Huron commissioners approve floodplain rewrite, authorize storm-shelter grant applications and several departmental funding actions

The Huron City Commission on an evening meeting approved a major rewrite to the city’s flood-damage prevention ordinance, set associated permit fees, authorized two federal grant applications for a proposed storm-shelter (safe room) at the ball field, approved a progress payment on the transfer-station project and authorized several departmental grant applications and the transfer of surplus firearms to the county sheriff’s office.

City Planner Barry Cranston said the revised floodplain ordinance is an extensive rewrite intended to bring the city into compliance with federal and state requirements; he told the commission the most significant change is adding a variance process to match federal appeal procedures. "The only real process that was changed was a variance process was included so that we were in compliance with the federal appeal processes," Cranston said.

The ordinance passed on second reading by roll-call vote; commissioners voted unanimously in favor.

Why it matters: Cranston said the rewrite clarifies definitions and implements a variance procedure required by federal regulations. The new fee resolution adopted alongside the ordinance sets a permit fee structure intended to recover the city’s advertising and administrative costs when variance processes are used.

Safe room grant applications and local match letters

Ted Dickey, identified at the meeting as the project representative for the proposed Huron safe room, told commissioners the project cost estimates show a mix of eligible and ineligible items and that eligible costs follow the typical federal/state/city split for these programs (roughly 75% FEMA, 10% state, 15% city). He explained the city must sign a local-match letter that treats the state’s 10% as part of the city’s match for FEMA purposes (a state requirement), and that ineligible items would be 100% city responsibility.

Dickey said the city is applying simultaneously for two grant programs: BRIC (the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, referred to in the meeting as "BRIC/BRIC grant") and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). He told the commission the BRIC application was due to the state by Feb. 14 and that the state review can take until mid-April before it is forwarded to FEMA; FEMA review timelines can extend up to a year, he said. "So most of the time we see them act earlier, but they have up to a year to make a decision ... We're looking construction 2026, maybe. More likely 2027," Dickey said.

Commissioners approved two related resolutions and the local-match letters by roll call. Commissioners also discussed that if the city elects to proceed with the project without FEMA funding (for example, by going to bid), the city could do so but would notify FEMA/state that it was withdrawing the application.

Other approvals and departmental items

• Transfer station pay request: The commission approved Pay Request No. 11 for the transfer-station project to North Star Logistics LLC (doing business as Century Crane) in the amount presented to the commission. Assistant Engineer Dennis Bennett said the project is near 90% complete and recommended approval.

• Hazard mitigation plan participation: The commission approved a letter of commitment to continue participating in a multi-jurisdictional Beadle County hazard mitigation plan. City Planner Barry Cranston described the action as a continuation of the city’s prior commitment.

• Fire Department grant authorization: The commission authorized the fire chief to apply for $28,239.44 through the 2025 South Dakota Homeland Security grant program to fund building access-control systems for both fire stations. Fire Chief Ron (last name not specified in the transcript) said the request is the same grant he applied for last year and would fund key-fob access and door cameras.

• Police Department grant authorization: The commission authorized the police chief to apply for up to $30,000 through the Homeland Security grant program to replace ballistic shields used by patrol. Police Chief Derek Blair said the department currently has two shields he estimates are about 25 years old and described the replacement shields as rifle-rated (the current shields are pistol-rated).

• Surplus firearms: The commission approved declaring five older rifles surplus and transferring them to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, after staff said the weapons include items that can only be transferred to another law-enforcement agency under federal transfer rules (Form 5 items). The police chief said one older firearm previously disposed of returned minimal value.

Votes at a glance

- Pay Request No. 11 (transfer station to North Star Logistics LLC / Century Crane): Motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as "Aye" by Smith, Weinrich, Craig, Harvey, Mayor Robich (unanimous approval). - Ordinance 2269-18-69 (second reading; flood-damage prevention ordinance): Motion moved and seconded; second reading approved on roll call (unanimous approval). - Resolution 2025-1 (fees for flood-damage prevention permits): Motion moved and seconded; approved on roll call (unanimous approval). - Resolution 2025-2 and associated local-match letter (BRIC / FEMA storm-shelter application; applicant agent appointment): Motion moved and seconded; approved on roll call (unanimous approval). - Resolution 2025-3 (HMGP / FEMA storm-shelter application): Motion moved and seconded; approved on roll call (unanimous approval). - Departmental grant authorizations: Fire Department application for $28,239.44 (Homeland Security grant) approved; Police Department application up to $30,000 (Homeland Security grant) approved (roll-call, unanimous). - Surplus firearms transfer to Butte County Sheriff’s Office: Motion moved and seconded; approved on roll call (unanimous approval).

What’s next: Staff said the BRIC application deadline to the state is Feb. 14 and noted state review and FEMA timelines could delay final award decisions for many months; if the project is not funded at the state level it could be considered for national BRIC competition but would face far greater competition, staff said.

Ending: Commissioners handled the consent agenda and several routine items before the more substantive votes; meeting minutes and supporting project cost estimates were distributed at the meeting for commissioners’ review.