BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council has approved setting up a task force aimed at improving the sustainability of the Brookings Regional Humane Society.
The action came after the council heard an informational presentation Tuesday by BRHS board member Bill Davidson about the organization’s history, impact, operations and challenges.
Davidson talked about BRHS features, like its food pantry for animals and how members work with other organizations and schools to educate the public, especially kids. They also work with volunteers and South Dakota State University pre-vet students.
Davidson said they have battles to fight. They had to discontinue their low-cost spay/neuter program a few years ago and have since seen an uptick in animals brought into the shelter. Not having the program has also led the BRHS to lose some funding.
He and Maia Moore, BRHS executive director, shared emotional stories about donations they’ve recently received, some from groups and some from kids. Some places of business decided to donate to BRHS instead of exchanging Christmas gifts.
“So exciting and heart-warming,” Moore said.
The BRHS has three requests:
• Financial support for the facility and operational costs related to the increasing number of animals received from the city and county;
• Develop a long-term partnership plan to create a more sustainable community organization; and
• Local government’s acknowledgement of BRHS as a key part of the local community and commitment to this necessary public service.
Davidson noted that BRHS does not own its building, but other Humane Societies in similar-sized towns do.
Councilor Patty Bacon asked if those facilities were owned by nonprofit organizations or the cities. Davidson said it was nonprofits.
Bacon also wanted to know if the BRHS had looked into promoting campaigns to help achieve its goals. Davidson said that was part of their solution.
Councilor Dan Hansen asked if the BRHS has a long-term strategic plan. Davidson said they are an ad hoc organization without dedicated support. Their biggest immediate goal is to get into a permanent location, and this is their “first real concerted effort.”
The BRHS wants a task force to be formed with input from the city and the county, Davidson said.
Hansen asked why they wanted the mayor to be the chairman. He sees the BRHS as a community issue, and having the mayor as the chair gives the impression city government is the solution.
Hansen suggested the chair should be someone affiliated with the Humane Society or in a civic capacity.
City Manager Jeff Weldon offered the city’s animal control officer for the task force, since that job is so involved with the shelter.
The group’s biggest challenge right now is finances, Davidson said.
Weldon said while looking over the budget, he did not see a revenue stream from Rose Memorial Donor Park.
Davidson said the park, dedicated in memory of his late wife, Rose Davidson, a veterinarian who worked with the Brookings Regional Humane Society, was set up to be a long-term fundraising project. A total of $10,000 in fundraising bricks have been sold since summer, and they plan to raise their profile with more events.
A motion was made to establish a task force to come up with a long-term sustainability plan and report back to the council in May.
Corbett said he would not chair the task force but wanted to get the ball rolling for the city and county.
“A very crucial program,” he said.
Councilors approved the motion unanimously.
In other business, the council approved:
• A liquor license for Eponymous Brewing Co., owned by Sean Weber
• A revised ordinance on fences, walls and hedges in sight triangles and along property lines, incorporating the council’s latest changes and additional edits to eliminate confusing language
• Storm drainage management ordinance changes. City Engineer Jackie Lanning said the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources recommended clarifications on the maintenance of drainage facilities and detention ponds. The ordinance was updated to meet the DENR requirement.
• Re-zoning in the Timberline Addition. After the subdivision was originally laid out, street placement was changed, resulting in some plats being split between different zoning districts. The new ordinance corrects those splits.
• Re-zoning in the Bluegill Third Addition. The vacant property was zoned agricultural and the ordinance changed it to a single-family district.
• Amending landscaping regulations.
• A land swap with John Mills and Prairie Hills LLC, where the city will acquire land for a lift station and various other properties in Sioux Village in Indian Hills for a bike trail. Mills will receive the former BMU electric substation adjacent to Trail Ridge Road in Sioux Village. The city will pay $7,456 at the time of closing for the land exchange.
The next meeting is set Jan. 23 and will feature the MLK poster contestants.
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
