Flandreau council approves retail alcohol license, fundraiser permit, staff payroll placement and internal loan for fire truck; Mediacom franchise gets first‑he

The Flandreau City Council voted on a series of routine and substantive items during the meeting, approving two alcohol permits, a personnel pay placement for the summer recreation director and an internal loan from city enterprise funds to finance a used fire truck. Council members also held the first reading of an ordinance to extend the Mediacom franchise and moved into an executive session for legal purposes at the end of the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Family Dollar retail on‑ and off‑sale wine and cider license: Motion to approve carried by voice vote after a brief public hearing; no members recorded opposed. - Special alcoholic beverage license for a baseball association fundraiser at the community center: Motion to approve carried by voice vote following explanation that proceeds benefit a local resident with thyroid cancer. - Placement of Emma Peters on the summer recreation director wage scale (step 3 — $4,335.86): Motion to approve carried; funding comes from the summer recreation budget. - Internal enterprise loan to finance a used 2007 International fire engine (Resolution 2025‑02): Council approved an internal loan arrangement using utility enterprise funds to cover $150,000 of the $200,000 purchase; the loan terms presented included single annual payments with 1% interest compounded quarterly and repayment schedules split across the electric and sewer enterprises. - First reading, ordinance to extend Mediacom franchise: First reading held; no final action taken at this meeting. City staff explained the extension would continue the existing franchise fee structure; council discussion noted that franchise fee revenues have declined as cable subscriptions fall. - Procedural votes: adoption of the meeting agenda, approval of Jan. 21 minutes, approval of bills, and approval of administrative reports were all carried by voice votes. - Executive session: Council moved into executive session for legal purposes at 7:24 p.m.

What the fire truck financing covers City staff explained the council previously authorized purchase of a used fire engine for $200,000. Council had $50,000 available from prior vehicle reserves; the city proposed bridging the remaining $150,000 through internal loans from the electric and sewer enterprise funds. The staff recommendation presented loan terms at 1% interest (compounded quarterly) with annual payments to simplify accounting; staff estimated roughly $5,400 per year due from sewer and about $11,000 per year due from electric to repay principal and interest (estimates presented by staff). Council approved the resolution authorizing the internal loan and the mayor’s signature to complete the purchase.

Mediacom franchise first reading City staff explained the ordinance before council would extend the city’s franchise agreement with Mediacom for an additional five years under the existing franchise fee arrangement (a 5% fee on gross cable revenue under the city’s franchise agreement). Staff cautioned that franchise fee revenue has been declining as more customers shift from cable to streaming services; no final vote on the ordinance was taken at this meeting (first reading only).

Personnel and administration City staff reported that Emma Peters has been the summer recreation director and recommended placing her at step 3 on the summer pay scale, at $4,335.86 for the season; council approved the placement and staff confirmed the cost is funded from the summer recreation budget. Staff also said they are advertising for a pool manager position and provided updates on armory locker‑room renovations and a newly delivered public works pickup.

Procedure and public comment Public hearings were opened and closed on the two beverage permits; one public commenter described the baseball fundraiser and its intended beneficiary. All permit approvals were carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Several council members encouraged the youth recreation organizers and thanked volunteers for their work.

Ending With routine procedural business completed and several approvals recorded, the council moved into executive session for legal purposes at 7:24 p.m. for matters not reported out during the public portion of the meeting.