Hill City Prevailer

Vacation rentals again a hot topic

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 11:35am
The Hill City Common Council meeting July 26 saw a large turnout from city residents and business owners alike. Both the action items and the discussion items were hot buttons with both sectors, as well as the council members themselves.
The action items that stimulated robust discussion referenced a topic that has increased in top-of-mind awareness for many cities across the state and nation: nightly vacation rentals of residences within the city limits. 

Tempers flare at meeting

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 10:22am
By KC Bunch
 
On  July 29, the Hill City City Council held a special meeting to address a referendum petition brought by citizens of Hill City with concerns over the financing of the approved Business Improvement (BID) District Project for Area  No. 1.

Bountiful blossoms burgeon show

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:45am
The Hill City Evergreen Garden Club flower show blossomed with entries this year. The bountiful blossoms with a country fair theme featured annuals, perennials, container gardens, wildflowers and even beautiful place setting entries.
And while the garden club consists of over 40 adult members it’s the younger generation that truly brings smiles to all who attend the show. Eleven-year-old Grace Daiss created an intricate container garden with a camping theme.

Vacation rental moratorium, registry move to council

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:39am
A temporary moratorium on conditional use permits for nightly vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods was recommended by the Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission at its July 19 meeting. That recommendation now makes its way to the Hill City Common Council.
The temporary moratorium, if approved, would not exceed 120 days. This would allow the planning and zoning commission to continue its work in tackling the influx of nightly vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods Hill City has seen.

City has second round of budget talk

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:37am
Highways and streets were discussed at length at the July 21 Hill City budget hearing. Alderman Jason Gillaspie questioned why the city had not yet developed a prioritized road plan. 
“I don't see any other street repairs or anything listed on here,” He said. “I know there’s the start of a plan but no mention of anything else.”
And while the city is carrying over $30,000 to a street improvement fund, Gillaspie wanted to know how the fund was going to be used.

‘Children’s Blizzard’ storms South Dakota readers

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:32am
The South Dakota One Book is making its way across the state.
The book, entitled, “The Children’s Blizzard,” is a historical novel based on the 1888 blizzard that hit the Western plains of South Dakota and Nebraska. The blizzard killed 235 people, many of whom were children or teachers, as the storm hit suddenly and at the time that many  teachers in one room schoolhouses were letting students out for the day.

Local man faces murder charge

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:11am

Eight years after her body was found dumped in a wooded area just off a Pigtail Bridge on Iron Mountain Road in Pennington County, law enforcement believes they have found Meshell Will’s killer.
Richard Melvin Schmitz, 53, a Hill City resident who used to live in Custer, was taken into custody at his home and charged with second-degree murder.
Nancy Herman, a Custer resident who for the past eight years has advocated for Will through social media and yearly vigils, said she started to shake and cry when she was told an arrest had been made.

City begins crafting 2022 budget

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:07am

The first of three budget hearings took place in front of the Hill City Common Council July 14. The meeting included presentations from various organizations requesting money from the town.
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office is asking for a 3 percent increase over its 2021 request. The office is bringing in extra deputies for the 2021 rally which is expected to be nearly as large in size as the 75th was. The deputies are funded through Hill City’s general fund, but the cost of the extra deputies will not be passed back to the city.

Excellence honored

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:07am

The Mayor’s Award of Excellence was handed out at the July 12 Hill City Common Council Meeting. Mayor Kathy Skorzewski presented the award to  Ranae Schrier  saying, “this particular person is someone who lives, breathes, eats and sleeps Hill City.”
The Mayor’s Award of Excellence for a city staff  member contribution went to account clerk Betsy Brose.
“A lot of things happen behind the scenes and people don’t know or realize when this occurs,” Skorzewski said.

Businesses say town stinks at cleaning trash

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:06am

Businesses around Keystone have been visited by town officials and board members in an effort to solve the ongoing trash problem. And while many received warnings, according to Finance Officer Cassandra Ott only one was fined.
“If they’re compliant or working toward compliance we see that as progress and we don’t fine them,” she said.
But even without the fines, many owners are upset or even confused.
Bill Busskohl pointed to the dirty diapers and dog feces that were thrown in his trash right outside the door of his Rocks And Things business.