By Aberdeen Insider - July 2, 2026 in JUNE 22, 2026 MINUTES
ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
City Council Chambers, 123 South Lincoln Street, Municipal Building, Aberdeen, South Dakota, June 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., regular meeting of the City Council.
CALL TO ORDER
MEETING ROLL CALL
Present at roll call were City Council Members Erin Fouberg via teleconference, Charlotte Liebelt, Rich Ward, Alan Johnson, Talmage Ekanger, Chad Nilson, David Novstrup, and Mayor Travis Schaunaman. Council Member Ronayne was absent.
City Staff present were Dave McNeil, Ron Wager, Ken Hubbart, Joel Weig, Rich Krokel, Tanner Jondahl, Tony Bisbee, Amber Schwab, Kristin Kroell, Brady Woehl, Cole Kissner, Steven Thithavong, and Jordan McQuillen.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Schaunaman led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Liebelt, second by Nilson, to approve the agenda. Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
MINUTES
Motion by Ward, second by Ekanger, to approve the minutes of the June 15, 2026, City Council Meeting, as circulated. Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Nilson, second by Novstrup, to approve the following items on the consent calendar:
NEW MOBILE HOME PARK LICENSE – receive and place on file: Lakeside Estates
REPORTS AND MINUTES FROM CITY BOARDS – Receive and place on file: 1. Aberdeen Airport Board Meeting on May 7, 2026, 2. KO Lee Library Board Meeting on April 7, 2026, and May 13, 2026, 3. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting on May 6, 2026, 4. Planning Commission Meeting on April 21, 2026, 5. Zoning Adjustment Board Meeting on May 14, 2026
LOTTERY NOTICE – receive and place on file: Sacred Heart Church, Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post 24, and Zion Lutheran Church
PETITION OF VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION – refer petition to City Engineer, City Attorney, and Planning/Zoning Director for recommendations: RES 26-06-03R – LT 2 Rivett Family 3rd Add. SW & NW 9-123-63
PLAT: Fairview Second Subdivision to the City of Aberdeen, in the SE¼ of Section 1, Township 123 North, Range 64 West of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota
SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE on July 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. for the Aberdeen Water Tower Improvements Project
COMMUNITY EVENT PERMIT: Aberdeen America 250th Committee/DPM’s 4th of July Parade contingent upon department approvals
Voice vote to approve, with Council Member Ward abstaining to Item 5D, all present voting aye, motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
PRELIMINARY PRESENTATION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE WATER TOWER AND TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 26-06-07R AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR DRINKING WATER FACILITIES FUNDING
Program Coordinator Ted Dickey of Northeast Council of Governments presented the preliminary presentation for the water tower and transmission line project and Finance Officer McQuillen presented the resolution. Motion by Ward, second by Novstrup, to approve Resolution 26-06-07R authorizing an application for authorizing an application for Drinking Water Facilities Funding. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
OPEN FORUM
Ron Krogman and Alan Ochsner from Forty & Eight Veterans Organization presented the Officer of the Year and City of the Year awards.
CONTINUATION OF NEW BUSINESS
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 26-06-06R DISSOLVING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT NUMBER 8
Finance Officer McQuillen presented the resolution. Motion by Johnson, second by Novstrup, approve Resolution 26-06-06R Dissolving Tax Increment Financing District Number 8. Roll call vote to approve, with Council Member Ward abstaining, all others present voting aye, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF REAPPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY SCHWAN TO THE ABERDEEN AIRPORT BOARD FOR A SECOND FIVE-YEAR TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2031
Mayor Schaunaman presented the reappointment. Motion by Johnson, second by Ward, to reappoint Anthony Schwan to the Airport Board for a second five-year term ending June 30, 2031. Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
FIRST READING AND PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION ACCEPTING EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK AND APPROVING BENEFITS DEEMED TO BE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION
City Manager McNeil presented the resolution. Motion by Ward, second by Liebelt, to approve first reading and passage of Resolution No. 26-06-02R accepting the Employee Handbook adopted June 17, 2026, and approving and ratifying the benefits described therein deemed to be compensation of a City employee. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
RATIFICATION OF MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT OF GUY TRENHAILE TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS
Mayor Schaunaman presented the ratification and appointment. Motion by Johnson, second by Ward, to ratify Mayor Schaunaman’s appointment of Guy Trenhaile to the Board of Ethics for the remaining 1-year term of Jon Schaff beginning July 1, 2026, and expiring July 1, 2027, as provided by Aberdeen City Code, Sec. 2-383. Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PAYMENT TO CLOSE ON PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY
City Manager McNeil presented the payment request. Motion by Novstrup, second by Ekanger, to approve payment not to exceed $302,327.43 to Aberdeen Development Corporation to close on the purchase of Lot 2, Wagner Holdings Second Addition in the West Half of Section 17, Township 123 North, Range 63 West of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota (6.81 acres±), pursuant to that Purchase Agreement approved by the Council and executed on April 8, 2025; and to authorize the City Manager to sign closing documents as approved by the City Attorney. Roll call vote to approve, with Council Member Ward abstaining, all others present voting aye, motion carried.
FIRST READING AND PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING RULES REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSES TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
City Attorney Wager presented the resolution. Motion by Ward, second by Novstrup, to approve first reading and passage of Resolution No. 26-06-05R establishing rules regarding the issuance of special licenses to sell alcoholic beverages. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
PETITION TO REZONE FROM I-2 & C-2 TO C-2, PROPERTY AT 402 FIFTEENTH STREET S, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 1, LUST THIRD ADDITION TO THE CITY OF ABERDEEN, ALL IN THE SW¼ OF SECTION 14-TOWNSHIP 123N-RANGE 64W OF THE 5TH PM, BROWN COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Community Development Director Hubbart presented the rezone. Motion by Johnson, second by Ekanger, to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance 26-06-01, a petition to rezone from I-2 & C-2 to C-2, Property at 402 Fifteenth Street S, legally described as Lot 1, Lust Third Addition to the City of Aberdeen, all in the SW¼ of Section 14-Township 123N-Range 64W of the 5th PM, Brown County, South Dakota. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF CONTRACT FOR AE SERVICES FOR A NEW BUS BARN FOR ABERDEEN RIDE LINE
Transportation Director Krokel presented the contract. Motion by Johnson, second by Ward, to authorize the City Manager to sign contract for AE services for a new bus barn for Aberdeen Ride Line. Roll call vote to approve, with Council Member Fouberg abstaining, all others present voting aye, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF PAY REQUEST #1 FOR 2026 WATER TREATMENT PLANT ROOF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $486,671.42 TO SKINNER ROOFING OF GRAND FORKS, ND
Assistant City Engineer Spellman presented the pay request. Motion by Liebelt, second by Ekanger, to approve Pay Request #1 for 2026 Water Treatment Plant Roof Improvements in the amount of $486,671.42 to Skinner Roofing of Grand Forks, ND. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
Motion by Ekanger, second by Nilson, to approve payment of the bills listed for June 22, 2026.
Bills having been audited by the Finance Officer and fully itemized and authorize the Mayor or City Manager to sign, and the Finance Officer to countersign, all warrants for payment of the following approved bills: United Parcel Service 1,000.00, Elavon Merchant Services 500.00, Paymentech LLC 6,000.00, Dacotah Bank 150.00, Guardian Life Ins. Co. 1,500.00, Delta Dental of SD 365.02, Optilegra Inc. 46.84, Wellmark BCBS of SD 310,000.00, Northern Electric 10,000.00, Northwestern Energy 180,000.00, Aberdeen Area Humane Society 6,400.00, Aberdeen Community Concert 2,500.00, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce 250.00, Aberdeen Development Corp. 301,192.68, AE2S 4,321.74, All Over Roofing LLC 48,676.95, Ann Steele 140.00, Aqua Pure Inc. 50,203.00, Aubrey Ellingson 167.26, Auto Value – Aberdeen 6,467.94, Brown County Treasurer 57.40, Century Business Products 22.47, Constellation NewEnergy 2,875.85, Crawford Trucks & Equip. 48.22, Crescent Electric Supply 392.01, Dakota Outdoors 5,709.99, Dakota Supply Group 304.09, Dakota Transit Association 1,520.00, David Johnson 43.00, Dependable Sanitation 229.00, Ditch Witch Undercon 992.20, DuBois Chemicals Inc. 11,585.20, Fastenal Company 481.93, Galls Inc. 374.40, Geffdog Designs 583.08, Grainger 3,330.59, Graymont (WI) LLC 6,040.41, Gregory Lux 52.00, Haas Creative 1,250.00, Hawkins Inc. 11,880.05, Jaiden Bunn 52.00, Jefferson Partners LP 123.35, J.H. Larson Company 17,573.72, Ken’s Alignment Auto Srvc. 104.95, Ken’s SuperFair Foods 163.90, Kristin Kroell 28.00, L & T Lawn Care LLC 1,063.34, Lawson Products Inc. 62.75, Mac’s Inc. 324.45, McGowan Allied Specialty Ins. 49,389.76, Menards Inc. 263.05, Midstates Group 6,532.88, Minnesota Valley Testing Labs 564.75, Napa Central 115.41, Nelson Sales & Service LLC 40.99, Nikolas Pezonella 52.00, Northern Valley Communications 62.14, Performance Oil & Lubricants 23.44, Platinum Auto Spa 24.00, Quality Welding Inc. 607.92, Runnings Supply Inc. #14 617.46, Safety Service Inc. 50.64, Sanitation Products Inc. 62.06, SD Secretary of State 60.00, Skinner Roofing 486,671.42, Steven Lust Automotive 22.80, Thomas Miller 52.00, Towing Plus 210.00, USA Blue Book 8,346.18, Verizon Wireless 395.95, Vestis Group Inc. 375.23, Wright & Sudlow 810.00
Payroll for the period from June 14, 2026, through June 27, 2026, and city share of social security, old age & survivor’s insurance, retirement, health and life insurance.
Roll call vote to approve, with Council Member Fouberg abstaining to Dacotah Bank, and Council Member Ward abstaining, all others present voting aye, motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager McNeil recognized an employee milestone, summarized weekend events, discussed water reclamation and water levels in Moccasin and Foote Creeks, and wrapped up with updates on road construction.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, motion by Johnson, second by Liebelt, to adjourn the meeting. Voice vote to adjourn, all present voting aye, motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Prepared by Steven Thithavong for the Finance Office. /s/Jordan McQuillen, Finance Officer
Published once on July 2, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $118.01 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com