OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Vermillion, South Dakota/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Vermillion City Council Meeting - October 6, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, October 6, 2026
BodyVermillion, South Dakota
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:36:42

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:08

I would like to call the 6 o'clock regular meeting to order, please.

0:12

Wendy, may I have a roll call?

Speaker 2

0:17

Chisman.

Speaker 3

0:18

Here.

Speaker 2

0:19

Gilbertson?

Speaker 3

0:20

Here.

Speaker 2

0:21

Howbreak?

0:22

Here.

0:22

Jenna Wine.

0:25

Lieber.

0:26

Layas.

0:29

Mura.

Speaker 1

0:30

Here.

Speaker 2

0:30

Taller.

0:31

Here.

0:32

Major O'Kelly?

Speaker 1

0:33

Here.

Speaker 2

0:34

Sands.

Speaker 1

0:37

Oh, your Honor.

0:37

You made the roll call.

0:38

Good job.

0:39

Thank you very much.

0:40

Will y'all please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Speaker 4

0:44

Pledge of Allegiance is the United States of America.

Speaker 5

0:49

And

Speaker 4

0:49

Junior

Speaker 5

0:50

Richard Sands.

Speaker 1

0:58

Thank you very much.

1:00

Have we all had a chance to uh review the minutes for the last week's meeting?

1:07

Any corrections or changes people would like to suggest to these?

1:11

In that case, I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes as written.

Unassigned speaker

1:16

So

Speaker 1

1:18

in favor, indicate by saying aye.

1:19

Aye.

1:20

Opposed, nay.

1:22

Approved.

1:23

Thank you very

Unassigned speaker

1:24

much.

Speaker 1

1:25

Are there any visitors we heard tonight on any items?

1:29

Oh, sorry, let's look at that's thank you very much.

1:32

I've always been uh helped.

1:33

Thank you very much.

1:34

Uh the agenda.

1:35

Have we all had a chance to look at the agenda?

1:38

Any changes or additions to the agenda?

1:40

I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as written.

Speaker 6

1:45

Second.

Speaker 1

1:45

All in favor of the agenda as written, we're going to say aye.

1:48

Aye.

1:48

Oppose nay.

1:50

Thank you, Jim.

1:51

The agenda is accepted as written.

Unassigned speaker

1:53

Are

Speaker 1

1:54

there any visitors we heard tonight on any items not on the agenda?

1:57

Any items not on the agenda.

1:59

If so, please come to the podium, uh, state your name, and say your name and address, and tell us what's on your

Unassigned speaker

2:08

mind.

Speaker 1

2:09

No.

Unassigned speaker

2:10

All

Speaker 1

2:10

right, in that case, under visitors we heard on the agenda, we have the Vermillion Human Relations Commission.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████25%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Utilities Management███████████11%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Economic Development█████5%
Arts And Culture████4%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Vermillion City Council Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Vermillion City Council met on October 6, 2026, to conduct routine business, approve proclamations and ordinances, and discuss policy matters including data center regulations and the 2027 budget. The meeting began with roll call, pledge, approval of minutes and agenda, followed by proclamations for Native American Day, National Arts and Humanities Month, Fire Prevention Week, and Public Power Week.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the previous meeting's minutes as written.
  • Approved the agenda as written.
  • Approved the consent agenda as written without objection.

Proclamations

  • Recognized October 12, 2026 as Native American Day in Vermillion.
  • Recognized October 2026 as National Arts and Humanities Month.
  • Recognized October 4-10, 2026 as Fire Prevention Week, with a focus on safe lithium-ion battery charging.
  • Recognized October 4-10, 2026 as Public Power Week, honoring the city's Light and Power Department.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Larry Brady, trustee for Susan French Trust, opposed a $169.92 special assessment for nuisance abatement on a property he planted with wildflowers. He argued the property was a flower garden, which is exempt under city ordinance, and that the city mowed it prematurely. He requested the assessment be voided and future mowing avoided.
  • Staff and council countered that at the time of tagging the property was overgrown and no longer a flower garden. Council members heard his testimony and later voted to postpone the assessment pending further evidence review.

Discussion Items

  • Data Center Ordinances: The Planning and Zoning Commission had forwarded six ordinances regulating data centers. City Manager John outlined options for review: scheduling a public hearing for first reading, referral to committee, or an educational session. Council members Julia Hellwick, Mike Mura, and Gary advocated for full council engagement via an educational session rather than a committee, emphasizing public input and not overstepping the commission. The council directed staff to schedule an educational session at the next available Monday noon meeting.
  • MRES S1 Agreement: Staff presented a recap of the Missouri River Energy Services S1 agreement amendment extending the term to 2067 and adjusting power procurement flexibility. Council approved the amendment.
  • Application Fee Increases: Staff proposed raising fees for annexation, variances, and vacation requests to $175 each, citing rising costs and comparison with other cities. Council approved the resolution unanimously.
  • Digger Derrick Truck Purchase: The city approved purchase of a new 2029 Altec DT85E digger derrick truck for $685,966, funded by increased Light and Power contributions over three years. Council members discussed the need for higher capacity and inflationary savings, and approved the purchase.
  • Hangar Lease Agreement: Council approved a 15-year lease extension for Vermillion Flying Service at the airport at the existing rate of $10/year, a legacy rate significantly below current market rates. Council acknowledged the favorable terms but approved as committed.
  • 2027 Budget: City Manager John presented a preliminary 2027 budget, highlighting major capital projects and revenue projections. A budget review session was scheduled for October 22, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved consent agenda, minutes, and agenda unanimously.
  • Approved ordinance 1576 (rezoning from R1 to R3) for Coyote Den LLC property by 7-0 roll call vote.
  • Postponed the $169.92 special assessment for French Investments LLC to allow review of evidence; adopted the rest of the nuisance abatement resolution.
  • Approved MRES S1 agreement amendment.
  • Approved resolution to increase application fees for annexation, variance, and vacation requests to $175 each.
  • Approved purchase of digger derrick truck for $685,966.
  • Approved 15-year hangar lease extension with Vermillion Flying Service.
  • Appointed Aaron Badke and Connor Jensen to the Tree Board; approved Patrick Morrison to Business Improvement District #2 board.
  • Directed scheduling of a data center educational session at the next Monday noon meeting.

Meeting Transcript

I would like to call the 6 o'clock regular meeting to order, please. Wendy, may I have a roll call? Chisman. Here. Gilbertson? Here. Howbreak? Here. Jenna Wine. Lieber. Layas. Mura. Here. Taller. Here. Major O'Kelly? Here. Sands. Oh, your Honor. You made the roll call. Good job. Thank you very much. Will y'all please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge of Allegiance is the United States of America. And Junior Richard Sands. Thank you very much. Have we all had a chance to uh review the minutes for the last week's meeting? Any corrections or changes people would like to suggest to these? In that case, I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes as written. So in favor, indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Approved. Thank you very much. Are there any visitors we heard tonight on any items? Oh, sorry, let's look at that's thank you very much. I've always been uh helped. Thank you very much. Uh the agenda. Have we all had a chance to look at the agenda? Any changes or additions to the agenda? I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as written. Second. All in favor of the agenda as written, we're going to say aye. Aye. Oppose nay.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com