Aberdeen council approves budget supplements, rezones, license transfers and infrastructure bids; water-tower project delayed

The Aberdeen City Council approved a package of ordinances, rezones, alcohol-license transfers and procurement awards and heard from City Manager Robin that the Corps of Engineers lacks budget to review the city—s water-tower and transmission-line application, a development that will delay that infrastructure project.

Council adopted three ordinances on second and final reading that supplement the 2025 budget and authorize a sales-tax revenue bond; approved two rezones; authorized multiple transfers and renewals of liquor licenses; and awarded bids for a sanitary sewer lining project and for utility materials used by the city—s utility division.

Why it matters: the adopted budget supplements and the sales-tax revenue bond affect how the City of Aberdeen will fund parks, forestry and other unanticipated 2025 projects and set a borrowing framework tied to sales-tax collections. The procurement awards and license transfers clear pending operational items; the Corps— decision on the water-tower review pauses a multi-year infrastructure project central to city water transmission.

Ordinances and rezones

- Ordinance 25-04-03 (supplement to 2025 budget for Parks, Recreation and Forestry): adopted on second reading. Staff recommended approval and the council approved on roll call with council members recording aye votes; motion carried.

- Ordinance 25-04-04 (supplementing 2025 budget for unanticipated projects and expenditures): adopted on second reading. Council recorded one abstention during roll call; the ordinance was approved.

- Ordinance 25-04-05 (relating to sales-tax revenue bond series 2025A, authorizing issuance and payment provisions): adopted on second reading. Finance officer Jordan McQuillan clarified that the reference is to 50% of the city—s sales-tax revenue, not 50% of all city revenues; staff recommended approval and the ordinance passed on roll call.

- Ordinance 25-04-01 (petition to rezone A1 to R2 at 510/516/02161020 Fifth Ave. NE, west of Baird Park): adopted on second reading after no changes were reported and staff recommended approval.

- Ordinance 25-04-02 (petition to rezone I2 to C2 at 105 and 111 Brown County 19 South, about a quarter mile south of 3AM): adopted on second reading; staff said the intent is for the properties to be zoned the same as neighboring buildings.

Alcohol-license transfers and renewals

- The council approved transfer of three licenses from Kessler's Inc. to Coburns Inc.: a package off-sale liquor license (PL4417), a wine and cider license (RW19541) and a retail on/off-sale malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine license (RB25858). The public hearing drew no speakers and the council approved the transfers by voice vote.

- The council approved transfer and renewal of two Lafayette Casino liquor and video lottery licenses to Heartland Casino LLC (RB2227 and RB2768). No public testimony was offered; the council approved the transfers by voice vote.

- The council approved a special one-day retail on-sale liquor license for May 2, 2025, for the Market on the Plaza to serve at a spring concert and dance at the ARC Library; one council member noted an abstention and the clerk recorded that abstention before the motion passed.

Procurement and bid awards

- Sanitary sewer lining: the council approved a bid from Municipal Pipe Tool Company of Hudson, Iowa, for $178,529.55 to line portions of the sanitary sewer system. Public Works Director Stew Nelson told the council the company performed the prior lining project and staff recommended awarding the work to the low bidder.

- Utility materials (water main pipe, sewer pipe, casting bid schedules): the council approved the recommended bid from Coramain (vendor name as stated in staff materials) for utility materials and authorized the city manager and finance officer to execute documents after city-attorney review. Staff noted two bids were received; one proposal arrived a day late and was therefore not considered.

Other business

- The council approved the bills list for April 28, 2025, by roll call.

- City Manager Robin reported that the city submitted the water-tower and transmission-line paperwork to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but was told the Corps lacks budget to review the application at this time. Robin said staff will discuss options with the Economic Development Administration and consider staging parts of the project; she told the council the delay will significantly slow the project and said it is unlikely the work will be bid this year.

Quotes

"I would clarify that the commitment will be not 50% of our revenue, but 50% of our sales tax revenue," finance officer Jordan McQuillan said while introducing the sales-tax revenue bond ordinance.

"Municipal Pipe Tool did the last lining project that we had in town and did good work," Public Works Director Stew Nelson said in recommending the sewer lining bid.

City Manager Robin said the Corps "don't have the budget to be able to review it," referring to the water-tower and transmission-line application and warning of a substantial delay.

Votes at a glance (key outcomes)

- Ordinance 25-04-03 (parks budget supplement): adopted (roll call; recorded ayes; motion carried). - Ordinance 25-04-04 (unanticipated 2025 projects): adopted (roll call; one abstention; motion carried). - Ordinance 25-04-05 (sales-tax revenue bond series 2025A): adopted (roll call; recorded ayes; motion carried). - Ordinance 25-04-01 (rezoning A1 to R2, Fifth Ave. NE): adopted (roll call; recorded ayes; motion carried). - Ordinance 25-04-02 (rezoning I2 to C2, Brown County 19 South): adopted (roll call; recorded ayes; motion carried). - Alcohol-license transfers (Kessler's to Coburns; Lafayette Casino to Heartland Casino): approved (public hearings closed with no testimony; voice votes; clerk recorded approvals). - One-day retail liquor license for May 2, 2025 (Market on the Plaza at ARC Library): approved (recorded abstention; motion carried). - Sanitary sewer lining bid to Municipal Pipe Tool Company: awarded ($178,529.55; motion approved). - Utility materials bid (PublixWorks/utility division 2025 bid tab): awarded (recommended vendor: Coramain; motion approved). - Bills list, April 28, 2025: approved (roll call).

What the council said it would do next: staff will return if needed with options for the water-tower/transmission-line project after discussions with federal partners; procurement awardees will proceed to contract paperwork and signature after final legal review.

(Article based on council meeting transcript excerpts and presenter remarks recorded in the meeting.)