The Aberdeen Downtown Association is heeding suggestions from a recent community survey and planning new events this year and next.
Executive Director Alexa Sheldon provided an update to the Aberdeen City Council during the board’s regular meeting on Monday, May 6 at the Municipal Building.
That’s when she let council members know the downtown association is planning a small music event in fall, a pop-up art show and is working with the Dacotah Prairie Museum and K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library to revive Culturefest in 2025.
Survey results asked for more cultural events and more activities in conjunction with Northern State, Sheldon said.
As a result, the free downtown concert in August will also be promoted as an event to welcome back Northern students, she said. There will be a smaller local show called Campfire Sessions in fall at Malchow Plaza, she said.
The plan is to have the pop-up art show during the colder months, Sheldon said.
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Culturefest will be May 28, 2025, at the Barnett Center. Sheldon said she’s looking forward to introducing the community to a variety of foods representing different cultures.
She said new benches will soon be installed downtown. Plants are being updated, new banners are being ordered and the downtown association continues to work with the city parks department on developing a dog park near Central Park, Sheldon said.
In other action, the council:
- Heard from members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars who have recognized firefighter Austin Nath as Aberdeen firefighter of the year. He will now advance to the state competition, which is also a VFW program.
- Agreed to appoint Police Capt. Jay Tobin as police chief for the day on May 16. Tobin is retiring after 36 years with the Aberdeen Police Department. Police Chief Dave McNeil, who will be reappointed chief after Tobin’s brief stint, said the department has a tradition of allowing those who have served honorably to retire with their service weapons, which council members agreed to.
- Approved a contract with Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center Dr. Scott Blanchford to direct ambulance protocols and oversee training for Aberdeen Fire & Rescue.
- Approved a $186,805 bid from Wright & Sudlow to complete concrete work on South Kline Street between First Avenue Southeast and Sixth Avenue Southeast. Public Works Director Stu Nelson said the work will address anticipated settling along the stretch.