Hill City Prevailer

Keystone taken off of Feeding South Dakota’s plate

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 9:10am
June 11 will mark the last Feeding South Dakota mobile food distribution  stop in Keystone. 
The decision was made with difficulty and one the company “didn’t enjoy making,” according to Stacy  Andernacht, marketing and communications director for Feeding South Dakota.

Task order approved for Sunset Creek roads

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 9:07am
“I just have one question. How comfortable are you that this project can get done for $400,000?” 
That was alderman Ethan Walker’s primary question when Joe Nobel and Jim Jones with city engineer AE2S presented a task order regarding professional services for the rehabilitation and resurfacing of the roads in the Sunset Creek Subdivision for approval at the Hill City Common Council meeting May 28. 

Kirkpatrick back at the helm

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 9:07am
By Leslie Silverman
 
The Keystone Museum has a new director.
Sort of.
Jeanie Kirkpatrick, who was director of the museum from 2016-18 is back as the director of the turn of the 19th century building that is home to about 10,000 artifacts.
“I missed it,” Kirkpatrick says both about the building itself and about being in the museum field. 

Who’s on the ballot?

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 9:35am
Election day takes place June 4. Voters can cast ballots at their polling place between  7 a.m. and 7 p.m. 
This is an election for positions such as school board and municipal seats, as well as a primary for others such as state positions.
Annette Brant is running unopposed for Pennington County treasurer and Lara R. Roetzel is running unopposed for state’s attorney. These positions will not appear on any ballots. 
Residents in Keystone and Hill City will all see the following options on their ballots. 

Development agreement approved for former Ranger Square lot

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 9:34am
By Esther Noe
 
For some attending the Hill City Common Council meeting May 13, it was a surprise to discover Ranger Square Inc. withdrew of its own accord from the property between Main Street, Pine Avenue and Oak Street in Hill City. 
“Ranger Square Inc. wanted to withdraw from the agreement to put it there because of the expenses of maintaining it and the difficulty they’re having in raising that amount of money. They’re looking for a new location,” said mayor Mike Verchio.

Food delivery ceases in Keystone

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 9:32am
Feeding South Dakota will no longer delive food to Keystone. The news was shared at the May 15 Keystone Town Board meeting. 
“Some people really rely on that,” said trustee Lynette Tyon about the food delivery.

District takes novel approach to levy

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 9:14am
The Hill City School District Board of Education will review the district proposed budget at its next meeting June 10. 
This is an opportunity for the public to raise concerns about what the district spending plan looks like. The budget for the district is broken into several funds. 
The Special Education fund, (22) is funded through various means including federal dollars and taxpayer money.

Three seek state Senate seat

Published by admin on Wed, 05/22/2024 - 9:32am
Three Republicans are candidates for the lone District 30 seat in the South Dakota Senate, with Republican Julie Frye-Mueller running against a pair of challlengers—Amber Hulse and Forrest Foster—sin the June 4 election. The winner of that election will advance to face Democrat Bret Hansen in the fall General Election. 
Julie Frye-Mueller
Frye-Mueller, of Rapid City, has served four years in the State House of Representatives and another four in the Senate, and is part owner of a small family business that will celebrate being open 41 years in October.

Approval spurs concern

Published by admin on Wed, 05/22/2024 - 9:31am
An approval of a developer agreement at the May 13 Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting caused quite a stir due to some changes. Facebook posts questioned the legality of the mayor breaking a tie vote while aldermen and citizens at the meeting, in addition to the city’s own attorney, questioned the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement changes, which primarily  include eliminating the proposed Ranger Square site at the original location on Main Street
The TIF application was filed in August of 2022. 

New, returning candidates for HCCC

Published by admin on Wed, 05/22/2024 - 9:29am
The race is on with just a few weeks before the election for Hill City Common Council (HCCC) June 4. This year, three positions are up for election. 
Alderman Ethan Walker is running unopposed and will therefore serve a one-year term in Ward I. Meanwhile, alderman Jason Gillaspie and alderman Dale Householder will step aside from the council so there will be no races with incumbent candidates.