The Vermillion City Council met on October 7, 2025, to consider a wide range of items including public comments on an employee termination appeal, proclamations, a special permit, rezonings, a zoning appeal for a veterinary clinic, multi-year infrastructure project updates, and several appointments. The meeting lasted approximately two hours and included robust discussion on the city's on-call policy, enforcement of zoning distances, and a delayed lift station project.
Here, will you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? One nation under God and the visible with liberty and justice for all a chance to review the minutes uh from September 15, uh the special meeting, September 15 regular meeting, September 22nd special meeting. If so, are there any changes to those minutes or a motion to approve? Motion approved by Councilor Murray, second by Councillor Lieber. Any other discussion on the minutes? All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed saying nay. Minutes are approved. Adoption of the agenda. Is everyone had a chance to review the agenda? If so, are there any changes to the agenda or is there a motion to adopt the agenda? Motion to approve the agenda by uh counselor price. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councillor Hillwig. Any other discussion on the agenda? All in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Agenda's adopted. Uh for f visitors to be heard. Uh persons addressing the council, please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record. Uh, for items not on the agenda, members of the public may speak under visitors to be heard on any topic not on the agenda. Remarks are limited to five minutes and no decision will be made at this time. On each agenda item, public testimony will be taken at the beginning of each agenda item after the subject has been announced and explained by the mayor and staff. Any citizen who wishes to speak on that subject may speak for one time for five minutes on each item. Public testimony will then be closed and given to the governing body for possible action. At that point, only city council members uh and staff may discuss the current agenda item unless the council member moves to allow another person to speak in unanimous consent of the council. Questions from council members, however, may be directed to staff or members of the public through the presiding officer at any time. Also, this is our first meeting with the consent agenda. So if there is any item if you see listed on the consent agenda, which is item number seven, uh, I ask that uh somebody up from the visiting public want to speak on those items to come up during visitors to be heard uh and asked to consider to remove that from the consent agenda. At this time, is there any uh visitors to be heard on any items that are not on the agenda? And I understand we have some proclamations, we'll do those at the conclusion of it. Please come forward, speak your name and address for the record, please, before Hi there, everyone. My name is Jordan Defenbah. Uh I my address is 703 South Summit in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but I come to you representing local 1052 with AFSME Council 65, and I am representing tonight Brendan Steenek, who is an employer uh employee with public works here in Sioux Falls, specifically light and power. And you're gonna hear from a few people uh tonight that are backing Brandon in order to maintain his employment here in Vermilion. And I'm just going to read a letter from his sister, uh, who Brandon had an agreement with to stay at for the last six years. And uh how it goes. When my brother was serving our country, our family counted the days until we came home, until he came home. We waited with pride, but also with worry, knowing he was giving so much of himself to protect others. When he finally came home, we were grateful not just because he was safe, but because he carried the same dedication into serving our own community. Now, as we talk about policies and rules that affect people like him, I just want to remind everyone that remind that behind every employee there's a person, a family, who has already sacrificed and stood by them through service through late nights and through every call on duty. My brother came home from the military to keep serving right here, and I couldn't be prouder of him. For the past several years, my brother has stayed in our spare bedroom during his on-call work periods. This arrangement has allowed him to remain close to town, ensuring that he can respond quickly and reliably whenever he's needed. It has been a consistent and practical solution that supports both his professionals' responsibilities and his well being. Our family has been proud to provide him a stable and dependable place to stay while he continues to serve the community with dedication and integrity. I'm asking the city to take a serious look at revisit revising the current on calls response time rule and align this rule with real world standards and respect the dedication of those who serve Vermilion. Right now, your employees are expected to report with an unreal unrealistically short window and even stricter than what's required of doctors, emergency responders, or utility workers in neighboring towns.