Brandon council approves multiple routine measures, equipment purchases and rate adjustments

Brandon City Council approved a package of routine agenda items, contracts and rate adjustments at its regular meeting, including liquor-license renewals, budget amendments, capital purchases and utility rate increases.

Council members voted to renew most 2026 liquor licenses after staff reported no citations for the listed businesses; one operator (Anne Peterson, dba Anne's) did not submit a renewal application. The council approved Ordinance 7-47 on its second reading to adopt supplemental budget appropriations.

The council approved several contracts and purchases: a tee-box master plan agreement with Norby Golf Course Design Inc. to address all 18 tee boxes; a roughly $84,300 Sourcewell purchase of a new hydro excavator (potholing machine) for streets operations; equipment under $25,000 for fairway maintenance; three mowers from Sourcewell (price increased to $33,000.57 after a manufacturer adjustment); and new light installation on Field D (Aspen Park) through Musco/Sourcewell for $220,000, to be phased in the 2026 budget.

Administrative resolutions passed included Resolution 19-25 (increasing mailbox damage reimbursement from $70 to $100 with receipt required), updated building permit fees based on the International Code Council’s per-square-foot values, and an increase in the landscape irrigation permit fee from $17 to $35. Resolution 22-25 moved project funds from Core Phase 2B to Rushmore Phase 3; staff initially cited $56,700 as the remainder but corrected that figure on the record to $94,000.

On utilities, the council approved Resolution 23-25 to raise water base and volume charges by 3% and Resolution 24-25 to raise wastewater charges by 3%. Staff said an average 6,000-gallon water user would see about a $1.26 monthly increase and a typical sewer user at 4,000 gallons would see about a $1.96 monthly increase.

The council approved a two-year satellite leak-detection contract with Astera for $56,500 total (spread across two years) to help identify potential water and wastewater leaks. Council members pressed staff on scan frequency and on contract liability terms; staff said the service would scan once per year and that they would add an addendum to address prorated refunds and limits on indemnification and consequential damages.

For the Eastside Sewer Project, the council approved Change Order No. 3, which included $178,000 in liquidated damages and a total deduct change order amounting to $340,000, and also approved the fourth and final pay application for $276,272. Staff reported final closeout documents had been submitted to South Dakota Housing and that the final payment had been received.

Other actions: council canceled the Nov. 27 briefing meeting due to Thanksgiving, appointed Randy as the Community Foundation liaison (council member Marceau volunteered), and approved a motion to enter executive session to address an unspecified matter at the end of the meeting.

The meeting record shows voice votes for the actions above; the council did not record roll-call tallies in the transcript for these motions.