Huron commission approves land transfer, golf-cart lease and fire-station HVAC replacement; announces new transfer station

Huron — The Huron City Commission on April 14 approved a quitclaim deed transferring Lot 4, Block 5 of the Southtown Third Addition to Greater Huron Development, authorized a lease for additional golf carts at Broadland Pro Shop, and authorized a capital purchase to replace the geothermal heating and cooling unit at the north fire station. Commissioners also reiterated that the city’s new solid-waste transfer station at 1552 Fourth Street SE is open to residents.

The actions came during a regularly scheduled meeting in which commissioners approved the consent agenda, heard departmental updates and voted unanimously on the three separate procurement and property-transfer items.

The approvals matter for routine city operations and public services: the property transfer clears title for private sale by Greater Huron Development; the golf-cart lease is intended to increase cart availability for Broadland Pro Shop and upcoming tournaments; and the HVAC replacement aims to restore reliable heating and cooling at the north fire station.

During public forum, Commissioner Bragg told the commission the city is continuing temporary Wednesday pickup for green yard-waste cans through April and will resume same-day collection with trash and recycling starting in May. Bragg also highlighted the city’s new solid-waste transfer station, a city-run drop-off site at 1552 Fourth Street Southeast across from the old Armor plant, which the commission said is equipped with sorting bins but remains a construction site for some final punch-list work. “The facility is up and running. It’s been great so far. Still a little bit of a mess out there as it’s still a construction site,” Bragg said.

Consent items approved without separate discussion included minutes of April 14, 2025; fuel quotes for city departments; a set of personnel items (regular status for Carrie Jelum as accounting technician effective April 20, internal postings for two water/sewer maintenance positions, the voluntary resignation of part-time library clerk Elizabeth Pollock, hiring Rhonda Yates as a part-time library clerk at the Huron Public Library, and an update on seasonal hirings for Broadland Pro Shop and Parks and Recreation); and payment of the city’s bills.

Votes at a glance

- Quitclaim deed and certificate of real estate value (transfer of Lot 4, Block 5, Southtown Third Addition to Greater Huron Development): motion approved; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous (5–0). The deed transfers title so the developer may sell the lot.

- Lease with NB Golf LLC for additional golf carts for Broadland Pro Shop: motion approved; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous (5–0). Commissioners said the lease adds carts to avoid wait times and to cover tournaments; staff said carts are expected to arrive in early May.

- Capital Asset Committee purchase from Second Penny Reserves to replace the geothermal HVAC unit at the north fire station: motion approved; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous (5–0). Fire Chief Ron Hines said the station’s compressor has failed and the building is currently running on emergency heat. “The compressor is actually locked up and melted some wires on a capacitor. So it’s running on emergency heat right now,” Hines said. Two vendor quotes were obtained; staff recorded approximately a $2,000 difference between bids and described the purchase amount in the meeting as about $21,900.

Each of the above motions was recorded by roll call as unanimous; the transcript shows all commissioners present voting in the affirmative.

Discussion and context

The golf-cart lease was presented to address shortages experienced this season and during tournaments. Staff said the net cost of adding more carts to the existing lease is comparable to the combined cost the city would have incurred by separately renting tournament carts. Commissioners said the additional carts should arrive before scheduled invitational events.

Fire-department staff reported the north station’s geothermal unit suffered mechanical failure, increasing electricity use because emergency heat is running. The Capital Asset Committee recommended using Second Penny Reserves to pay for the replacement. Staff said vendors could complete the work quickly; commissioners noted a roughly $2,000 difference between the two quotes provided.

The property-transfer item was described by staff as a routine quitclaim deed and certificate of real estate value to allow Greater Huron Development to sell Lot 4, Block 5 in the Southtown Third Addition (legal description provided at the meeting). The commission did not debate the transfer beyond the motion and roll-call vote.

Administrative notes

The meeting agenda included an added executive-session item for personnel under statutory citation listed on the agenda (personnel 1-25-2(1)); the transcript records the item was placed on the agenda but does not record the commission entering executive session during the provided excerpt.

The commission presented a proclamation recognizing National Arbor Day Week to Chad Schroeder, parks and recreation department head; the proclamation was ceremonial and not part of the substantive votes reported here.

The meeting record shows standard roll-call voting and no recorded dissent on the discussed items. Implementation of the HVAC replacement and the golf-cart deliveries depend on vendor scheduling and vendor quotes; the property conveyance enables Greater Huron Development to proceed with sale or development of the lot.

The commission adjourned regular business after completing the votes listed above.