Hot Springs council approves wage increase, software agreement, emergency-use pacts and a special-event liquor license
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Summary
Council approved a package of routine and policy items including a 40¢ wage adjustment effective Feb. 18, a SaaS agreement for advanced metering, revised use agreements with the state Wildland Fire division, and a special-sale alcohol license for the Taste of Hot Springs banquet.
At its meeting the Hot Springs City Council approved multiple resolutions and motions that affect city operations and services.
The council adopted resolution 2026-11, which amends top-of-step and hourly wages for full-time employees effective Feb. 18, 2026, reflecting a previously discussed 40¢ increase. The motion passed by voice vote.
Council also authorized the mayor to sign a software-as-a-service agreement with Census USA for the city's advanced metering infrastructure project; staff said the agreement covers software use and vendor service response obligations while implementation costs remain payable to third-party contractors. "This is an agreement for their software... there is no cost in this agreement; the cost we pay will be to Core and Maine, not to Census," staff explained.
Two revised and restated use agreements with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety Wildland Fire Division were approved: one for emergency use of the Mueller Civic Center and a second for a portion of Butler Park. Council discussion highlighted map exhibit corrections (street naming) and coordination with other shelter agreements; the Wildland Fire division will supply its own generators when necessary.
The council also approved smaller administrative items: resolution 2026-12 adjusting Southern Hills Golf Course tournament fees (including removing a temporary sign fee), automatic budget supplements covering several facility repairs (funded in part by an SDPAA insurance claim), and a travel/training request for Hot Springs Police Department attendees. Finally, council approved a special-sale alcoholic beverage license for CS Inc (doing business as Winner Circle) for the Taste of Hot Springs Chamber Awards Banquet at the Mueller Civic Center on 03/14/2026.
All motions described above passed on the record by voice or roll-call votes as noted in meeting minutes. For items that change contractual relationships or fees, staff said they would finalize technical edits (for example, correcting map exhibits and confirming exhibit verbiage) before final execution.
