Mobridge council approves water‑plant pay request, insurance renewal, audio upgrade and library repairs; cyber insurance deferred

The Mobridge City Council approved a set of routine and project motions Tuesday night and deferred a proposed cyber‑insurance purchase to the March meeting.

Votes at a glance - Pay request (Century) for water treatment plant materials, pay request #2 — $39,363.01: Approved (roll call: Jensen — yes; Kimnitz — yes; Mound — yes; Cerny — yes; Reichert — yes). Motion passed. - 2025 insurance renewal (total premium reported by staff: $144,006.86): Approved (roll call: Kimnitz — yes; Mound — yes; Cerny — yes; Reichert — yes; Jensen — yes). Motion passed. - Cyber insurance quote (one‑year premium $5,200): Deferred to March (motion to defer approved; roll call: Mound — yes; Cerny — yes; Reichert — yes; Jensen — yes; Kimnitz — yes). Outcome: postponed pending further input. - Temporary liquor license: Mobridge Regional Healthcare Foundation Kentucky Derby gala (event date listed as 2025‑04‑03) at Sherhow Event Center — license to serve beer, wine and liquor: Approved (roll call: Kemnitz — yes; Jensen — yes; Reichert — yes; Cerny — yes; Mound — yes). Motion passed. - Designation of official depositories (Dakota Bank, First Interstate Bank, South Dakota Public Funds Investment Trust): Approved. (roll call: Kemnitz — yes; Jensen — yes; Reichert — yes; Cerny — yes; Mound — yes.) - Council chambers audio upgrade: Approved quote $18,535 for new cameras/ceiling microphones to improve in‑room and streamed audio: Approved (roll call: Jensen — yes; Reichert — yes; Cerny — yes; Mound — yes; Kamnitz — yes). Motion passed. - Library building tuck‑pointing project: Approved contract/quote; staff stated a Deadwood grant and a foundation pledge were part of the funding mix and a shortfall of $2,857 remained on the quote (staff to sign the agreement and proceed). (roll call: Reichert — yes; Cerny — yes; Mound — yes; Kimnitz — yes; Jensen — yes). Motion passed. - Cemetery deed transfer (details in packet): Approved (roll call: Cerny — yes; Mound — yes; Kamnitz — yes; Jensen — yes; Reichert — yes). Motion passed. - Payment of bills: Approved (roll call recorded several council members voting yes). Motion passed.

What council heard and staff notes - Water/wastewater pay request: Kurt (water/wastewater staff) presented pay request #2 from Century for items including chains and flocculators for the water‑treatment project; council approved payment of $39,363.01. - Insurance renewal: Staff reported the 2025 insurance renewal premium of $144,006.86, a 27% increase driven by higher commercial property valuations, reinsurance market pressure and increased law‑enforcement liability claims nationally. Staff recommended remaining with the city’s carrier, Travelers, after outreach to other carriers. - Cyber insurance: Staff presented a separate quote for cyber/fraud coverage (one‑year premium $5,200). Council voted to defer that item to March so the insurance agent (absent at the meeting) could be present for Q&A. - Library project funding: Staff reported having a $15,000 grant award (referenced as a Deadwood grant), $15,000 in the restricted library account and a $15,000 pledge from the library foundation; staff said the current contractor quote exceeded the earlier estimate and left a balance of $2,857 to be covered; council approved the quote and authorized staff to sign the agreement. - Other routine items: Council approved designation of depositories and authorized a temporary liquor license for the Mobridge Regional Healthcare Foundation’s fundraiser.

Next meetings and follow up - The council asked staff to return with the revised short‑term rental ordinance in March and to present the insurance agent at that meeting to answer remaining cyber‑insurance questions. The cyber insurance item was explicitly postponed to allow further information and discussion.

Ending: The council adjourned after approving routine bills and directing staff on follow‑up items.