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Brandon City Council approves budget adjustments, fees increases and multiple infrastructure contracts; resident raises public-comment concern
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Brandon City Council approved a supplemental budget ordinance, several resolutions raising permit and service fees, contracts for parks and utility work, and transfers of bond funds. Resident Nicole Catava told the council she and others were denied a chance to speak at a prior meeting.
At a meeting of the Brandon City Council, members approved multiple routine and project-specific measures, including a supplemental budget ordinance, fee adjustments for building and irrigation permits, a 3% increase in water and wastewater base and volume charges, and several procurement and contract actions for parks, streets and utilities.
Nicole Catava, who identified herself as a resident of 1805 South Parkview Boulevard, used the public-comment period to criticize the council’s handling of public input at the Nov. 3 meeting. “I was saddened by what our children in the audience witnessed that day with people not being allowed to speak,” Catava said, urging the council to pause when community members wish to comment and to ensure residents have an opportunity to be heard.
Votes at a glance: the council approved the meeting agenda and minutes; approved claims and the consent calendar (including wage adjustments); adopted Ordinance 7-47 (supplemental budget appropriations) on second reading; adopted Resolution 19-25 to raise the city’s mailbox-damage reimbursement from $70 to $100; adopted Resolution 20-25 updating building-permit fees and increasing the landscape irrigation permit from $17 to $35; approved Resolution 22-25 to transfer remaining bond funds to Rushmore Phase 3 (staff cited $56,700 then clarified it verbally as $94,000); approved purchase quotes for parks equipment (including three mowers at a revised total of $33,057 and $220,000 for Field D lighting from Musco); approved a roughly $25,000 parks equipment purchase; approved a $84,300 Sourcewell quote for a hydro excavator for Streets; adopted Resolution 23-25 (water rates) and Resolution 24-25 (wastewater rates), each reflecting a 3% increase; approved a two-year satellite leak-detection contract with Astera for a total of $56,500 (approximately $33,000 first year and ~$22,000 second year); approved Eastside Sewer Project Change Order No. 3 (including $178,000 in liquidated damages and a net deductive change order of $340,000) and a final pay application for $276,272; and voted to enter executive session.
City staff said the proposed 3% increases to water and wastewater rates would raise the monthly bill for an average 6,000-gallon water user by about $1.26 and the typical 4,000-gallon sewer user by about $1.96. Staff described the Astera satellite leak-detection service as an annual scan (staff and vendor descriptions varied between once and twice a year) that scans for a chemical signature and provides software access to results; council approved the two-year contract with an addendum addressing indemnification and liability limits under South Dakota law.
On parks and capital items, staff presented a contract with Norby Golf Course Design Inc. to prepare a tee-box master plan covering all 18 tees, a purchase of VFDs for pool pumps quoted at $8,620 (to be budgeted in 2026), replacement purchase of three mowers with a modest manufacturer price increase to $33,057 (still within budget due to offsetting equipment choices), and Musco lighting for Field D at Aspen Park for $220,000. Streets staff sought and received approval to trade in an older potholing machine and purchase a hydro excavator via Sourcewell, quoted at roughly $84,300 and budgeted in 2025.
Council also confirmed Brandy as the city’s Community Foundation liaison after Councilmember Marceau volunteered. Before adjourning to closed session on a separate personnel or legal matter, the council canceled the Nov. 27 briefing meeting and instructed staff to distribute materials by mail.
The meeting record shows repeated unanimous voice votes (council members answering “Aye”) for motions listed above; roll-call vote tallies by name were not recorded in the transcript excerpts.
What’s next: staff will implement the approved 2026 budget items, schedule capital work (including Field D lighting and tee-box planning), and proceed with contract signings that may include addenda addressing liability and indemnity. The council adjourned in order to meet in executive session.
