Yankton commission approves joint-powers amendment, water-main acceptance, easements, plats and other routine items

The Yankton City Commission on July 14 approved several routine and substantive items: a tenth amendment to a joint powers agreement allowing the city of Vermillion to proceed with an equipment purchase under an SRF loan and grant; acceptance of the completed Summit Street water-main replacement project and authorization of payment to the contractor; several traffic-control installations near the Trailhead Learning Center; establishment of perpetual right-of-way easements on city-owned airport lots; approval of a plat for the Schulte Subdivision with one abstention; and a release of an option to purchase for property in Lower Yankton.

Tenth amendment to joint powers agreement (Vermillion bulldozer) The commission approved the tenth amendment to the joint powers agreement that will allow Vermillion to purchase a bulldozer that will be used at the Vermillion site and will handle refuse from Yankton City and county and private haulers. The equipment cost cited in the staff memorandum was $511,000. Vermillion was approved in March for a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan of $409,100 and a $102,000 grant; the loan term noted in the memorandum was 3.25 percent for seven years. The commission approved the amendment on unanimous roll call; the purchase can proceed once all four joint-powers parties sign the amendment.

Summit Street water main replacement and contractor payment The commission accepted the completed Summit Street water-main replacement project and authorized the finance officer to issue a manual check to Masonry Components in the amount of $159,044.25. The motion passed on roll call with all members voting yes.

Traffic-control changes (Resolution No. 25-27) The commission approved Resolution No. 25-27 to install an all-way stop at Wedgwood Drive and Highland Drive (the Trailhead Learning Center entrance) and to establish a yield condition for north–south traffic at the 209th Street and Ruth Street intersection. Staff cited federal guidance and local traffic criteria and said the measures anticipate increased traffic at and around the school. The resolution passed on roll call with all members voting yes.

Airport easements (Resolution No. 25-28) The commission approved Resolution No. 25-28 establishing perpetual right-of-way easements on Airport Lot A-2 and Airport Lot A-3. The resolution passed on unanimous roll call.

Plat approval (Resolution No. 25-29) The commission approved Resolution No. 25-29, a plat of Lot 7 of the Schulte Subdivision (3200 block of Denny Lane). Commissioner Conkling recorded an abstention; all other members voted yes.

Release of option to purchase The commission authorized the city manager to execute a release of the option to purchase described lots in Lower Yankton that had been part of a phased development agreement; developer Cody Richardson said he intends to wait for the right tenant rather than develop the final parcel speculatively. The release passed on roll call with the majority voting yes.

Consent and routine items On the consent agenda the commission established July 28, 2025, as the public hearing date for a transfer of a retail on-off sale malt beverage and farm-wine license from Yankton Missouri River Campground LLC to Brightbird Properties LLC (doing business as Yankton Missouri River KOA) at 807 Bill Baggs Road. The commission approved a transient merchant license for Harry Peeden, doing business as County Fresh Farms, to sell USDA frozen meat from a 26-foot truck at the Menards parking lot from July 23 through Aug. 22, 2025. The commission also approved the current volunteer firefighter list per SDCL workers' compensation requirements; the presiding officer abstained on that vote because they are on the list. The minutes of the June 23, 2025 meeting and the schedule of bills were approved by motion.

The commission adjourned to an executive session to discuss contractual and personnel matters under SDCL 1-25-2.