Mobridge council approves water pay requests, personnel increases and budget transfers; hears housing CTE project update

The Mobridge City Council on Dec. 10 approved pay requests tied to two ongoing water projects, several personnel step increases, and a set of budget transfers, and heard an update on a high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) house project.

Moore Engineering representative Michael Gorder said Pay Request No. 9 to Preload LLC for work on the city’s water storage tank and transmission line totaled $31,635 for backfilling and site restoration and that he expects one or two additional final pay requests before the contract is complete. The council moved, seconded and approved that payment by roll call.

Gorder also presented Pay Request No. 7 from Century for work on Basin No. 3 of the water treatment plant, reporting the request at $347,754.76 for equipment and structural work (flocculator equipment, chain scraper, baffle walls). The council approved that payment by roll call.

On personnel matters the council approved a step increase for Officer Michael (transcript name: Michael Volts), raising his hourly rate from $24.36 to $27.21 effective Nov. 17, 2025, and approved a step increase for dispatcher Snowy Firecloud Schmidt from $25.68 to $26.03 effective Dec. 1, 2025. The council also approved a level increase for Officer Mero for certification and one year of service; the transcript record of the new hourly rate for that increase is garbled and the wage amount is not specified here.

Council approved declaring a Ford Explorer surplus and authorized disposal, and approved annual and routine contracts and items including the city’s annual NECOG contract (city portion $1,806.63), renewal of short-term rental licenses where staff confirmed applications met requirements, and a pound-services agreement with Waihi Vet (the agreement was updated from the last review in 2019 and will auto-renew annually unless changed by either party).

In finance votes the council approved a supplemental appropriations ordinance first reading that staff said supplements roughly $252,000 in the current year—largely grant- and donation-funded—and requires about $100,000 from unassigned fund balance after accounting for grants and donations. The council also approved budgeted transfers to support operations: $50,000 from the general fund to the pool loan fund; $283,392 from the PSAP special revenue fund to the general fund to offset dispatcher salaries (staff said the city runs PSAP services for 10 counties); $20,000 from the general fund to the cemetery fund to cover lower-than-projected sales; and $40,000 from the general fund to the airport fund.

Ben Donnell of Gradymark Insurance Solutions (Key Insurance) reviewed the city’s insurance renewal package, describing property, liability and inland marine coverage and discussing umbrella liability limits. Donnell said trimming the umbrella from $7 million to $5 million would reduce the annual premium by a modest amount; after discussion the council approved the insurance renewal package as presented.

On codes the council introduced Ordinance 25-04 at first reading, which would prohibit depositing private-property snow onto public streets, rights-of-way, alleys or city-owned property and allow the city to recover removal costs at a stated hourly rate.

During informational items staff reported one building permit in the packet, a successful tree-lighting event that drew roughly 90 people Friday evening and about 40 the following morning, and that the city was not awarded the LWCF grant for a proposed splash pad this fiscal year.

A presenter representing the Mobridge Housing Redevelopment Commission and the Mobridge High School CTE program updated the council on the 202 3rd Avenue West house project, saying the structure is fully enclosed, interior walls are set, garage doors are in place and the project remains on track for completion by the end of the school year. The presenter publicly thanked a long list of businesses, organizations and volunteers who donated labor, materials or time.

The council met in executive session on a personnel matter and returned at 6:15 p.m. with no action taken. The meeting concluded after approval of payment of the bills and an adjournment motion.

Votes at a glance

- Pay Request No. 9 (Preload LLC) — $31,635 — approved by roll call. - Pay Request No. 7 (Century) — $347,754.76 — approved by roll call. - Officer Michael step increase — approved by roll call. - Dispatcher Snowy Firecloud Schmidt step increase — approved by roll call. - Officer Mero level increase — approved by roll call (new hourly rate not specified in transcript). - Pound-services agreement (Waihi Vet) — approved by roll call. - NECOG contract (city share $1,806.63) — approved by roll call. - Resolution 25-14 (audited financials for recipients of $50,000+ in public funds) — approved by roll call. - Ordinance 25-03 (supplemental appropriations) — first reading approved by roll call. - Ordinance 25-04 (prohibit pushing snow onto city property) — first reading approved by roll call. - Budget transfers: $50,000 (pool loan), $283,392 (PSAP to general), $20,000 (cemetery), $40,000 (airport) — all approved by roll call.

Who said what (selected attributions)

- Michael Gorder, Moore Engineering: presented the two water-related pay requests and said he expects one or two more final pay requests on the tank/transmission project. - Ben Donnell, Gradymark Insurance Solutions (Key Insurance): summarized the city insurance renewal and the tradeoffs of umbrella coverage levels. - Housing representative, on behalf of the Mobridge Housing Redevelopment Commission and Mobridge High School CTE program: said the CTE house at 202 3rd Avenue West is fully enclosed and aimed for completion by the end of the school year.

What’s next

The council scheduled a year-end meeting for Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. The supplemental-appropriations ordinance (25-03) and the snow ordinance (25-04) were introduced at first reading and will return for additional consideration per the city’s ordinance process.