OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Vermillion Joint Jurisdiction and City Council Meeting Summary – August 19, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, August 19, 2025
BodyVermillion, South Dakota
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

We will call the city of Vermilion joint jurisdiction with the Clay County Commission meeting order.

0:15

Katie, will you call roll?

0:17

Collar.

0:18

Neighbor, right?

0:19

Here, call it agenda line, here.

0:27

County want to go ahead and call yours to order.

0:31

Do you want me to go through the agenda?

0:33

Okay.

0:33

Is everybody had a chance to review the agenda for the meeting?

0:36

If so, are there any changes?

0:38

There are a motion to adopt.

0:40

Move approval.

0:41

Second.

0:41

Motion approved by Councillor Price and a second by Councillor Hellig.

0:44

Any other discussion on the agenda?

0:46

All those in favor, certify by saying aye.

0:48

Aye.

0:49

Opposed saying nay.

0:52

Agenda's adopted.

0:54

We can do visitors to be heard at the same time, I think.

0:56

Okay.

0:57

I'll call the commission to order.

1:02

Eric.

1:04

Brady.

1:04

Eric.

1:06

Here.

1:06

Any conflict of interest declarations?

1:09

Hearing none.

1:10

Approval agenda.

1:12

Second.

1:13

Motion and a second.

1:14

All those in favor say aye.

1:16

Aye.

1:16

Okay.

1:21

For any item not on the agenda for the joint jurisdiction, is there any visitors to be heard?

1:28

Seeing none.

1:30

We have no old business, but we do have new business.

1:33

It's first reading of ordinance 1533 to amend the joint jurisdiction zoning regulations and reference light industrial district permitted uses definitions.

1:46

Who wants to start off?

1:47

Jose or Noah.

1:52

Good afternoon.

1:53

So for the permitted definition, it's going to be a train car repair and maintenance station.

2:00

We took it from both the truck repair and then other repair ordinances that we already have, and we folded it into the train.

2:09

But any building or any building or premise involving the maintenance service, storage, or repair of train cars, no new train cars shall be built at this location.

2:20

So this isn't the heavy industrial of building actual train cars, it's just the repairing.

2:26

So changing out the wheels, what have you.

2:30

So any questions.

2:36

Are you presenting it all, Jose?

2:37

Or I guess for the most part, uh it's just it's gonna be the same thing as what Noah mentioned.

2:42

I do want to say that during our presentation, we did give uh the planning commission two different options.

2:47

One of having to permit it use as uh Noah presented or proposed, uh, but we did ask the commissioners to consider additional uh criteria.

2:56

Uh and then the second option that we proposed was making the use a conditional use.

3:02

That way there could be a discussion at the planning and zoning meeting uh if any of the owners had any any of the neighboring owners had any concerns that that way the those concerns could be uh reduced or abated somehow during uh uh the meeting with any conditions that the planning commissions may uh put into use.

3:20

Uh the at the end of all that conversation the planning the city planning and zoning commission did uh make a motion to uh to uh recommend what's uh being presented to the council, which is uh all those uses with a red portion there, which essentially limits the hours of operation between 6 and 6 a.m.

3:39

and 9 8 and 9 p.m.

3:41

any day of the week.

3:42

Uh the city city's planning commission recommended that, and so did the after discussion.

3:48

So that the county's planning and zoning commission.

3:50

So uh thank you, Jose.

3:54

Um should be just having visitors to be heard before governing body takes discussion.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing████████████████████████████████32%
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████12%
Economic Development█████████9%
Public Safety███████7%
Zoning And Land Use████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Waste Management██2%
Transportation Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Vermillion Joint Jurisdiction and City Council Meeting Summary – August 19, 2025

The City of Vermillion held a joint jurisdiction meeting with the Clay County Commission followed by its regular city council meeting on August 19, 2025 (the transcript references Monday, August 18 for the regular meeting start, but the provided timestamp indicates August 19, likely due to the meeting lasting past midnight). Key actions included advancing a zoning ordinance for rail car repair, approving a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district for affordable housing, purchasing a new ambulance, and adopting new consent agenda procedures.

Joint Jurisdiction Meeting – First Reading of Ordinance 1533

  • Ordinance 1533 proposes amending the joint jurisdiction zoning regulations to permit a train car repair and maintenance station in the Light Industrial District. The city and county planning commissions recommended limiting hours of operation to 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Public Comment: Jim Peterson (Vermillion Chamber and Development Company) expressed strong support, noting the project would create 15–20 family-wage jobs, involve no hazardous materials, and bring rail-car inspection to an underutilized site. Cole Crosby (company representative) clarified that rail cars would be delivered during daylight hours and that BNSF would not schedule nighttime deliveries.
  • Council/Commission Discussion: No further discussion; both bodies voted unanimously to advance the ordinance to second reading.
  • Votes: City: motion to advance by Councilor Holland, second by Councilor Murrah, approved by voice vote. County: motion to advance, seconded, approved by voice vote.

Regular City Council Meeting

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from the previous meeting (August 4, 2025) – motion by Councilor Cheesman, second by Councilor Holland, passed by voice vote.
  • Adopted the agenda – motion by Councilor Price, second by Councilor Hellwig, passed by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Civilian Hero Awards: Chief of Fire EMS Matthew Callahan presented awards to Cash Mockler and Diane Hanson for their swift, life-saving actions at the city swimming pool on June 27, 2025. No public comments on non-agenda items.

Old Business

  • Second Reading of Ordinance 1537 (Rezoning Lot 8a, Block 7, Ericsson Addition from General Business to General Industrial): Staff introduced the request. No public comment. Approved by roll call vote 8–0.

New Business

1. Resolution R‑2025‑XX – TIF 12 Project Plan (502 Cottage Avenue)

  • Project: Developer’s TIF for 24 affordable two‑bedroom apartment units. Base assessed value $226,633; total eligible costs $1.8 million; requested TIF amount $1,107,917. The developer, AMS Billing Systems (Nick Slattery), stated the project cannot move forward without the TIF.
  • Public Comment:
    • Jim Peterson (Chamber) reiterated the acute housing shortage in Vermillion, citing a July 2025 study showing fewer than 15 apartments available and a need for over 200 units.
    • Nick Slattery (AMS) described the company’s local investments and commitment to filling the housing gap.
    • Don Peterson (attorney for the developer) and Skylar Mickelson (legal counsel) answered questions regarding eligible costs and interest.
  • Council Discussion:
    • Councilor Toller opposed, citing high interest cost per bedroom ($9,300) and a TIF interest‑to‑total cost ratio of 40%, far exceeding prior TIFs. He argued this sets an expensive precedent.
    • Councilor Holland expressed concern that nearly half the TIF was for interest, but noted the project would bring infrastructure to an empty lot.
    • Councilor Genowine asked about affordable housing definitions; rates provided for 2024 (60% and 80% area median income).
    • Councilor Cheesman and Mayor Cole balanced the need for housing against fiscal caution.
  • Outcome: Motion to approve by Councilor Holland, second by Councilor Genowine. Roll call vote: 5 in favor (Price, Holland, Genowine, Cheesman, Murrah) and 3 against (Toller, Hellwig? – transcript unclear but tally was 5–3). Approved.

2. Resolution R‑2025‑XX – Ambulance Purchase

  • Authorized purchase of a 2026‑or‑newer Ford F‑550 Wheeled Coach ambulance from Feldfire Equipment (Carroll, IA) for $334,509. Clay County will fund and write the check; the city will own the vehicle. Delivery expected March 2027. Approved unanimously by voice vote.

3. Commercial Collection License – Bubba Dump LLC

  • License for Mark Holmes to rent 20‑yard dumpsters in Union and Clay Counties. Annual fee $300. Approved unanimously by voice vote.

4. Amendment to City Council Rules and Procedures – Consent Agenda

  • Added a consent agenda for routine, non‑controversial items; removed the consensus agenda. Procedures allow any council member to remove an item for discussion. The amendment also authorizes inclusion of invoices payable on the consent agenda. Effective October 6, 2025. Approved with an amendment to strike “invoices payable” as a separate order‑of‑business item (motion by Councilor Hellwig, second by Councilor Price) – voice vote.

5. Resolution for Jolly Edition Lot Sales

  • Authorized the city manager to sign purchase agreements and the finance officer to attest, after city council approval of offers. Proceeds repay HIF loans. Approved unanimously by voice vote.

City Manager’s Report

  • Reminders: City offices closed Sept. 1 for Labor Day; next council meeting Sept. 2. Planning commission meets Aug. 28 for a rezoning request at 440 Adams Street.
  • USD move‑in day closures Aug. 22 (Rose Street and North Plum Street).
  • Board openings: Human Relations Commission (1‑year term), BID Board #1 (3‑year term), Historic Preservation Commission (three 3‑year terms).
  • Received a $20,000 ICMA/Gates Foundation grant for income‑qualified homeowner improvements; survey forthcoming.
  • Two raffle notifications: Vermillion High School football (beef prizes) and Vermillion Rotary Club (Monday Night Football books).

Invoices Payable

  • Item #51 (HW Contracting, $148,068 for Tom Street lift station) was pulled for separate vote; approved contingent on contractor providing required information – motion by Councilor Price, second by Councilor Holland, passed by voice vote.
  • Remaining invoices approved en bloc (motion by Councilor Price, second by Councilor Cheesman) – voice vote.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 1533 advanced to second reading (unanimous, both bodies).
  • Ordinance 1537 approved 8‑0.
  • TIF 12 project plan approved 5‑3.
  • Ambulance purchase approved (unanimous).
  • Bubba Dump license approved (unanimous).
  • Consent agenda rules approved with amendment (unanimous).
  • Jolly Edition resolution approved (unanimous).
  • Invoices: Item #51 contingent; remainder approved.

Note: The transcript includes a discrepancy in the date of the regular city council meeting. The meeting was called to order as “Monday, August 18th at 6 p.m.”, but the provided timestamp (2025-08-19 00:39:23+00:00) indicates the recording occurred after midnight on August 19, 2025. This summary uses the date provided.

Meeting Transcript

We will call the city of Vermilion joint jurisdiction with the Clay County Commission meeting order. Katie, will you call roll? Collar. Neighbor, right? Here, call it agenda line, here. County want to go ahead and call yours to order. Do you want me to go through the agenda? Okay. Is everybody had a chance to review the agenda for the meeting? If so, are there any changes? There are a motion to adopt. Move approval. Second. Motion approved by Councillor Price and a second by Councillor Hellig. Any other discussion on the agenda? All those in favor, certify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed saying nay. Agenda's adopted. We can do visitors to be heard at the same time, I think. Okay. I'll call the commission to order. Eric. Brady. Eric. Here. Any conflict of interest declarations? Hearing none. Approval agenda. Second. Motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Okay. For any item not on the agenda for the joint jurisdiction, is there any visitors to be heard? Seeing none. We have no old business, but we do have new business. It's first reading of ordinance 1533 to amend the joint jurisdiction zoning regulations and reference light industrial district permitted uses definitions. Who wants to start off? Jose or Noah. Good afternoon. So for the permitted definition, it's going to be a train car repair and maintenance station. We took it from both the truck repair and then other repair ordinances that we already have, and we folded it into the train. But any building or any building or premise involving the maintenance service, storage, or repair of train cars, no new train cars shall be built at this location. So this isn't the heavy industrial of building actual train cars, it's just the repairing. So changing out the wheels, what have you. So any questions. Are you presenting it all, Jose? Or I guess for the most part, uh it's just it's gonna be the same thing as what Noah mentioned. I do want to say that during our presentation, we did give uh the planning commission two different options.

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