Box Elder council approves two rezones, flood‑plain permit and $1.999M promissory note; several agreements pass unanimously

Box Elder City Council on Oct. 7 unanimously advanced a set of land‑use, funding and contract actions, including first readings of two rezoning ordinances, approval of a flood‑plain development permit and authorization of a $1,999,000 promissory note for road reconstruction.

The council held first readings of Ordinance No. 771 to rezone Lot 1 of Sunnydale Estates (corner of Line Road and Spruce, about 1 acre) and Ordinance No. 772 to rezone Lot R on Rose Hill Drive (approximately 2.2 acres) from Residential 4 to General Light Industrial. The planning and zoning director said the two applications seek to align those parcels with existing general light industrial zoning across nearby parcels and public property. "The applicant has requested to rezone this 1 acre parcel from residential 4 to General Light Industrial," the planning and zoning director stated during the public hearing on the Sunnydale parcel. Both ordinances passed their first readings by unanimous roll call.

Associated with the Rose Hill rezone, council approved a flood‑plain development permit for an 18‑by‑25‑foot nonhabitable garage to be placed on an existing concrete slab within the identified flood plain. Planning staff said the structure will be used only for equipment storage, will have no plumbing or electrical service, and will be accessed from the applicant's adjoining residential lot rather than Rose Hill Drive. The permit was approved unanimously.

On contracts and procurement, the council approved amendment No. 1 to a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners Private Label Inc., d/b/a Service Line Warranties of America, removing prior logo‑use language and replacing it with a royalties/rights fee arrangement; the council also approved a work order to install telephones with Mid‑Continent Communications and confirmed updated primary/accounting contacts per HR. An amendment to the KLJ Engineering services agreement for the Box Elder Pedestrian Path Phase 3, previously recommended by committee, had been placed on the consent agenda and was approved with the consent items.

Finance Officer Renee Baker briefed council on a loan amendment with the South Dakota Department of Transportation for Loan No. 911401 tied to the Hotel Way project. Because the city used Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) funds as collateral, SD DOT "will withhold 1 annual payment, while our loan is satisfied," Baker said, and the payment will be returned once the loan is satisfied. Council approved the amendment unanimously.

Council also approved a promissory note through the South Dakota Housing Development Authority's Housing Infrastructure Financing Program to support the West Sunnydale Road reconstruction (Westgate Road and Cheyenne Boulevard development). The council motion authorized the mayor to sign a promissory note with a principal amount of $1,999,000; the motion carried by unanimous roll call.

All recorded votes on ordinances, permits, contracts and loan documents on the Oct. 7 agenda were taken by roll call and recorded as unanimous 'Aye' by present council members.