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