City approves rezone from R1 to light industrial

After a lengthy discussion, the Tea City Council approved the rezone from R1-residential to L1-light industrial at their Jan. 5 meeting.

Community development director Albert Schmidt said the rezone of the property at 1601 E. 1st Street did not receive any comments from the public even after letters were sent, it was posted in the paper and signs were posted. He said staff and the planning commission recommended approval.

Councilman Lynn DeYoung asked about infrastructure and future plans for the property. HDR engineer Ben Scholtz said they have a meeting with the Harvard representatives on Monday. DeYoung urged for something to come out of that meeting other than just talk. He noted he was not against Harvard but wants them to do what the rest of the community does.

The council approved the rezone with all voting in favor with DeYoung voting present.

Schmidt noted they did not have any changes since the first reading of the car wash ordinance. The ordinance requires some distance between a car wash and other property and a buffer between a car wash and residential property.

City administrator Justin Weiland presented further information on the animal control agreement for 2026. After the council asked for more information at the last meeting, Weiland said they paid $11,779 between flat-rate charges and after-hours charges. They estimate the city will be $13,970 in 2026. By accepting the flat-rate fee agreement, a member of the public can call the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society and get a response versus if they did not have the agreement, only city officials can contact them. The council approved the flat-rate agreement.

They approved the alcoholic beverage license at 215 S. Main Ave. from North Brothers LLC to JAT Ventures Co. DBA Titans Tavern after ownership restructured.

The council approved the payroll resolution establishing salaries for 2026. 

All full-time employees received a 2.7 percent increase based on the city’s adopted pay plan that adopted the CPI from the July of the previous year.

Weiland noted the next January meeting will be Jan. 20 due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and the second February meeting will be Feb. 17 due to the President’s Day holiday. They received the EMS study and he believes they can start making the report public with surrounding communities and the county. They are still waiting on the fire report.

Schmidt noted that he is working on the annual report for his department. They are looking at possible land options for a city library.

The council adjourned at 6:45 p.m.