Taxpayer asks city for answers on Hill City Center

By: 
Leslie Silverman
There were several public comments at the Hill City Common Council meeting April 11.
Two addressed action items further in the agenda, however, and Connie Wolters once again spoke to the aldermen requesting financial information regarding the Business Improvement District (BID) project and the new Hill City Center. 
“I’m talking again about wanting some answers,” Wolters began, first asking for the city to provide transparency on the funding for the BID project before adding, “you’ve got a new employee now that’s $35,000, with benefits, etc that’s about $42,000. Supposedly the seniors are coming up with $23,000—that’s what I heard. Who is that employee going to be working for?”
She also asked for particular information on whether the city has a new lease with the senior center.  
“There are just so many unknowns,” she said. 
Wolters was also interested in knowing the total cost of the BID project from architect to end.
“I’m a taxpayer and I want to know some of these answers,” she said.
This was her second time before the board and reiterated that after speaking last time she had no response. 
Wolters proposed the city put together a committee with taxpayers from the community, senior center  board members, BID board members and town officials to address some of the questions she has.
Mayor Kathy Skorzewski  assured Wolters she was not being ignored.
“We are actually in the process of putting something together and will be reaching out to you directly,” she said.
Aldermen approved the special event license and waived the fee for the Fine Arts in the Hills Show and Sale. Formerly known as Sculpture in the Hills, the  Hill City Arts Council show will be held the third weekend in June. The event will be located on Elm Street between the Farmer’s Daughter and Jewel of the West. A tent will be set up on Thursday, June 16 and taken down Monday, June 20. The special event application was noted to be very detailed.
Without much discussion aldermen approved resolution 2022-10 regarding the cannabis licensing regulation fees. A cannabis dispensary license will be $150,000 with an annual renewal of $75,000. A transfer of the cannabis establishment license will also be $150,000. The effective date of this resolution is April 11.
In the Hill City Chamber of Commerce report to the council chamber executive director Janet Wetovick-Bily noted that it has secured a flyover for the July 2 Star Spangled parade. The Department of Public Works has started priming Tracy Park playground for future painting.
In addition, department employees have been busy sweeping the streets, putting up signs, replacing meters and helping with items inside and around the Hill City Center. City officials expressed appreciation for the comprehensive report submitted.
The library report acknowledges the funds the Friends of the Library have received from the Hill City Community Foundation. 
Librarian Tammy Alexander said this money will be used to “spruce up” the children’s area and make it more “kid-friendly,” with things such as bins so younger patrons don’t have to restock books.
The library is also very busy getting ready for its summer reading program. 
Alderman Carl Doaty is looking into costs to paint the city fire hydrants yellow because according to him they are hard to see at night. There are 126 fire hydrants in town. He is also gathering prices for reflector spring poles to make the hydrants easier to find in snow.
Doaty is looking to meet with  Pennington County Emergency Management  director Dustin Willett to create continuity of government and operations between the city and the county. Things such as post-disaster damage assessments, pre-disaster mitigation planning, disaster communications, community mass sheltering operations and medical countermeasure points of dispensing are avenues Doaty hopes to address.
Alderman Jason Gillaspie asked for an update on the status of paving Newton Avenue that had been discussed at the end of 2021.
Skorzewski reread a proclamation that she would like to keep annually. Red Fridays (remembering everyone deployed) asks community members to wear red on Fridays in support of those deployed. 
The Hill City Council will meet again April 25 at 5:30 p.m.
 

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