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Record of Proceedings

Aberdeen City Council Meeting - July 27, 2026: Approvals, Reports, and Data Center Timeline

City Council — Monday, July 27, 2026
BodyAberdeen, South Dakota
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:48

Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

All right.

0:12

So 530, so let's call to order this meeting.

0:14

Jordan, would you start us off with a roll call?

0:17

Please respond by stating present.

0:19

Councilmember Ronane.

0:20

Present.

0:20

Foberg.

0:21

President.

0:22

Liebelt.

0:22

Present.

0:23

Ward.

0:23

President.

0:24

Johnson present.

0:25

Econger.

0:26

President Nelson present.

0:27

Normstrom.

0:28

President.

0:28

Mayor Shoneman.

0:29

Present.

0:29

Please stand with me for the pledge.

0:50

First order of business will be to approve this week's agenda.

0:53

I take a motion.

0:54

So move.

0:55

Second.

0:56

Motion Nelson.

0:58

Second Econ.

0:59

All in favor, please say aye.

1:00

Aye.

1:01

Oppose nay.

1:02

Motion carries.

1:04

The next order will be to approve the minutes that took place last week's meeting July 20th.

1:09

In my absence.

1:11

Councilman Johnson.

1:12

Wonderful job as always.

1:14

Glad glad I'm being gone once in a while.

1:16

Let you have the reins of this thing.

1:17

I take a motion to approve those minutes.

1:19

Move to approve.

1:20

Second.

1:21

Motion label.

1:22

Second ward.

1:23

All in favor, please say aye.

1:25

Aye.

1:26

Oppose nay.

1:27

Motion carries.

1:29

We've got one speaker for our open form.

1:31

I'm just kind of shuffling her up in the order.

1:33

It is our economic development manager, Amber.

1:37

And she's here to talk, give us a little bit of an update on what she has been up to in the economic development office of the city.

1:44

Ms.

1:45

Schwab, great to see you as always.

1:47

What have you got for us this evening?

1:49

Hello, everyone, Mr.

1:50

Mayor and members of City Council.

1:53

So I'm just going to give you a brief update on items that we've been working on in economic development and public information.

1:59

As requested, I'll be doing this one time a month for all of you and the residents of Aberdeen.

2:06

So we continue to focus on long-term revitalization efforts and preparing Aberdeen for future growth.

2:13

So over the past past month, we've been evaluating city owned facilities and redevelopment opportunities.

2:18

So we're positioned to move forward when community prior priorities and funding align.

2:23

Recently we hosted the owner of the Aberdeen Mall for a community tour that showcased key city facilities and development opportunities.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████████████37%
Arts And Culture██████████████14%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████11%
Procedural█████████9%
Technology and Innovation████████8%
Community Engagement██████6%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Homelessness████4%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Aberdeen City Council Meeting - July 27, 2026

Summary

The Aberdeen City Council met on July 27, 2026, to approve consent calendar items, hear updates from the Economic Development Manager and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, approve a $250,000 pledge for the Dakota Prairie Museum expansion, adopt a working timeline for a data center ordinance, approve a resolution supporting affordable housing development, and approve several rezoning ordinances, bids, and pay requests. Key numbers include a 36% attendance increase at the museum, 71,000 website users for the CVB (up 49%), and a $68,000 grant for a bike park.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved 7 items, including a new daycare licensee, with Councilmember Ronane abstaining from item B (Bravo).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Amber Schwab (Economic Development Manager) provided a monthly update on economic development and public information efforts. Key points: evaluation of city-owned facilities, assessment of Washington Building/Civic Arena/Civic Theater (state-funded, 30-45 days), housing and lodging priorities, collaboration with local organizations, successful America 250th parade (over 5,000 participants), and upcoming web pages for community initiatives and construction updates. Also announced a $68,000 grant for the bike park at Fifth Avenue Nature (total over $100,000).

Discussion Items

  • Convention and Visitors Bureau Update (Casey Wisemantle): Presented 2026 vs 2025 website statistics: 71,000 users (up 49%), 67,000 new users (up 45%), 224 page views. Occupancy saw a 17.1% increase (Jan-May), highest in 10 years. SIC codes show lodging up 40.78%, eating up 9.53%, drinking up 1.96%. Councilmember Johnson noted a 61% drop in hunting page views; Casey attributed it partially to a social media hack. Seeking continued partnership and funding to expand marketing.
  • Dakota Prairie Museum Expansion Funding Request (Patricia, Director): Museum attendance up 36% this year. Expansion project with $7.5 million fundraising goal; city pledge of $250,000 would unlock a $1M challenge grant from Buntrock Foundation, bringing total early funding to $3M. Project cost estimated $10-15M, refined to prioritize needed spaces. City funds from promotional fund balances (2026 and 2027). Council approved unanimously.
  • Data Center Ordinance Timeline (City Attorney Ron): Proposed three public input sessions: data center industry (Aug 17), business interests (Sep 14), citizens (Aug 31). Councilman Johnson suggested switching citizens to Sep 14 to allow informed input after hearing experts. Motion to adopt timeline with that amendment passed unanimously. Further research on model ordinances and other communities' experiences requested from Amber.
  • Affordable Housing Developer Support (Astor LLC): Resolution supporting application to SD Housing Development Authority for phased development of 278 units near 25th Ave NE and N Harrison St. Council approved unanimously.
  • Rezoning Ordinances (First Readings):
    • Ordinance 260701: Rezone 210 and 316 Roosevelt St from R2 to C2 for highway commercial buffer (Aberdeen Development Corporation). Approved unanimously.
    • Ordinance 260702: Rezone 2016 Industrial Ave NE from R2 to I2 for industrial use. Approved unanimously with Councilmember Ward abstaining.
    • Ordinance (unnumbered): Rezone 824 3rd Ave SW from M to R3 for city property to be surplused to Midwest Street Medicine (volunteer medical care for unhoused). Approved unanimously.
  • Winter Deicing Salt Bid: Approved unanimously.
  • Second Street Bridge Preservation Project Proposal: Approved unanimously.
  • Pay Request for North Dakota Street Improvements: $2,144,589.08 plus change order $109,548 to Reede Construction. Total contract approx $2.76M. Approved unanimously.
  • Pay Requests for Water Tower Transmission Line: $574,513.09 to Domy Construction and $223,772.50 to Landmark Structures. Delay noted due to BNSF grade crossing work. Approved unanimously.
  • Bills and Payroll: Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Consent calendar (with one abstention), CVB report (no action, informational), Dakota Prairie Museum $250,000 pledge, data center ordinance timeline (with citizens' session moved to Sep 14), Astor LLC resolution, three rezoning ordinances (first readings), deicing salt bid, Second Street bridge proposal, North Dakota Street pay request, water tower pay request, bills/payroll.
  • Next Steps: CVB to continue seeking funding; data center ordinance public input sessions scheduled; Astor LLC to submit application; city staff to research model ordinances; BNSF to complete grade crossing; chip sealing ongoing; budget presentation next week (July 27 was a Monday, so next meeting likely Aug 3?). Promotional fund closes Aug 3.
  • Vote Tallies: All votes unanimous unless noted (abstentions: Ronane on consent item B, Ward on industrial rezoning).

Meeting Transcript

All right. So 530, so let's call to order this meeting. Jordan, would you start us off with a roll call? Please respond by stating present. Councilmember Ronane. Present. Foberg. President. Liebelt. Present. Ward. President. Johnson present. Econger. President Nelson present. Normstrom. President. Mayor Shoneman. Present. Please stand with me for the pledge. First order of business will be to approve this week's agenda. I take a motion. So move. Second. Motion Nelson. Second Econ. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Oppose nay. Motion carries. The next order will be to approve the minutes that took place last week's meeting July 20th. In my absence. Councilman Johnson. Wonderful job as always. Glad glad I'm being gone once in a while. Let you have the reins of this thing. I take a motion to approve those minutes. Move to approve. Second. Motion label. Second ward. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Oppose nay. Motion carries. We've got one speaker for our open form. I'm just kind of shuffling her up in the order. It is our economic development manager, Amber. And she's here to talk, give us a little bit of an update on what she has been up to in the economic development office of the city. Ms.

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