By Aberdeen Insider - April 2, 2026 in ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 23, 2026 MEETING MINUTES
City Council Chambers, 123 South Lincoln Street, Municipal Building, Aberdeen, South Dakota, March 23, 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 Rob Ronayne via teleconference, Erin Fouberg via teleconference, Charlotte Liebelt, Rich Ward, Alan Johnson, Talmage Ekanger, Chad Nilson, and David Novstrup. Mayor Travis Schaunaman was absent.
City Staff present were Dave McNeil, Ron Wager, Stuart Nelson, Ken Hubbart, Joel Weig, Tanner Jondahl, Destin Spellman, Jim Ackerman, and Jordan McQuillen.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Nilson, second by Ward, to approve the agenda as amended with the edits to item 7A. Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
MINUTES
Motion by Liebelt, second by Novstrup, to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2026, City Council Meeting, as circulated. Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
OPEN FORUM
No one appeared in open forum to address the Council.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Nilson, second by Ekanger, to approve the following items on the consent calendar:
REPORTS AND MINUTES FROM CITY BOARDS – Receive and place on file: 1. Aberdeen Airport Board Meeting on February 5, 2026, 2. KO Lee Library Board Meeting on February 3, 2026, 3. Planning Commission Meeting on February 17, 2026, and 4. Zoning Adjustment Board Meeting February 12, 2026
COMMUNITY EVENT PERMIT: Yelduz Shriners – Shrine Circus April 1 – 4, 2026
LOTTERY NOTICE – receive and place on file: Aberdeen Sertoma Club
NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS LICENSE for Knapp Construction and Brandon Hinz-Hinz Concrete LLC
CITY LICENSE – Water & Sewer Contractor – CWF Concrete & Masonry Inc.
Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
ABATEMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES FOR REAL PROPERTY WITHIN CITY LIMITS
Finance Officer McQuillen presented the abatement of property taxes. Motion by Ward, second by Ekanger, to approve property tax abatements for property in city limits described as Parcels 11938, 12020, and 31827. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MOU WITH ABERDEEN SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOCATING PEG FUNDS
City Manager McNeil presented the MOU. Motion by Nilson, second by Ward, to approve the “Memorandum of Understanding regarding the use and allocation of PEG funds between the City of Aberdeen and Aberdeen School District No. 6-1”, and to authorize the City Manager to execute the same. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
FIRST READING AND APPROVAL OF ORD 26-03-01, A PETITION TO REZONE FROM A-1 TO R-2, PROPERTY AT 903 25TH AVENUE NE, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 12, GUGEL’S FIRST SUBDIVISION, IN THE SW¼ OF SECTION 6-TOWNSHIP 123 NORTH-RANGE 63 WEST OF THE 5TH P.M., BROWN COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Community Development Director Hubbart presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 26-03-01. Motion by Ekanger, second by Ward, to approve the first reading of Ordinance 26-03-01, a Petition to rezone from A-1 to R-2, Property at 903 25th Avenue NE, legally described as Lot 12, Gugel’s First Subdivision, in the SW¼ of Section 6-Township 123 North-Range 63 West of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
FIRST READING AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 26-03-02, A PETITION TO REZONE FROM R-2 TO M, PROPERTY AT 1400 THIRD STREET S, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 1, SIMMON’S SCHOOL SUBDIVISION, IN THE SW¼ OF SECTION 24-TOWNSHIP 123 NORTH-RANGE 64 WEST OF THE 5TH P.M., BROWN COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Community Development Director Hubbart presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 26-03-02. Motion by Liebelt, second by Ekanger, to approve the first reading of Ordinance Number 26-03-02, a petition to rezone from R-2 to M, Property at 1400 Third Street S, legally described as Lot 1, Simmon’s School Subdivision, in the SW¼ of Section 24-Township 123 North-Range 64 West of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota. Roll call vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried.
FIRST READING AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 26-03-05, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SIGN REGULATIONS OF THE ABERDEEN CITY CODE
Community Development Director Hubbart presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 26-03-05. Motion by Ward, second by Novstrup, to approve the first reading and possible approval of Ordinance Number 26-03-05, an ordinance amending the sign regulations of the Aberdeen City Code. Roll call vote to approve with Council Member Ronayne voting no, all others present voting aye, motion carried.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
Motion by Liebelt, second by Ekanger, to approve payment of the bills listed for March 23, 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: Utility Billing 348.61: Louise French 33.70, Calvin Gardner 48.17, Pantorium Cleaners 43.64, Matthew Stahl 60.35, James Duncan 73.96, Lori Zimbelman 29.47, Gregg Van Beek 34.78, Jose Santiago 24.54, US Bank Corp Trust – ACH 1,050,747.50, Century Link 5,000.00, United Parcel Service 1,000.00, Elavon Merchant Services 500.00, Paymentech LLC 6,000.00, Dacotah Bank 150.00, Northern Electric 10,000.00, Northwestern Energy 180,000.00, Constellation Newenergy 50,000.00, Wellmark 248,000.00, Aberdeen Chrysler Center 1,404.00, Aberdeen Insider 499.41, Aberdeen Swim Club 10,000.00, Action Pest Control 315.00, Advance Auto Parts 225.10, American Solutions for Business 445.34, Andrew Rohrbach 52.00, Aqua Pure Inc. 350.00, Armand Advertising LLC 5,912.21, Auto Value – Aberdeen 987.34, Avera St. Luke’s Hospital 692.85, Axon Enterprise Inc. 2,493.99, Banner Associates Inc. 63,388.89, Bantz, Gosch & Cremer LLC 4,931.70, Borns Group 6,818.58, Boys & Girls Club of Abdn Area 25,000.00, Brock DeGroot 294.00, Butler Machinery Co. 13,681.92, Caden Sharping 100.80, Century Business Products 171.14, CenturyLink 85.28, Climate Control 1,907.10, Coast to Coast Solutions 1,427.47, Cole Bergan 286.00, Cole Papers Inc. 3,979.06, Connections Inc. EAP 610.60, Convention Visitors Bureau 41,167.90, Cooper Animal Clinic P.C. 233.82, Crawford Trucks & Equip. 5,880.05, Crescent Electric Supply 117.41, Dakota Electronics LLC 2,647.25, Dakota Fluid Power Inc. 292.77, Daniel Orr 354.00, Dependable Sanitation 445.00, Diamond Dry Cleaning 68.70, DuBois Chemicals Inc. 11,074.80, Eddie’s Northside Sinclair 250.00, Efraimson Electric Inc. 124.58, Federal Express Corp. 19.50, G & R Controls Inc. 249.69, Gardner Locksmith 200.00, Geffdog Designs 120.00, Graymont (WI) LLC 12,627.64, Gregory Lux 70.00, Hach Co. 147.40, Harms Oil Company 20,969.63, House of Glass Inc. 1,335.58, Indelco Plastics Corporation 1,505.08, Jaiden Bunn 52.55, James Knute Reierson 258.00, James Valley Coop Tele Co. 35.26, Jennette Kriz 34.00, JGE Inc. 381.11, Johnson Feed Inc. 36,096.85, Joshua Steinwandt 78.00, Katherine Malsom 296.70, Lamb Chevrolet & Implement Inc. 99,346.00, Lang’s TV & Appliance 2,194.97, Lighthouse Uniform Co. 207.25, Linde Inc. 7,235.40, MacQueen Emergency Group 9,924.74, Marco Technologies LLC 549.82, Matheson Tri‑Gas Inc. 129.53, Med Alliance Group 243.21, Menards Inc. 908.63, Mid Continent Testing Lab Inc. 130.75, Midstates Group 3,348.25, Moore Sewing 20.00, Nikolas Pezonella 76.50, Northern Valley Communications 1,030.57, NSU Finance & Admin. 5.00, Performance Oil & Lubricants 2,361.38, Platinum Auto Spa 32.00, RDO Equipment Co. 37.26, Rich Krokel 48.00, RMB Environmental Laboratories 1,540.00, Runnings Supply Inc. #14 772.85, Safety Service Inc. 225.00, SD Secretary of State 30.00, Share Corp. 3,541.53, Sioux Valley Environmental Inc. 11,860.00, Steve Markley 610.00, Stryker Sales LLC 271.15, Sunset Law Enforcement 9,405.56, Susan Power 1,829.70, Teleflex LLC 1,100.00, Thomas Miller 73.50, Timothy Steinwandt 112.00, Tom Barstad 60.00, Transource Truck & Equipment 20.63, Tyler Technologies 2,083.33, Verizon Wireless 341.69, Vestis Group Inc. 195.42, Volzke Sales LLC 1,650.00, Western Area Power Adm. 6,436.87, and Woodbury County Fire Assn. 200.00.
Payroll for the period from March 8, 2026, through March 21, 2026, and city share of social security, old age & survivor’s insurance, retirement, health and life insurance. EFTPS 189,534.61, SDRS Retirement System 119,097.62, City Health Insurance 104,885.00, Governing Body Council 3,921.89, City Manager 9,360.60, Attorney 8,781.47, Finance Office 19,528.92, Human Resources 16,136.34, Municipal Hall 2,315.35, Computer Services 6,786.78, Community Development 22,179.17, Engineering 15,832.42, Police 199,056.25, Fire 190,290.78, Building Inspection 8,296.00, Street 52,190.89, Traffic Control 13,118.86, Utilities – General 32,315.83, Solid Waste 28,992.12, Wastewater Treatment 27,173.30, Utilities – Sewer 10,415.34, Water Treatment Plant 29,109.91, Utilities – Water 2,502.41, Airport 30,035.44, Cemetery 4,869.76, Transit 29,948.13, Meals On Wheels 804.22, Admin 11,379.55, Participant Rec 12,306.72, Park Rec ARCC 29,835.03, Park Rec Golf 7,524.26, PC Complex 9,033.93, Park Rec Senior Center 6,859.07, Campground 1,048.51, Parks 21,522.80, Parks/Wylie 13,125.40, Forestry 12,824.97, Library 34,488.91, City Econ Dev. 3,169.60. Roll call vote to approve, with Council Member Fouberg abstaining payment to Dacotah Bank, Nilson abstaining payment to Banner Associates Inc., all present voting aye, motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager McNeil began with Police Chief Jondahl, who presented the Exchange Club’s Officer of the Year award. McNeil also recognized an employee milestone, announced City Engineer Stu Nelson’s retirement party, and provided an update on the search for his replacement. A joint work session between the City Council and Parks and Recreation Board is tentatively scheduled for April 13, 2026. The WEB Water Organization will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 8, 2026. Wastewater Superintendent Jim Ackerman addressed the Water Turbidity notice, and Senator Perry announced additional Exchange Club award recipients.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion by Ward, second by Ekanger, to move into executive session to discuss contractual matters pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(3). Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried. The Council moved into executive session at 6:07 p.m.
Motion by Nilson, second by Ward, to end executive session and return to opening meeting. Voice vote to approve, all present voting aye, motion carried. The Council returned to open meeting at 6:19 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, motion by Ward, second by Ekanger, to adjourn the meeting. Voice vote to adjourn, all present voting aye, motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
Prepared by Steven Thithavong for the Finance Office. /s/Jordan McQuillen, Finance Officer
Published once on April 2, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $114.40 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com