City Council reviews redistricting maps

The Tea City Council met Dec. 20 and reviewed two possible ward maps.

Councilman Casey Voelker presented two possibilities for a new ward map. The council held their first reading with the general consensus preferring the map where ward 1 is an L shape on the west and south side of town, ward 2 along the west and north side of town and ward 3 in the central and east par of the city.

The council will hold a second reading at their next meeting.

They held a public hearing at 7:05 p.m. for the transfer of the retail on-sale liquor and package off-sale liquor license from Tea Steak House DBA O’Toole’s Bar to BPC LLC DBA Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar. With no public comment, the council approved the transfer and then the alcoholic beverage license renewal for Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar.

The council approved the annexation of seven properties along 272nd Street. They also approved the plats for lots 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 11A and 11B in block 8 in Heritage Addition; tract 2, Vanningen’s Tracts NE 1/4, S31-T100N-R50W in Lincoln County; lots 1, 8 and 9 in block 3 in Bakker Landing First Addition; lot 7 in block 3 in Bakker Landing First Addition; lots 10 and 11 in block 5 in Bakker Landing First Addition; and lot 8 in block 5 in Bakker Landing First Addition.

In planning and zoning, administrator Kevin Nissen presented the site and building plans for McCoy Auto Plaza. The plans calls for an 18,720 square foot auto place for potentially six new businesses at the corner of Sundowner and Industrial Street. The council approved the plans contingent on FAA approval.

Nissen presented data on building permit fees for Tea, Brandon, Harrisburg, Hartford, Sioux Falls and Lincoln County. The city has not raised fees since 2012. The current fee is $70 per square foot finished main level. The other towns listed range from $80 for Lincoln County to $123/$134 in Brandon. The council will review a resolution to raising building permit fees at the next meeting Jan. 3.

Nissen provided information on the Bakker Landing phase 1 revised DEP. The area he reviewed was the area north of the new Casey’s by the interstate.

Jesse Fonkert with Sioux Metro Growth Alliance provided a report on the organization’s plans for the next year. In January, they want an appointed person from each municipality, county or utility company in good standing to join the membership advisory board.

The council approved the pay apps for Gateway Boulevard to D & G Construction for $565,412.13 for street lighting and some utilities; and for East First Street extension to Hulstein Excavating for $572,215.14

They approved the second amendment to the water tower lease agreement with option between the city and Cingular Wireless PCS LLC. The agreement is for moving a transformer and putting up a new antenna on the water tower by the pool.

They also approved the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society 2022 animal services contract. The rates stayed the same but the contract states that the humane society will have nothing to do with non-domestic animals. They will review the HDR 2022 on-call contract at the next meeting.

The council approved the second reading of ordinance 290, 2021 supplemental appropriations and the transfer of $91,500 in contingency funds.

They went into executive session at 8:48 p.m.