Aberdeen City Council Meeting: Purple Heart City Proclamation and License Transfers - November 3, 2025
Aberdeen City Council Meeting: Purple Heart City Proclamation and License Transfers - November 3, 2025
The Aberdeen City Council met on November 3, 2025, at 5:30 PM. The meeting included a proclamation designating Aberdeen as a Purple Heart City, approval of several business license transfers, pay requests for infrastructure projects, and a city manager's report. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Purple Heart City Proclamation: Mayor Travis Shunman read a proclamation declaring Aberdeen a Purple Heart City. Bill Flippo, representing the Military Order of the Purple Heart for North and South Dakota, noted that Aberdeen becomes the 53rd Purple Heart City in South Dakota, joining five reservations, two universities, and Interstate 90 as part of the Purple Heart Trail. There are an estimated 500,000 living Purple Heart recipients nationwide. Flippo presented coins to council members as a sign of inclusion.
- Other consent items: Approved a daycare license renewal, a separate proclamation, a lottery notice, and retail liquor license renewals. Motion by Councilwoman Fulbert, second by Councilwoman Nelson, passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up for open forum.
Discussion Items
- License Transfers – Bon Express to Bon River LLC: Two public hearings were held for the transfer of a retail on/off-sale malt beverage, wine, and video license, and a retail on-sale liquor license from Bon Express (801 N. Highway 281) to Bon River LLC (doing business as Bon Express). Councilman Ronane noted the transfers were standard due to a business sale. Both transfers were approved unanimously.
- One-Day Alcohol License: Approved a one-day on-sale beer, wine, and cider license for the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce to host a business after hours event at the Civic Arena (203 S. Washington Street). Motion by Councilman Ward, second by Councilman Johnson, passed unanimously.
- Pay Requests – Water Tower and Transmission Line: Approved payments of $480,563.26 to Domy Construction and $744,866.50 to Landmark Structures for work on the water tower and transmission line east of 3M. City Engineer Stu reported that Domy has installed pipe up to 8th Avenue and Landmark has installed most pilings for the tower foundation. Payments were approved unanimously.
- Pay Request – Concrete Maintenance Repair: Approved a final pay request of $137,959.53 plus a change order of $117,250.35 to CWF Masonry for concrete maintenance repairs. Stu noted the project is complete and money came from next year's chip seal budget. The mayor thanked CWF Masonry, Great Plains Concrete Pumping, and Jensen Rock and Sand for volunteering additional concrete work at a new playground near First Baptist Church. Payments approved unanimously.
- Bills and Payroll: Approved payroll for the period October 19–November 1, 2025. Motion by Councilman Ward, second by Councilman Econger, passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Aberdeen was officially proclaimed a Purple Heart City, making it the 53rd such city in South Dakota.
- All three business license transfers and one-day alcohol license were approved unanimously.
- Two pay requests totaling over $1.1 million were approved for water tower/transmission line and concrete maintenance projects.
- City Manager Robin reported upcoming visits to the DANR Board of Water and Natural Resources for SWROPS funding, and a water/sewer rate study draft report expected December 8, 2025.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:50 PM.
Meeting Transcript
It's five thirty, so we'll call to order this meeting. Jordan, would you start us off with a roll call? Please respond by stating present. Council member Ronin present. Present. Johnson present. Present. Nelson. Present Norstrump. Present. Please stand with me for the pledge of patients. Move to approve. Second. I've got a motion from Econger. Second from Nelson. All in favor, please say I. Second order is to approve the minutes from last week's meeting, which took place on October twenty seventh. I would take a motion to move those minutes. Move to approve. Second. Motion leave built. Second. Nelson, does anyone have anything overlooked or any changes or comments for those minutes? All right. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Nay. Motion carries. Is anyone signed up? To speak at the open forum here at night. Looks like no, so we'll kick ahead to our consent calendar. The first item of our consent counter is a proclamation, and that's what a lot of the folks here are for. I'm gonna go ahead and read that. Whereas the city of Aberdeen and the people of Aberdeen, South Dakota have a deep and abiding respect for the men and women who have served and sacrificed those who are currently serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. And whereas the Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in present use and was initially created as a badge of military merit by General George Washington in 1782. And whereas the Purple Heart is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded in combat or paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in defense of our freedoms, and whereas the citizens of Aberdeen recognize the sacrifices made by those who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal and acknowledge their courage, devotion, and dedication to the nation. And whereas the designation of Aberdeen is a Purple Heart City serves as a reminder of the price of freedom and the sacrifices made by our veterans and the unwavering support of the community and for all those who have served. I therefore uh Travis Shunman, mayor of the City of Aberdeen, do hereby proclaim Aberdeen as a Purple Heart City. We honor and recognize all the recipients of the Purple Heart Medal and express eternal gratitude for their service and sacrifice in defending the freedoms that we hold dear. So we've got quite a few guests, and we've got one that would like to say a few words. And it was Dave, great. Bill. Bill. Sorry about that. It wasn't the same guy that I was expecting via email, so it threw me for a little bit of a loop. Bill, welcome to the meeting. Appreciate you being here. Thank you.
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