Mitchell Sports and Events Authority approves $18,800 in grants for local tournaments

The Mitchell Sports and Events Authority voted June 3 to award $18,800 in grants to six local sporting events, officials said, while hearing presentations from event organizers and a year-to-date financial report for the authority.

Organizers outlined needs and expected impacts before the committee approved the awards by voice vote. Adam Trimble, who said he helps run the Palace City Soccer Cup, told the committee the tournament had 19 teams registered this year, about a dozen from outside Mitchell, and that referee fees are the largest single expense. "We have a total of 19 teams registered," Trimble said, adding that age divisions run from U9 to U14 and that the grant would primarily offset referee costs.

Cody Denny, owner of Ron's Bike Shop and organizer of the Palis City Mountain Bike Classic, said 41 racers had signed up so far for the course that uses an eight-mile lap on the north side of the lake; the requested funding was intended to help cover timing equipment costs. "It's basically offsetting our cost on the timing machine," Denny said.

A caller identified as JD described a four-event wrestling series that will include two summer dates (July 18–19) and two fall dates (Nov. 14–15). JD said the wrestling series is expanding to include adult divisions and expects to draw participants from multiple states; he said any award would pay facility rent and concession groceries and other on-site operating costs.

Silus Blind, DOC board president, asked the committee to support Dakota A Challenge volleyball after detailing the event's finances: 14 teams generated $10,500 in fee income while the budgeted expenses listed in the materials totaled $17,147. Blind said the submitted budget listed expenses rather than a requested amount; he told the committee a $6,300 grant would cover the identified shortfall.

Jim Johnson outlined the State Amateur Baseball Tournament, scheduled Aug. 5–16. Johnson said the event brings a long history to Mitchell, is the exchange club's largest fundraiser and has returned proceeds to Cadwell Park improvements in prior years. He estimated the tournament typically generates roughly 300–340 hotel room nights during the event and asked for $5,000 to cover PA announcer fees, meals for commissioners and tent rentals.

After presentations, the committee approved awards by voice vote: Palace City Soccer Cup $3,500, Palis City Mountain Bike Classic $1,200, DW girls team camps $1,100 (Jason abstained), American Outlaw Wrestling Open Showdown $2,000, State Amateur Baseball Tournament $5,000 (one abstention recorded), and Dakota A Challenge volleyball $6,000. The awards sum to $18,800.

Staff also reviewed year-to-date financials. The packet noted a $39,190 carryover approved by the city council from 2025, updating the authority's reported revenue to $189,190; current expenses listed in the report totaled $93,650. The transcript did not clearly record a single-line figure for the current available fund balance.

The committee reviewed evaluations and P&Ls for recent events, including swim meets, the DW Indoor Footsal Winter Classic, Special Olympics state basketball (which received $12,000 in support referenced in the packet) and the Battle at the Corn Palace, where organizers cited date conflicts for low attendance.

The committee set its next meeting for July 14 and adjourned.