The regular meeting of the City of Scotland was called to order by Mayor Randy Thum at 5:00pm on Monday, November 6, 2023. The following council members answered to roll call Randy Abbink, Tim Asche, Myles Runyon, Sean Barrett Dennis Bietz and Victor Settje (5:01pm). Others present were Tanya Bult, Tim Trautmann, Bob Green, Curtis Hofer, Dennis Klimisch, Richard Kloucek, Frank Kloucek, Peggy Schelske, Troy Kluthe, Tristan Bult, Jim Maruska, and James Hoffard.
A motion was made by Abbink, second by Bietz to amend and approve the agenda. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Bietz, second by Settje to approve the minutes of last month’s regular meeting. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Runyon, second by Asche to approve the bills. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
City Bills Presented:
AFLAC Employee Insurance $237.06
AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES Supplies: Library, Office $612.36
AUCH PLUMBING Replace Hydrant by Hospital $608.94
B-Y WATER DISTRICT 7,411,000 Gallons $23,091.10
BEHL INSURANCE AGENCY Finance Officers Bond $525.00
BEST WESTERN RAMKOTA Tristan - Wastewater Class $273.00
BLACKBURN & STEVENS, PROF Code Enforcement Attorney Fees $472.50
CENTRAL FARMERS COOP Diesel $339.32
CENTRAL STATES LAB Chemical $3,069.45
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Council/Mayor $3,370.77
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Finance Officer $4,385.07
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Library $1,135.00
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Police/Code Enforcement $7,933.74
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Rubble Site $984.44
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Streets $4,113.84
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Summer Maintenance $502.76
CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES Water $4,683.29
CITY OF SCOTLAND City Water/ Sewer Bills $532.83
CORE & MAIN Hydrant at Hospital $1,476.07
DAKOTA SUPPLY GROUP Curb Stop Parts $119.23
DANR Tristan - Water Distribution Test $60.00
DEMCO, INC Library Supplies $57.33
DETCO Supplies: Wipes, Odor Ends $752.16
EMBROIDERY PLUS Embroider Name/Badge $82.50
EVERBRIDGE Nixle 360 Contract $2,640.00
FARMERS & MERCHANTS STATE BANK Auto Pay - October $35.01
GOLDEN WEST COMMUNICATIONS Phone, Internet, Fax $516.87
IRS Employee Withholding $7,330.15
JACKS UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT Holster $147.94
MAIN STOP Gasoline, Propane $588.37
MIKES AUTO BODY REPAIR Police - Window Chip $50.00
MYERS SANITATION Residential Garbage Service - October $6,782.87
NORTHWESTERN ENERGY Electricity, Natural Gas $5,290.98
SCOTLAND HARDWARE Supplies: Shop, Water, PD, Rec $335.41
SCOTLAND JOURNAL Legals, Notices, Ads $152.66
SCOTLAND MEDICAL CLINIC LET Physical $155.46
SCOTLAND OIL Ambulance: Diesel $114.28
SD ASSOCIATION OF RURAL WATER Valve Exerciser Fee $300.00
SD DEPT OF HEALTH LAB Samples: Water $196.00
SD DEPT OF REVENUE Sales Tax - Camping, Garbage $517.72
SD ONE CALL Line Locates $8.96
SD RETIREMENT Employee Retirement $3,360.36
TANYA BULT Reimburse: ELDT Class, Books $110.56
TRISTAN BULT Reimburse: Class, Mileage, Meals $534.56
TYNDALL NAPA Supplies: Belts $26.98
VERIZON Broadband: Police, Water, Meters $120.03
VISION SERVICE PLAN Employee Vision Insurance $36.24
WELLMARK BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD Employee Health Insurance $3,493.32
Ambulance Bills Presented:
AMBILL ASSOCIATES Claims: Sept (8) $280.00
AMBULANCE WAGES On Call / Trips $973.37
CITY OF TYNDALL Responded to Call 9/30/23 $500.00
IRS Employee Withholding $161.26
Finance Officer’s Report - Receiving concerns on what to do with the extra cardboard that don’t fit into the garbage containers. Gave an explanation of what the municipal gross receipt 1% sales tax entails. Shared a picture of a drainage grate needing some repairs.
Library Director Report - Library board meeting on November 27, 2023 at 7pm in the library. Tanya Bult has successfully met the standards for certification as a grade 3 library director. Which means the library can apply for accreditation again.
Chief of Police Report - 30 calls for service: traffic stops, welfare checks, disturbance, alarms, suspicious vehicle, animal complaint, suicidal subject, illegal dumping, informative.
City Maintenance Report - Tristan Bult passed his wastewater collection test.
Public Concerns:
Jim Maruska requested an update on the Stafford Street drainage project.
Council Concerns/Committee Reports:
Abbink - None
Asche - None
Runyon - None
Settje - Requested to review employee reimbursement policy for classes employees are required to take.
Barrett - None
Bietz - None
Thum - Received an appreciation email from Melissa Gale at Landmann Jungman Memorial Hospital Avera. Officer James is professional whenever he is involved with calls at the hospital. Officer Maggie showed compassion to a pediatric patient and her kindness didn’t go unnoticed by staff. Thanked city staff for getting the fire hydrant at the hospital fixed before winter.
Auction Ford Tractor - A final bid of $1,600 was received from Dennis Klimisch and marked sold.
Liquor License Renewals - A motion was made by Bietz, second by Runyon to approve the liquor license renewals for Main Stop, Recreation Bar, Ron’s Market and VFW for the year 2024. All voted in favor with Barrett abstaining. Motion carried.
City Health Insurance - Wellmark of South Dakota has a 9.39% decrease from $873.33 per month per eligible employee in 2023 to $791.36 per month per eligible employee in 2024. A motion was made by Abbink, second by Asche to approve the employee health insurance rates. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
City Vision Insurance - VSP vision plan for $9.06 per month per eligible employee in 2024. A motion was made by Settje, second by Bietz to approve the vision care for eligible employees and allow family to be added at the employees expense. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
City Work Comp Insurance - Currently city work comp insurance is with South Dakota Municipal League Worker’s Compensation Pool. The rates increased from $7,912 to $10,008 due to claims. A motion was made by Runyon, second by Bietz to approve the renewal coverage with the SDML Pool. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
New Police Cruiser - A motion was made by Bietz, second by Barrett to approve the purchase of a new pursuit rated patrol truck at the base cost of $48,190 in the budgeted year 2024. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Set meeting date for the December meeting - The meeting will be on Monday, December 4, 2023 at 5:00pm.
Ambulance Service - A motion was made by Asche, second by Settje to approve the purchase of two vinyl binder lift sets at the cost of $1,650 each set to aid in proper lift assistance during calls. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Work Comp Roster - Volunteers for the Scotland Fire Department and the Scotland Ambulance Service were updated. It is the intent of the Scotland City Council to cover these volunteers for work comp purposes. The rosters are on file at the City Finance Office. A motion was made by Abbink, second by Bietz to approve the Scotland Fire Department and Scotland Ambulance Service rosters and Work Comp coverage for all volunteers listed on the rosters. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Resignation - A motion was made by Settje, second by Bietz to accept the resignation of part time police officer Maxus Mach effective October 10, 2023. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Public Concerns:
Curtis Hofer voiced his concerns regarding the ongoing issues between the city police department and the county sheriff’s department. Hofer asked the council to be careful and back up their employees before they don’t have any.
A motion was made by Settje, second by Abbink to enter into executive session at 5:36pm for Personnel as per SDCL 1-25-2 Sub (1). All voted in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Bietz, second by Asche to come out of executive session at 6:30pm with the following action taken. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Resignation - A motion was made by Settje, second by Bietz to accept the resignation of police Chief James Hoffard effective November 16, 2023. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
With no further business to discuss a motion was made by Barrett, second by Abbink to adjourn the meeting at 6:31pm. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
ATTEST: CITY OF SCOTLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA
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Tanya Bult, Finance Officer Randy Thum, Mayor