Hot Springs council approves routine claims, multiple contracts and park improvements; holds ordinance and resolution votes

The Hot Springs City Council approved routine claims and a series of resolutions, contracts and administrative actions at its February meeting, and directed staff on a handful of follow‑ups.

Votes at a glance - Approved the meeting agenda (voice vote). - Approved minutes of the Jan. 21 council meeting (voice vote). - Approved interim bills totaling $156,470.55 and current claims totaling $84,639.06 (voice votes). - Approved 2024 payable claims of $3,484.99 and Wells Fargo credit card claims for $5,210.15 (voice votes). - Personnel actions A–F (approved by motion). - Ordinance second reading: Ordinance 12‑62, transferring three lots in the Boulder Falls addition from rural service district to urban service district (approved by roll call). - Resolution 2025‑55 establishing guidelines for work requested of city workforce or using city equipment/materials (approved); added language allowing council to waive fees by formal action when in the city’s best interest. - Resolution 2025‑6 to surplus a wastewater Bobcat for trade‑in (approved). - Youth Baseball Association pitching machine area: approved request for 150 tons of millings (city purchase value approx. $600; city employees/equipment to transport millings to Butler Park) and authorized city staff assistance as recommended by Public Works. - Approved contract actions for Evans Plunge Mineral Springs fitness instructors: Contract 2025‑4 (Lori McNair) and Contract 2025‑5 (Monica Potts) (approved). - Extended the 2022 airport haying agreement with Merrill Haying Company for the 2025 haying season with no changes (approved). - Authorized publication of notice to bidders for the lease of one city‑owned retail on‑sale liquor license (minimum value $50,000; sealed bids to be opened March 3, 2025 at 7:15 p.m.) (approved). - Consent to assignment of the city’s solid‑waste and recycling contract from Sanders Sanitation to Waste Connections of South Dakota Inc. (approved); attorneys reviewed and amended section K as needed. - Transfer of a Toro 3500D Sidewinder mower from Southern Hills Golf Course fund to Parks Department (approved). - Reappointed Chris Katke and Asad Khan to the Business Improvement District Board for three‑year terms (approved). - Multiple travel/training requests from police staff and officers for regional conferences and trainings in Deadwood and elsewhere were approved (approved). - Approved consulting contract with Gideon Group LLC for SHSAU training (see separate article).

Among other administrative items, the council opened a notice period to accept sealed bids for a city liquor license that reverted to the city; the license has a minimum bid value of $50,000 and standard annual renewal requirements. The council also handled standard committee reports and received routine finance updates from the finance officer, who noted that early‑year revenue timing typically shows slow receipts and that staff are working on the 2024 financial statements and annual report.

A community presentation by a resident named Andrew proposed a celebratory burn of a large construction‑cone structure at Butler Park marking completion of multi‑year highway reconstruction. Andrew described materials and site preparation; council members suggested discussing logistics and public‑safety details at the safety committee and parks and recreation committee before bringing any formal item to the council. The council directed staff to include the idea on committee agendas for further review.

The meeting concluded with the council moving into an executive session for a legal matter under South Dakota Codified Law 1‑25‑2.3; no action was taken when members returned from executive session.