City of Valley Springs: April 14
_________ Minutes _________
CITY OF VALLEY SPRINGS
APPROVED MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION
APRIL 6, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The Commissioners of the City of Valley Springs met in regular session on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 6:00 PM in the VS American Legion. Due to COVID-19, audience members and commissioners were required to practice social distancing within the legion meeting room. Commissioner Brian Staeffler presided. Mayor Carl Moss was absent with notice. Answering roll call were Commissioners Dean Helgeson, Lance Bauske and Lynn Schmidt. Also present was City Maintenance Blaine Eilts, Finance Officer Linda Hunnel, City Attorney Patrick Glover, and City Engineer Gabe Laber. Motion by Helgeson to approve the agenda as posted. Bauske seconded the motion. Motion carried, all voting aye.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Bauske to approve the March 9 & 15, 2021 Minutes as presented.
Schmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried, all voting aye.
CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
Motion by Helgeson to approve the April 6, 2021 Claims in the amount of $114,993.50. Bauske seconded the motion. Motion carried, all voting aye.
MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS
The Commission reviewed the March Proof of Cash Report and the March YTD Budget Report, as submitted by the Finance Officer. Motion by Bauske, second by Helgeson, to approve the March 2021 Proof of Cash Report. Motion carried, all voting aye. Staeffler noted that a CD will renew next month. Hunnel will have interest rates available at the May monthly meeting. Motion by Helgeson, second by Schmidt, to approve the March YTD Budget Report. Motion carried, all voting aye.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chris Gehrman was present to address the sewer leakage on his daughter’s lot. City Maintenance Blaine Eilts had just received the test results that day showing fecal matter in the groundwater of the specific area. Eilts said the next step would be to have a camera sent into the sewer line to determine the location of the break. This will be scheduled immediately.
Gehrman also voiced concerns about the loose gravel on Riley Street, and businesses run in residential areas; namely a car repair and a scrapping operation. Eilts has been in training sessions for water certification this week but has plans to sweep streets in the near future. Hunnel said they had been discussing the International Property Maintenance Code at the P&Z meeting and she thought adopting the IPMC would aid in code enforcement. Hunnel will begin the process by sending letters to the code violators.
CITY ENGINEER REPORT
City Engineer Gabe Laber said a contractor with the Utilities Improvement Project had inquired into starting the Valley Drive phase early if Phase One was completed ahead of time. The Commission took this under consideration; weather will be a major factor.
SRF Loan Reimbursement Pay Request
Motion by Helgeson, second by Schmidt, to approve the SRF Loan Reimbursement Pay Request in the amount of $15,500, payable to HDR, Inc. Motion carried, all voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS
Set Date for Official Election Canvas
The Commission determined that the Official Vote Canvas for the April 13th Municipal Election would be at 6 pm, April 20th in the Valley Springs City Hall.
OLD BUSINESS
Kevin Eliason-Sewer Easement
Kevin Eliason was present to discuss the request from the city to sign the Permanent Sanitary Sewer Easement for the Utilities Improvement Project. Mr. Eliason said he was not aware of the sewer main running through his property when it was purchased. He asked if he could obtain asphalt millings from the construction project to use on his driveway. Eilts said the city was using them for alleyways, Olson Street, and around the lagoon. However, any millings left from these projects will go to Mr. Eliason. Mr. Elaison stated that he was worried about his property value and the sewer main running though his property would decrease his chance of putting up a building as he was losing over an acre of land. City Attorney Patrick Glover reminded him that the sewer main has run through the lot for many years and that area has always been undevelopable. Mr. Eliason asked if there could be some compensation for the loss of land. Commissioner Staeffler said the city was not interested in purchasing utility easements. Mr. Eliason then signed the Permanent Sanitary Sewer Easement so that the project could continue without interruption. The Valley Springs City Commission, on behalf of the citizens of Valley Springs, thank Kevin Eliason for his cooperation.
Dakota Circle Temporary Easement
Brittany Nelson and Nick Hanten of Dakota Circle were present to complain about the temporary easement behind their homes that allows access to the West Acres apartments. They complained about the traffic and speeding and asked at what point the easement could be vacated. Nelson said according to the temporary easement, access to the apartments should be on the two vacant lots on Lynx Street as Lynx street was now developed. Nelson was told to contact the apartment owner as she had mentioned placing a driveway to the apartments on the Lynx Street lots at the March meeting.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
City Maintenance Supervisor Blaine Eilts gave his monthly maintenance report. Items included: refurbishing picnic tables, grading alleyways, snow removal, lagoon discharge, vehicle repair, park prep, and water inspections. Eilts asked the Commission for permission to purchase a portable post for one of the new traffic control speed signs. Bauske made a motion to purchase the post at a cost of $1800 from TrafficLogix. Helgeson seconded the motion. Motion carried, all voting aye.
Eilts also asked and was given permission to purchase a part for the water meter system that will allow a customer’s hourly usage history to be obtained in the event of an unusually high read; often the result of a leak or running toilet or circulating water softener.
Eilts spoke of the need for additional seasonal help due to his involvement with the Utility Improvement Project. Hunnel was asked to place an ad for part time maintenance help at 16 hour per week.
FINANCE OFFICER REPORT
Finance Officer Resignation
Finance Officer Hunnel gave her official resignation. Hunnel will stay until a replacement is hired and trained. Hunnel will also make herself available if her replacement needs help with any issues or procedures. Helgeson made a motion to approve Linda Hunnel’s resignation. Schmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried, all voting aye.
Hunnel had provided the Commission with a copy of the MedStar ambulance call log for informational purposes. There was also discussion concerning contributing to the Valley Springs American Legion in appreciation of their allowing the city to use the meeting room for the past year due to COVID 19 restrictions. Helgeson made a motion to donate $500 to the VS American Legion. Bauske seconded. Motion carried, all voting aye.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT –No Report
COMMISSIONER REPORTS – Commissioner Helgeson had a citizen ask about the Neighborhood Watch Program. Information will be forwarded.
ADJOURN
There being no further business before the Commission, Bauske made a motion to adjourn at 7:42 PM. Helgeson seconded. Motion carried, all voting aye. The next regular meeting of the
Valley Springs City Commission will be May 11, 2021 at 6 PM in the Valley Springs American Legion, 615 Broadway Avenue.
Linda D. Hunnel, Finance Officer Carl Moss, Mayor
CITY OF VALLEY SPRINGS April 6 2021 CLAIMS
EFTPS - U. S. DEPT OF TREASURY, $1,226.92, 031121 PR TAXES; SIOUX VALLEY ENERGY, $3,919.33, MARCH ELECTRICITY; EFTPS - U. S. DEPT OF TREASURY, $1,204.94, 032521 PR TAXES; DELTA DENTAL OF SD, $88.00, APRIL DENTAL PREM; FIRST NATIONAL BANK, $378.15, POS SUPPLY PURCH; MIDAMERICAN ENERGY, $465.33, MARCH NATURAL GAS PURCHASE; ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS COOP, $241.00, APR PHONE & INTERNET; MIDAMERICAN ENERGY, $315.99, MARCH NATURAL GAS PURCHASE; US BANK TRUST N.A., $6,024.63, QTRLY SRF LOAN PAYT; MARV’S SANITARY, INC., $56.00, APRIL GARBAGE SERVICE; VERIZON WIRELESS, $92.88, MARCH CELL PHONE USAGE; HDR ENGINEERING INC, $37,000.00, CONSTR PROJECT ENGINEERING; BLAINE EILTS, $1,423.70, 031121PR; STAEFFLER, BRIAN, $203.17, 1ST QTR PAYROLL; MOSS, CARL, $242.41, 1ST QTR PAYROLL; HELGESON, DEAN, $203.17, 1ST QTR PAYROLL; LUNSTRA, JAY, $383.82, 031121PR; BAUSKE, LANCE, $203.17, 1ST QTR PAYROLL; LINDA HUNNEL, $1,253.27, 031121PR; SCHMIDT, LYNN, $203.17, 1ST QTR PAYROLL; NAMANNY, SANDRA, $218.02, 031121 PR; SANFORD HEALTH OCC MED, $100.00, SEWER VACCINATIONS; DEPT OF ENV & NAT RESOURCES, $10.00, WATER CERTIFICATION; DEPT OF ENV & NAT RESOURCES, $250.00, CONSTRUCTION DRAINAGE FEE; BLAINE EILTS, $1,340.08, 032521PR; LUNSTRA, JAY, $729.64, 032521 PR; LINDA HUNNEL, $1,203.28, 032521PR; NUSSBAUM, RYAN, $116.40, 032521PR; NAMANNY, SANDRA, $620.44, 032521PR; SD DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, $35.00, PEST CONTROL SPRAYING LIC; SD RETIREMENT SYSTEM, $834.00, MARCH RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION; BRANDON ACE HARDWARE, $27.09, CITY MAINT & REPAIRS; BRANDON VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, $60.07, MARCH GASOLINE PURCHASE; BV JOURNAL, $153.21, MARCH PUBLICATIONS; CORE & MAIN LP, $2,550.93, WATER MAINT; DAKOTA FLUID POWER, $56.70, STREET-VEHICLE MAINT; ELAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, $301.65, STREET MAINT; HAWKINS WATER TREATMENT, $1,322.32, WATER PURIFICATION; HPSD, $1,626.66, APRIL HEALTH INS PREMIUM; MAC’S, $19.31, PARK REPAIRS; MCLEOD’S, $46.03, ELECTION SUPPLIES; MEIERHENRY SARGENT, LLP, $516.00, FEB LEGAL SERVICES; MENARDS, $436.12, CITY SUPPLY PURCH; PERFORMANCE PRESS, INC, $418.27, OFFICE SUPPLIES; SD PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY, $28.00, MARCH WATER TESTING; SD DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION, $31,711.05, SHARED USE PATH CITY SHARE; STURDEVANT’S AUTO PARTS, $174.18, VEHICLE MAINT; THOMPSON, $14,960.00, TOWER CONTROL MAINT; $114,993.50;
Published at the approximate cost of $101.00.
April 14, 2021
