfers of licenses proceed to state agencies (Department of Revenue or state cannabis office) for final approval and issuance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 9/23/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The joint City of Brookings and Brookings County bodies approved a rezoning in the joint jurisdiction for Ostrand Investments, awarded a shared‑use path construction contract, levied sidewalk assessments and approved several liquor and medical cannabis license transfers and operating agreements.","taxTitle","Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota","taxId",68683,"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},6466123,"Brookings council reviews 10‑year CIP, plans $4.5M for streets and $1.5M for Fifth Street Gym improvements",247,725000,972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825744-4017f19ae7a6ef9158ae79f5934ca024&start=725&end=972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825744-4017f19ae7a6ef9158ae79f5934ca024/thumbnail_725000.jpg","/articles/6466123/Brookings/Brookings-County/South-Dakota/Brookings-council-reviews-10year-CIP-plans-45M-for-streets-and-15M-for-Fifth-Street-Gym-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466123-9bf73b91745dba1c405cf33681c6d5a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776682217&Signature=Qh76QciuOfVJtrdEAOoKckuZQ8vMJxNDe8pioet1st0VgqA34HYABxGwsWtUcysqiJypfldmY2M47CMaUuSXlLF3cD~6RdlWyqTWiikwYErcKuAfMrhbEhbz0dfYOtfD2Dx0caHDWCNIF5Y5w7wU1vJpXoPT7NZY~a~goyCpibx1i~586QhYmFmSowkK~pjciweflcZYqHGQWR7LC3Yirpb36ZgAEqOxW-FPexN2kFyOJOBJHhFKbIxiyDAhG0Ecy1kF85uDJz5sFOapwApG8SDPRqIxddyyx1eYGSz57C4NXbtVKiL6Xiy2Ei96JHPlynxkgneR3OLrDy87slZtNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented the second budget workshop focused on the 10‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) and proposed consolidated fee schedule changes.

Samantha Beckman, assistant to the city manager, opened the workshop and said staff will return to adopt ordinances in the formal process beginning in August and that an optional recap session is tentatively scheduled for October 14. Ashley Rensch, finance director, and Beckman led a department‑by‑department review and the 10‑year outlook.

Staff said the replacement/major capital threshold for inclusion in the CIP is $25,000. Highlights summarized during the presentation include $4.5 million in street projects over the planning horizon, about $1 million annually in outside agency payments (to SDSU PAC and Brookings Health System) that staff expect to end after 2027, and a $450,000 allocation for 2026 toward the Fifth Street Gym addition with roughly $1.5 million planned for that facility over the next five to six years.

Beckman said the city budgets a conservative 2% interest rate on money market accounts and expects 3% sales tax growth and 5% property tax growth in the coming year. She said the total budget would decrease overall by about $650,000 compared with the current year primarily because one‑time projects scheduled for 2026 will not repeat.

Staff described major department drivers: public works and public safety account for most capital and transfer expenditures, with public works focused on street maintenance (overlays, chip seal and slurry), and public safety on vehicle and equipment replacements. The presentation listed $330,000 for police vehicles in 2026 (approximately three fully equipped patrol vehicles) and noted planned fire engine and platform truck replacements financed over multiple years.

Other CIP items explained included airport improvements contingent upon additional grant funding, $470,000 in Dakota Bank Center work (equipment, exterior storage and access drive, AV/IT upgrades), continued funding for the tree‑planting program and public art (tied to 1% of eligible capital), and a capped sinking fund for unexpected repairs set at $1,000,000.

Council members asked about the capital planning process, equipment lifecycles and contingencies for delayed deliveries. John Thompson of Public Works explained pavement management reviews every three to five years and a fleet replacement program that evaluates useful life, hours and maintenance trends. A police department representative described a fleet replacement approach (started in 2022) that phases vehicle replacement every three to five years to avoid clustering large purchases.

On fees, staff proposed a 3% increase for solid‑waste and storm drainage charges, an increase in mobile home disposal to $500 (from $265.25), a $5 annual increase for some sign fees, higher removal fees for flags ($40 to $60) and banners ($100 to $160), and increases in zoning and permit billing (zoning fees up $25–$50; building permit fees rising $5–$10 per square foot). The city also plans fee analyses for airport and parks/recreation fees.

Beckman said the council currently has about $18.5 million saved toward first‑priority projects (fire station and police facility) but that the police facility budget recently increased in estimates from about $17 million to about $19 million; additional revenue or financing would likely be needed to finish the project. Staff emphasized the city’s priority to preserve existing infrastructure before expanding services or adding new streets.

Council members exchanged questions about public engagement for the bike master plan implementation, grant reliance for specific projects, and the timing of bond repayment (staff noted current bond payments are forecast to end in the early 2030s). Beckman closed by asking whether the council wanted the optional October 14 recap on the budget workshop.","At budget workshop No. 2 city staff reviewed the 10‑year capital improvement plan and proposed fee schedule changes, including $4.5 million for streets, $450,000 in 2026 for the Fifth Street Gym addition, and a proposed general 3% increase to certain fees.",{"_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},6466127,"Brookings to pilot yearlong food‑waste composting program with four drop‑off sites",156,2857000,3013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825744-4017f19ae7a6ef9158ae79f5934ca024&start=2857&end=3013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825744-4017f19ae7a6ef9158ae79f5934ca024/thumbnail_2857000.jpg","/articles/6466127/Brookings/Brookings-County/South-Dakota/Brookings-to-pilot-yearlong-foodwaste-composting-program-with-four-dropoff-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466127-5bc6554070679bd7595be5e9ecdf305a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776682217&Signature=aRiiuDEiejRjVIsp5u1Wb6aRJ2do1bMDq~pKb5rGrWxq1MyQBZpqxXH3tXz4m65an09WDV~7c8q~2zlxoj2lvqlNqWHaapL5PP4rzBVBW8FEMy~IddIaT98cHfqBxRzdwfz--7WvdKp8B91or0Br29xFMaxC3FkfLePZM4PNW7m6gmXtDhhW09DYev67LQABMQWrYx15Ix1f7GMnRLjeRAB0CHXWV8FrJKvcDOACEk8Dn-863~qcChuWFLEdgHbzzfQNwaVGG-cQvrURDyitlHR1AGTFnvNw~9PswfLmmMTys9A6I3~-cQUpNeU1SH2zFZv8ggflk0hw2yr2JxCnwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brookings will run a yearlong pilot food‑waste composting program in 2025–26 after the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources selected the city as a test site.

The city’s landfill director, identified in the meeting as Charlie, said the pilot is a feasibility study that will evaluate local infrastructure and public interest and help the state consider future permitting and funding approaches. “They are doing it as a feasibility study,” Charlie said.

Under the pilot, residents will collect food scraps at home and bring them to one of four drop‑off sites: the street department, the east fire station, the south fire station and the landfill. The city will supply gray 95‑gallon containers at the sites and will provide free two‑and‑a‑half‑gallon compostable bags and promotional two‑gallon buckets at the farmers market on October 4 and October 18; additional buckets will be for sale at the landfill office for $10 each. The director said the city initially ordered about 250 buckets to distribute.

Collected material will be transported weekly to the Citizens Campus, where staff will keep the loads in a separate area for mixing and operational monitoring. The city will track moisture and temperature and perform lab testing as part of the pilot. Charlie described operational procedures: staff will “track the loads coming in, mix the compost, test it. We look for moisture. We look for temperature.”

The pilot is designed to reduce methane generation in landfills and extend landfill life by removing food scraps, the director said. He also noted potential downstream benefits if the pilot scales up: “There’s some stipulations with the state on what we can do with it…if this takes off on a community level, of bringing in SDSU” or other partners, he said.

City and council members asked several operational questions at the meeting. Council Member Tiltonburn asked whether the compost will be treated and whether there is an ideal participation level; the director said treatment steps would follow state guidelines and that the city does not yet have a numeric participation target. He said the state has waived certain permitting requirements for the pilot year but that permanent implementation would require compliance with existing regulations.

Council members also asked about program scale and logistics. The city will provide free replacement compost bags at the drop‑off stands and expects to adjust operations based on participation. Officials said the city will reevaluate the pilot at the end of the year and decide whether to expand, alter or end the program.

The pilot will also supply data for the state’s broader effort to frame composting policies, permit approaches and funding strategies. The landfill director said the program will help the state determine “what else they can do to kind of support the needs of the community.”

The council’s discussion emphasized public education and future possibilities: one council member noted the pilot could be a step toward a local anaerobic digestion system if feedstocks and end‑product uses justify it. The director and other staff said they will monitor participation and operational performance and will report back to the council at the end of the pilot year.","The city will run a one‑year pilot composting program in partnership with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Residents will be able to drop food scraps at four sites and staff will process and test the material at the Citizens Campus.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Brookings council and county commission approve joint rezoning, sidewalk assessments and project awards

Brookings council reviews 10‑year CIP, plans $4.5M for streets and $1.5M for Fifth Street Gym improvements

Brookings to pilot yearlong food‑waste composting program with four drop‑off sites