BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council has a longer night planned with three meetings set back to back on Tuesday.

Old Armory

The first meeting is a study session at 4 p.m. and will cover the latest on the Old Armory. Study sessions are for information only; no decisions are made.

Brookings officials are trying to figure out what to do with the facility.

Demolition of the downtown structure would cost an estimated $250,000; rehabilitation an estimated $1 million to $2.7 million, dependent on the severity of the roof problems; and green space development concepts are estimated at $1.2 million to $1.7 million, according to an attachment to the agenda, which is available on the city’s website.

The WPA Armory was built in 1937 and is 75 by 120 feet. It is still used for roller derby, soccer training, dog training and open gym, according to the attachment.

“The facility has fallen into disrepair and is in need of sufficient investment. Staff does not believe the current condition represents the Brookings standard for our user groups, and therefore recommends closure of the facility this fall with a determined plan for implementation based on the City Council’s direction,” according to the attachment.

In the 44-page case report, the staff outlined five options:

1) Select from one of the private sector proposals that have been tabled;

2) Rehabilitate and preserve the armory building;

3) Attempt to re-locate the building to another site pursuant to State Historic Preservation Office requirements;

4) Demolish the building pursuant to SHPO requirements and re-develop the site into a downtown open space; and 

5) Do nothing, maintain the status quo.

“Staff recommends Option 4, demolition of the armory building following applicable SHPO regulations and re-develop the site into a downtown public open space for a combination of active and passive uses to enhance the Downtown Central Business District,” according to the case report.

Budget presented

At 5 p.m., a budget workshop will begin, with the proposed 2019 budget submitted to the council. 

“The attached 2019 proposed budget summary provides the budgets for each fund. The General Fund is broken down into each department and followed by the fund total, then continues on with the special revenue, debt service, capital project and enterprise funds,” according to the attachment.

There are 27 attachments to the agenda outlining next year’s proposed spending plan for the city.

Sidewalk repair

The regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m. One of the topics to be considered is a public hearing on the necessity of repairing or installing sidewalks in the city at the expense of abutting property owners.

This project includes sidewalk trip hazards that were not repaired in the 2017 sidewalk area. The area is north of Sixth Street, some of it is east of Medary and some is west, according to the attachment.

The city mailed letters to property owners to give them the option of repairing the sidewalks themselves or to be added to the city’s repair project, according to the attachment. The city will levy the assessment costs upon completion of the project.

The council will consider awarding bids on custodial services at the Brookings City & County Government Center to ISS Facility Services for $4,075 a month, even though they were not the low bid. 

Professional Pro Cleaners, Inc., and J&T Cleaning both gave low bids of $4,000 a month.

“However, the low bid of $4,000 per month for Professional Pro Cleaners, Inc., did not include the required proof of insurance and affidavit certifying there was no collusion in their bid submittal, and the low (bid) of $4,000 per month for J&T Cleaning did not include the required affidavit certifying there was no collusion in their bid submittal,” according to the attachment.

ISS Facility Services’ bid was $75 less per month than the current custodial contract, according to the attachment.

The cost share of the custodial services is 48 percent city to 52 percent county. The county will approve the contract by a separate action, according to the attachment.

The council will consider three temporary liquor applications for a baseball tourney on July 28-29, a poker run on Sept. 1, and a pig roast on Aug. 25.

Police Chief Dave Erickson will present the recent promotions within his department, including:

• Derrick Powers, promoted from investigative lieutenant to assistant chief of police on Feb. 5;

• Marci Gebers, promoted from patrol sergeant to investigative lieutenant on April 21; 

• Drew Garry, promoted from patrol officer to patrol lieutenant on June 16; and

• Joe Fishbaugher promoted from patrol officer to patrol sergeant on July 16.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.