Mobridge council: budget first reading, hires, licenses and routine approvals — votes at a glance

The Mobridge City Council on Sept. 10 handled a slate of routine but material items, voting to approve the first reading of the 2026 Appropriations Ordinance, multiple hiring actions in the police department, a temporary malt liquor license, the sale of a surplus jet-fuel truck, a replat, equipment purchases and designated-fund movements.

Appropriations ordinance: The council took the first reading of the 2026 Appropriations Ordinance (identified in the packet as ordinance number 25 0 2) and voted to approve the first reading. Finance presenter Heather (joining remotely) summarized fund-level amounts during the reading: the general and special revenue funds were described as roughly $5.4 million (presenter phrasing unclear on exact punctuation), a water fund near $1.4 million, cemetery fund $6,200, water maintenance $7,400, and an airport figure of $55,000; the total budget figure was reported as about $7.7 million. Heather said the council is considering drawing about $700,000 from unassigned fund balance for general-fund spending, and mentioned a proposed $400,000 payoff for the armory loan to save roughly $300,000 in interest over the loan term. The second reading was scheduled for a special council meeting on Sept. 24; the ordinance must be approved by Oct. 1.

Hires and personnel actions: The council approved hiring Alan Sheldon as a police officer at $24.36 per hour, effective Aug. 25, 2025. The council also approved hiring Amy Blankhart as a dispatcher and Donovan Connect as a dispatcher, each at $21.18 per hour effective Sept. 11, 2025. Captain Gilmore announced the police hires and confirmed required certifications are pending for the officer’s schooling and background.

Equipment and surplus sales: The council approved purchase of a new meter reader (laptop, antenna and software). There is an inconsistency in the transcript: a staff speaker first referenced $22,059 for the meter reader but the motion read and carried in roll call was for $23,059; the council motion and roll call used $23,059. The council approved selling a surplus jet-fuel truck to Belle Fourche (delivered, as-is) for $22,000.

Permits, licenses and replat: The council approved a replat (location described near Greenwood Cemetery, across from the vet clinic on the Drew property). The council also approved a temporary malt-liquor license for Oct. 4 at the Sherry Hall Event Center (beer, wine and liquor for a wedding reception and dance at the Sherhauer Arena). A motion to approve presented permits and pay the bills in the packet also passed.

Fund moves and library work: Council approved moving designated fund balances from assigned to unassigned for projects approved in the 2025 budget: Pool $84,332; Bike path $18,400; Riverfront $30,000 (total moved $132,732). The council also approved a quote to repaint library trim from Rick Carlson’s Painting for $6,528; Councilmember Nate Carlson recorded an abstention on that motion.

Votes and roll-call outcomes: Most motions carried with roll-call “yes” votes. Where a specific roll-call sequence was recorded in the transcript, the meeting minutes show council members answering individually (for example: Reichert — Yes; Carlson — Yes; Kimnich — Yes; others recorded similarly). One abstention was recorded for the library repaint vote (Nate Carlson). Detailed vote rolls for each listed motion appear in the city’s official minutes.

The council adjourned after payment-of-bills approval and set a special meeting for Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. for the second reading of the appropriations ordinance.