BROOKINGS — Two Sioux Falls-based law firms were in the race to succeed retiring City Attorney Steve Britzman, but in the end Woods Fuller emerged victorious over Cutler Law Firm at Tuesday night’s Brookings City Council meeting.

Councilors voted 6-0 in favor of Woods Fuller, citing, among other things, its experience with municipal issues. Vince Jones made the case for his firm’s services on April 10, and he will serve as city attorney. His team of support and specialty attorneys includes Seth Lopour, James Moore, Susan Rasmussen and James Wiederrich.

“Humbled. Grateful for the opportunity. We know we have really big shoes to fill, and we’re excited for the opportunity to start,” Jones told the Brookings Register.

“(We’re) really looking forward to supporting a growing community here in Brookings and bringing the expertise that our firm has to help support that,” Rasmussen added.

Britzman said the city will enter into a legal services agreement for the rest of this year with Woods Fuller, and that attorneys performing services under said agreement would utilize an hourly basis method of billing for their services during that time.

Councilor Holly Tilton Byrne made a motion to select Woods Fuller, and it was seconded by Councilor Wayne Avery.

“Both (firms) brought quality proposals forward and a real willingness to work with the community,” Councilor Nick Wendell said. “I think the decision ultimately came down to the background and experience that Woods Fuller had in working with municipalities that were similar in size and scope to the city of Brookings.”

Councilor Brianna Doran noted that feedback from industry professionals and other community members played an important role in her decision-making process.

“That really helped me take in different testimonies and work experience that they had, so I appreciated the public feedback,” she said.

Near the start of Tuesday night’s meeting, Mayor Oepke “Ope” Niemeyer proclaimed April 22 as Steve Britzman Day in Brookings.

Britzman thanked Niemeyer, city councilors, city staffers and past mayors and past council members that he’s worked with over the past 39 years in Brookings.

“When I travel around the state and I have the opportunity to visit with people — whether they’re Municipal League members or city attorneys from other cities — I always observe that they’re envious that I’m from Brookings and what a great place it is,” he said. “It really is truly been a joy to be the city attorney from such a delightful community. I have always enjoyed the inclusiveness, the progressiveness, of this community and I look forward to living in Brookings and watching it continue to do those great things.”

Economic merger

Councilors also received an update from the Economic Development Merger Committee — as represented by co-chairs Wendell and Tom Fishback — on Tuesday.

The plan, which is a months-long process that started in November, is to bring together the Brookings Economic Development Corp., Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Brookings and Downtown Brookings under a single umbrella.

The goal, per the presentation, is to: “Preserve the existing missions of the merging entities, maximize available resources, and best position the Brookings region to meet challenges and opportunities now and into the future.”

If everything pans out, the new entity will utilize a pillar approach with a focus on business development, community development and destination development. It will need a similar number of staff positions and budget that the separate organizations now have.

Further information can be found online at growtogetherbrookings.com, and a public open house is set for April 30 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 631 22nd Ave.

Other business

Councilors also dealt with several other issues in Tuesday night’s jam-packed meeting that lasted more than two hours, including:

• Approved a bid, on a 6-0 vote, to extend a hangar taxi lane at Brookings Regional Airport to Brookings-based Bowes Construction for $124,813.45. An engineering estimate put the cost at $159,090, so the city did wind up saving some money. The bid is contingent on the receipt of FAA grant funding.
• Gave the go-ahead, 6-0, to award the asphalt maintenance project bid to Bowes Construction for $1,954,642.15. Two other bids were received as well, but both were over the $2 million mark. The scope of work in Brookings includes, among other things, mill and overlay paving, full-depth paving, and water and sanitary sewer work.
• Agreed to approve an ordinance, on a 6-0 vote, that amends city rules for sidewalk café alcoholic beverage sales and consumption. Basically, it removes the prepared-foods gross sales requirement of 50%. Sales and consumption can only take place on sidewalks and walkways that are adjacent to and abut the building housing the on-sale licensee.
• Approved the annexation 52.9 acres of land, 6-0, east of 34th Avenue between U.S. Highway 14 and the U.S. Highway 14 Bypass. For reference purposes, it’s basically across the street east of the Dacotah Bank Center.
• Agreed to increase the capital improvement plan fee at Edgebrook Golf Course, on a 6-0 vote. The current 9-hole green fee will go from $1 to $2; the 18-hole green fee goes from $2 to $4; and, lastly, the season pass fee will rise from $30 to $40. The additional funds — roughly $29,000 annually, will be put toward major projects in the years ahead, including irrigation system improvements.

— Contact Mondell Keck at mkeck@brookingsregister.com.