Council approves several contracts and ordinances; bids awarded for street, sewer and landfill drop-off projects

At its meeting the Brookings City Council voted on multiple consent and action items including bid awards, ordinance readings and permits. Below are the actions taken, outcomes and key details as recorded in roll call.

Votes at a glance

1) Resolution 25-077 — Award contract for the 2025-11 Capitol Street and 30 Second Avenue sanitary sewer and resurfacing project - Outcome: Approved (roll call: Specker, Tiltonburn, Wendell, Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer — all voted Aye) - Winning bidder: Rounds Construction (Brookings) - Low bid: $517,533.99 - Purpose: Install sanitary sewer on Capitol Street to allow future development north of the Marketplace (Weis property) and resurface roadway segments; coordination with My Place Hotel, Whiskey Creek and Dakota Bank Center; work to be completed before Target opens.

2) Resolution 25-076 — Award contract for public drop-off area construction at Brookings Regional Landfill - Outcome: Approved (roll call: Tiltonburn, Wendell, Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker — all voted Aye) - Winning bidder: Clark Drew Construction (Brookings) - Low bid: $217,800 - Purpose: Construct a public drop-off area to separate small-vehicle customer traffic from active landfill working-face operations; recommended in the 2023 solid waste master plan; staff estimated this low bid was substantially below engineer’s estimate and the approved allocation.

3) Ordinance 25-028 — Zoning change (first reading) for property at 2162/547 470 First Avenue (Ostrom Excavating) - Action: Introduced (first reading). No final vote recorded; second reading scheduled for Sept. 23. - Request: Rezone from B-3 to I-1 to allow a component use (concrete/rock crushing) that is not permitted in B-3; joint planning commission (city and county) recommended approval.

4) Ordinance 25-030 — Certify 2026 city property-tax levy to Brookings County finance officer (second reading and vote) - Outcome: Approved (roll call: Wendell, Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tiltonburn — all voted Aye) - Detail: Total property-tax increase for 2026 of $209,516 for a total levy amount of $4,408,219; growth and CPI factors provided by Brookings County (growth 2.09%, CPI 2.9%).

5) Ordinance 25-031 — Budget amendment number 7 to the 2025 budget (second reading and vote) - Outcome: Approved (roll call: Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tiltonburn, Wendell — all voted Aye) - Detail: Transfer $100,000 from general fund reserves/city council financial policy projects to the fire-facility capital project fund to initiate engineering and soil testing for replacing the downtown fire station; design and public engagement planned for fall with bidding in early spring pending site determination.

6) Special-event temporary alcohol permit — Brookings Area Chamber: downtown SDSU watch party (300 block of Main Ave., Oct. 4) - Outcome: Approved (roll call: Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tiltonburn, Wendell, Avery — all voted Aye) - Note: Staff recommended approval; one public comment was made during the hearing.

7) Resolution 25-003 — Authorize city manager to enter 10-year on-sale liquor operating agreement with Raya Z. Aranda (La Quintina Grill LLC d/b/a Latina Grill) - Outcome: Approved (roll call: Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tiltonburn, Wendell, Avery, Doran — all voted Aye) - Note: Applicant was present; staff noted two prior compliance check failures (most recent April 2024) and no additional violations since that date; staff recommended approval.

Other procedure notes - The consent agenda was approved by voice/roll call earlier in the meeting with all members present. - Several items introduced as first readings will return for second reading on Sept. 23 as noted by staff.

Ending: Council members approved the items listed above; staff will proceed with contract execution and project coordination where applicable.