Budget deadline looms

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BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council will hear the third reading of the 2018 city budget at Tuesday’s meeting.

The meeting will start at 4:30 p.m. with an executive session, followed by a study session at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting starting at 6 p.m. in the City & County Government Center on Third Street.

The second reading was presented at the council meeting on Sept. 12, but Councilor Holly Tilton Byrne made a motion to allocate $30,000 to the Chamber of Commerce after a discussion on how to help downtown businesses.

City Manager Jeff Weldon pointed out to the council it was getting down to the wire to get the budget approved; the deadline by law is Oct. 1 for finalization.

Attachments include a Downtown Brookings, Inc., and Chamber overview. After Elliott Johnson resigned in 2016, the DBI board of directors decided to not hire another executive director. The overview explores options for the organization, including being dissolved as a non-profit and then come under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce as a committee.

Another item before the council is an ordinance to amend the 2017 budget, including the purchase of a street asphalt zipper, more K-9 equipment, and expenditures for the Carnegie Building, among other things.

A second reading that is up for council approval is an ordinance amending a code pertaining to the Human Rights Commission. The ordinance would amend and strengthen definitions of discrimination.

“The City of Brookings embraces our diverse and vibrant community and actively seeks ways to be inclusive of all our residents and visitors. On Feb. 28, 2017, the City Council formally adopted this message with the passage of Resolution 17-022, ‘A resolution reaffirming Brookings values of inclusion, respect, tolerance, equality and justice and the city’s commitment toward action to reinforce these talues,’” according to an attachment to the agenda available on the city’s website.

The resolution has been adopted by both the Brookings School Board and Brookings County commissioners.

Also under consideration next week will be:

  • Resolution to award snow removal equipment contracts, including three motorgraders with wings, one 3- to 6-yard loader, four loaders with reversible blades, 10 end-dump trucks and two side-dump trucks;
  • Resolution to support a state Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grand request for a bicycle infrastructure project;
  • Preliminary plat approval for lots 7, 8 and 9, block 13 in McClemans Addition;
  • Approving Rodney Farke to the Traffic Safety Committee.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.