By Katie Zerr
After taking into consideration the remarks of the 3B Committee members and representatives of the Mobridge Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Mobridge City Council changed the ordinance regarding the use of 3B funds.
The proposed ordinance change had read that the 10 percent of the 3B tax revenue designated for a reserve fund, would be channeled to the Chamber to make up for the cut in funding from the city. That funding would be used for administration of the tourism center.
The ordinance would also take $25,000 from the 3B tax fund to be used to pay down the yearly payment to the pool construction project. That $25,000 would be added to the city’s contribution to reduce the annual payment. The council made this decision to reduce the tax burden on the property owners in the city in paying for the pool bond. That would continue until the pool project is paid in full.
Currently the 3B funds are distributed between the Chamber, at 60 percent, MEDCO at 30 percent and 10 percent into the reserve fund.
That reserve fund is used for special projects selected by the Chamber board of directors.
Rick Bolduan, representing both the Chamber Board and the 3B Committee, told the council both entities were against the re-designation of that 10 percent.
He told the council if the reserve fund was not available for special projects and events, such as the Professional Walleye Tournament (PWT) in July 2016, the Chamber would be unable to fund these events. He said it would cost $10,000 to host the PWT.
Bolduan pointed out projects that have been paid for out of that reserve fund, including the new lights at Legion Memorial Field. He said the city landed a state baseball tournament this year because of the lighted field.
He told the council the Chamber and 3B would cut some expenses and find a way to fund the visitor’s center if the ordinance would not include the 10 percent fund designation for the operation of that center.
Mayor Jamie Dietterle told Bolduan that the council and finance committee were told that the center would close down and a job would be lost if the city did not come up with $10,000 for the Chamber.
“We did our best to find a solution and to save what we still feel is very important,” he said. “I did not want to be blamed for Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny not coming to town.”
Ward II Councilwoman Amy Cerney told Bolduan that representatives met with 3B and talked about the Chamber shortfall. She said there was little response and so they moved forward. This was the alternative they came up with. She said she wanted it known that the 10 percent is not needed to sustain the visitor’s center. She said she didn’t want this popping up again next year at budget time.
Chamber Board President Cindi Volk told the council they appreciated the work they had done to find a solution and the funding the Chamber gets from the city.
“We were without that person for about three months and we just can’t do it with one person,” she told the council. “Most of the concern that we have is that extra funding that we don’t want that extra money for extra things to go away.”
She said they feared that funding would go away eventually. She said the committee and the Tourism Committee said they would step up and help this year. She said the Chamber will look at their finances and they would find some way to tighten things up but would like that funding to be there.
Volk said the Chamber works very well hand-in hand with the city of Mobridge and is representing the city through the visitor’s center.
“We don’t want to see the ordinance change,” she told the council.
Mobridge Finance Officer Heather Beck explained that the $25,000 would decrease the bond the taxpayers would have to come up with for the pool payment. Instead of levying $150,000 a year from the taxpayers, that would be dropped to $125,000 a year. The payment is $200,000 per year and the city would kick in the $50,000 plus the $25,000 from 3B.
“I don’t know if it would be significant but they would see a savings from this,” she said.
The council passed the ordinance to read that the 10 percent would remain in reserves, but the first $25,000 of 3B tax funds would be designated to the pool fund.
J&M One Stop
Jim Tolly again addressed the council concerning the build up of towed vehicles at his East Grand Crossing business.
But first he apologized to Cerney and the council for his behavior at the Sept. 21 meeting. He said he was upset and shouldn’t have let it get out of hand. He said he meant no disrespect to Cerney or the council.
He asked about options for a place to store towed vehicles. He said he understood the zoning but did not know how to go about requesting a variance for his property. Dietterle explained that he would have to go through the planning and zoning board and that letters would be sent to the neighbors informing them of the request. He said they would have time to respond to the variance request.
Mobridge City Attorney Rick Cain told Tolly he also had to have the approval of the majority of the council. He said there is a limit to the heavy industrial zones in the city and that is where the storage would have to be located.
Dietterle told him city administrator Christine Goldsmith would be happy to discuss options with him and that they will work with him to find solutions to the problem.
New website
Beck informed the council the City of Mobridge website has been revamped. She said there are more links to information for city residents and easier access to forms and applications. There are also links to other city related websites. The website address is cityofmobridge.com.
– Katie Zerr –