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City approves fire department budget adjustment


Tea City Council president Jim Erck presided over the Feb. 20 council meeting at its new meeting time of 6 p.m., where they approved an adjustment to the fire department budget.

After reviewing the portions the city pays and what the townships pay for the fire department, the townships have been paying more than their fair share. Due to the city’s increase in valuation, the council voted to add $60,000 to their share of the fire department budget.

The council approved the initial funding agreement between the city of Tea and the city of Sioux Falls for the 85th Street project. HDR engineer Ben Scholtz said the project would likely be advertised throughout March with construction going through the fall. The project would call for a rural roundabout at Tea-Ellis Road then go to a three-lane road then narrow to a two-lane road about a half mile to Sundowner. Sundowner will be wider. 

The plan is for the city of Tea to front the project and submit reimbursement requests to the city of Sioux Falls for half of the costs.

They approved resolution 24-02-05, a resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the National Park Services for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The grant would be used to aid in financing the playground equipment for a park on the eastern edge of the Nielson development. They are also looking at using a landscape architect to help make a plan for the area.

The council approved the pay application for the regionalization wastewater pump station and force main from Metro Construction for $88,856.76. City administrator Justin Weiland said they have begun pumping to Sioux Falls.

Planning and zoning administrator Kevin Nissen presented a revised preliminary development plan for GC Estates. The revised plan would change from single-family lots to twinhome lots. The change to resizing the lots will require a street design change with Benjamin Street becoming a through street. No action was taken, Nissen just asked for any comments or objections. The only question was on drainage and the developer will meet with the township next week on some ditch work.

Nissen also presented information on the Tea Commerce Addition preliminary plan. There will be a public hearing Feb. 27 on the plan. The area is 61.2 acres zoned commercial and light industrial. Right now a convenience store is looking at one area of the property. No action was taken as this was for review only.

Councilman Lynn DeYoung brought forward a possible change to the fireworks ordinance after a constituent asked about the permit fee. The city charges $200 for a permit to operate. The state also has a permit they have to apply for that is $25. He noted that the county generated more than $2 million in sales tax from fireworks sales. City finance officer Dawn Murphy noted the fireworks ordinance is the same as Harrisburg’s ordinance. This was for discussion only at this meeting, but DeYoung hoped to put this on a future meeting agenda.

In his report, Weiland noted they will not submit an application for a RAISE grant due to budget numbers taking longer than planned. Since they did not anticipate being awarded the grant on the first try, this will give them more time to have firmer numbers in place. He also said Lewis & Clark has asked municipalities to work on their potential water needs in 2070. They also had a meeting with FEMA about the floodplain maps. The new maps go into effect by the end of 2025.

The council adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

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