BROOKINGS – Mayor Keith Corbett proclaimed Nov. 28 as Small Business Saturday during the Brookings City Council meeting Tuesday.

Corbett presented the proclamation to Kelsey Doom, president and CEO of the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, and Andrew Sloss, chief economic development director/CEO of the Brookings Economic Development Corporation.

“Brookings celebrates our small businesses and the important contributions they make to our economy and community all year long,” Corbett read from the proclamation.

“On average, for every dollar spent at local small businesses, 67 cents stays in the local community, making a big impact, (and) small businesses create jobs and preserve our unique culture,” he said.

Corbett pointed out that 98% of the 894 business establishments in Brookings County have less than 100 employees, and 72% have less than 10 employees.

He encouraged residents to support businesses “in person, online or through curbside pickup.”

“See everybody Saturday and make sure we’re shopping safely,” Corbett said.

Leadership Award

Mayor Keith Corbett presented Ashley Biggar with the Mayor’s Generational Leadership Award.

He said one of the reasons Biggar was being honored was her work coordinating the Keep Clean program, leading a group of people on Sundays in cleaning downtown Brookings. 

“I like the definition of leadership as motivating others as much as yourself,” Corbett said.

He talked about the murals Biggar has painted around town, including the “Sisu” heart mural on the east wall of The Brookings Register building, which is part of her mural series A World of Hearts. “Sisu” has been reprinted on postcards sent out by the city.

“Ashley, I can’t tell you how proud we are of you; I think I speak for the whole city of Brookings when I say just how proud we are (of) all that you do to make Brookings a great place to live,” Corbett said.

Other items

The council approved:

• Final costs for the Moriarty Park Drainage Improvement Project done by Rounds Construction. The final cost is $360,971, which is an increase of $18,015 from the original contract price, reported City Engineer Jackie Lanning.

• Transfer of on-off sale malt license with video lottery from Brookings Developers, Inc., Lyle Prussman, owner, dba Gas N Mor, to MG Oil Company, dba Corner Pantry 24, Marlyn Erickson and Troy Erickson, owners, 600 Sixth Street.

• Three budget adjustments.

Part 1 will utilize a FEMA grant for equipment and alternative projects. The amendment will increase the engineering department $26,000 to purchase a drone, as well as FEMA-approved alternative projects.

Part 2 will increase the library department by $100,000 for a boiler.

Part 3 will increase the non-department expenditure budget for miscellaneous expenditures related to COVID-19 and reimbursed by the South Dakota Local Government COVID Recovery fund. This includes full payroll costs for public safety employees, as well as various operating expenses incurred due to the pandemic. At this point, the city has been reimbursed for $2,135,856 in payroll expenses and $214,718 in operating expenses, to include reimbursements for Brookings Municipal Utilities and Brookings Health System.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.