Spearfish City Council Regular Session – November 2, 2026

The Spearfish City Council met in regular session on Monday, November 2, 2026, beginning at 5:39 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 625 5th Street, Spearfish. The agenda was amended early in the meeting to remove Public Works Item 15E because a late correction arrived too late to be properly posted; the item was scheduled to return at the next meeting. The council heard public comment, approved a consent agenda, and acted unanimously on the remaining items. No conflicts of interest were declared. Official meeting minutes were not available in the source materials.

Agenda Amendment and Proclamation

• Council voted to amend the agenda to remove Item 15E.
• Mayor John Senden proclaimed November 11, 2026 as Buddy Poppy Day in Spearfish, and a VFW representative accepted the proclamation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Dale, 239 West Jackson Boulevard, asked the council to re-establish the city technology committee and said he should be appointed to it. He described his Master of Science in MIS background, expressed frustration that the committee had been disbanded, and stated that if the issue is not resolved he will move to what he called a totally legal, lawful, peaceful action. No other public comment was made in person or online.

Consent Calendar

• Council approved the consent agenda containing: minutes of the October 14, 2026 special session and study session; minutes of the October 19, 2026 regular session; the Treasurer's Report dated September 30, 2026; and the access agreement with Mandy and Chad Knight of 420 North Meier Ave. for removal of a dead tree on City property accessed through the Knights' property.

Added and Adjusted Wages

• Council approved the budgeted 2026 wage additions and adjustments, including Planning Manager reclassification to $47.56, Police Corporal promotion to $36.25, Utilities Operator I new hire at $26.95, state-reimbursed wildland rate of $22.84 for Red Carded Firefighter Sean Schipp, and two new Parks Maintenance & Forestry Technicians at $26.29 and $25.65. The motion carried by roll-call vote.

Community Development

• Final Plat within the ETJ combining two residential lots into one: staff reported the plat meets the subdivision ordinance, the Planning Commission recommended approval on October 20, and no new access is proposed. Council opened and closed the public hearing with no comment and approved the final plat.
• Final Plat of Lots A, B, and C, Spring Creek Ranch Estates: staff explained the property was annexed in 2008, will create three large lots of 51, 33, and 33 acres, retains AG zoning, and does not require the city to extend utilities or improve roads. The county commission approved the associated Johnson Lane right-of-way condition. Council opened and closed the public hearing with no comment and approved the final plat.

Finance

• Approved the 2027 liquor and wine license renewals. The city currently holds 32 wine, 11 retail liquor, 10 packaged liquor, 5 restaurant liquor, and 1 convention center liquor licenses.
• Approved the $1,228,285.28 transfer from the 101-General Fund to the 201-Second Penny Sales Tax Fund for the final payment on the 2015 Sales Tax Revenue Refunding Bond. Staff said prepaying saves about one and a half years of interest.
• Approved the first reading of Ordinance 1433, supplementing the 2026 appropriations to purchase a front-end loader with V-plow that was available immediately; if deferred, delivery could take up to 18 months.
• Accepted the A&B Business Solutions proposal for managed print services at $3,268.41 per month for a 4-year term. Staff said the current monthly cost is $4,015.16 for 16 machines, the new contract saves roughly $600 per month, and it includes replacement of 7 machines plus toner and maintenance. This motion carried by roll-call vote.

Fire

• Approved additional wildland firefighter pay rates effective August 1, 2026 for Red Carded and non-Red Carded firefighters, including rates of $22.84, $25.12, and $20.44. Staff stated the annual approval was missed in the spring and needed to be backdated so volunteer firefighters can be reimbursed from state and federal incidents. The motion carried by roll-call vote.
• Approved the professional services agreement with Structural Dynamics, LLC for construction inspection of the Fire Training Tower for a total not to exceed $56,218.95. Staff described the tower as a specialized kit build used for fire and police training, with burn rooms, sensors, movable partitions, and heat resistance up to 2,200 degrees. The motion carried by roll-call vote.
• Approved the OnScene Dynamics proposal for a Type 6 Fire Upfit on the 2027 Ford F-550 for $19,427.85. Staff said the vehicle upfit was budgeted and the total project remains well under budget. The motion carried by roll-call vote.

Parks and Recreation

• Approved the extension of the short-term lease with the Northern Hills Amateur Hockey Association (Chinook) for the outdoor ice rink at Hillsview under existing terms while a long-term lease is being drafted.

Public Works

• Approved the agreement with Butte Electric Cooperative, Inc. to provide electric service to Sawmill TID #8 along Bandsaw Avenue for $130,409.45. Staff said budget authority remains for the project.
• Accepted the asphalt paving completed on Main Street between Jackson Boulevard and Grant Street for the sole purpose of paying the offered $10,000 incentive. Staff reported the Downtown Mill and Overlay project, which followed the failed 2025 chip seal, was opened to traffic by October 2, 2026 in time for the Spearfish High School homecoming parade. Acceptance was not final project acceptance; completion is expected by June 9, 2027.
• Approved the final under/over Change Order No. 1 for the 2026 Mainline Pavement Markings Project with a net decrease of $3,818.10, along with the Certificate of Final Completion and Acceptance.
• Awarded the 2027 Biosolids Hauling Services contract to Fortin Trucking & Excavating LLC for $60,060.00. Staff said the second bid was more than $9,000 higher, the bid is under the $65,000 budget, and solids are hauled to the Gillette landfill for composting. The motion carried by roll-call vote.

Bills

• Approved the bill list dated November 2, 2026, as corrected, totaling $1,126,765. The motion carried by roll-call vote.

Publication of Wages

• In accordance with SDCL 6-1-10, the council noted the published wage list, with no action required: Caleb Gallagher, Parks Maintenance & Forestry Supervisor, $32.84 effective 10-19-2026; Jonathan Beach, Utilities Operator III, $32.04 effective 9-27-2026; Jaymia Ecker, Planning Manager, $47.56 effective 10-25-2026; Saul Torres, Police Corporal, $36.25 effective 11-8-2026; and Rhyse Naylor, Utilities Operator I, $26.95 effective 11-17-2026.

Mayor and Council Discussion

• The Mayor reminded residents to vote the next day, announced the State of the Community luncheon on Thursday, and noted a public meet-and-greet for City Administrator Peter at Hudson Hall from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.
• Council and staff offered commendations for the Downtown Mill and Overlay team and the fire training tower coordination. Planning staff highlighted the Shape Spearfish development code rewrite, the Arts and Public Places advisory board, the ETJ working group, and a planning commission vacancy.

Key Outcomes

• All items on the amended agenda were approved; no motions failed. Roll-call votes on wage adjustments, the managed print contract, fire items, selected public works contracts, and the bill list carried unanimously, 4-0.
• Item 15E was removed from the agenda and will be brought back at the next meeting.
• Both public hearings were closed after no public testimony.
• The council accepted downtown asphalt paving only for payment of the $10,000 completion incentive; the full project remains open until final completion around June 9, 2027.