BBB ordinance up for first reading

By: 
Leslie Silverman

The Town of Keystone’s Bed, Board and Booze (BBB) Ordinance 35.10 will be up for another first reading at the Oct. 16 Keystone Town Board meeting.

There were no changes to the draft at the most recent town board meeting although there was a small amount of discussion.

“I really encourage the town to look at what it’s doing as far as advertising,” said Julie Smoragiewicz, president of the Keystone Chamber of Commerce. “Every dollar invested in advertising generates four more dollars.”

“You can advertise all you want and bring those people to town. You ain’t got water you ain’t got sewer, you got nothing,” countered Jerry Przybylski, public works superintendent.

Keystone Town Board president Rick Brandfas ended the discussion by stating, “Wish we had a (Business Improvement District [BID]) board,” referring to the failed attempt of the BID from earlier this year.

The draft earmarks 50 percent of the revenue from the BBB tax to marketing and advertising of the Town of Keystone. The other 50 percent will be retained by the town to distribute in a manner consistent with South Dakota Codified Law 10-52A-1. The full draft can be found on the Keystone government town website.

While the sewer system improvements have been complete for some time, Przybylski has not signed the certificate of substantial completion.

“We can’t sign that yet. When we did that walk through with them we still found eight things are not completed yet,” he said.

Przybylski also explained concerns he has about sewer line maintenance near the Keystone Project.

“You can see how their tap fell down and there’s a bunch of water coming down. It’s not ours — it’s theirs,” he said.

Przybylski asked the board to give the businesses a deadline for fixing the problem. The board voted unanimously to send a letter to the Keystone Project to address this issue. 

Przybylski also discussed the city’s own need to maintain its portion of the sewer line.

The chamber of commerce audit is complete and the town board voted to make the findings public.

In addition, the chamber will not cover the cost of the audit, which was agreed upon by both parties when the audit was implemented.

The Keystone paid parking grossed $38,889. This figure does not account for supplies and manpower to collect the parking fees. The average was $350 per day.

Trustee Kwinn Neff is looking to extend the parking lot area. There was discussion about keeping the lot open next year through Buffalo Roundup weekend. Neff also wants the board to look into selling land surrounding the ambulance building. The ambulance service wants to purchase the land it currently leases from the city; however, for either action to take place the land must be platted.

Trustee Sandi McLain discussed moving employee parking located on Swanzey Street to a new location to free up more parking for tourists. McLain also heads the cemetery committee, which is reviewing current procedures for buying burial plots in the town cemetery.

“I have met with probably about eight families within the community,” McLain said. “These individuals had said to me they are very much in favor of raising the price for people outside of the state not connected to Keystone in any way shape and form.”  McLain also voiced that residents felt prices for those with ties to Keystone should remain the same. An idea of having a committee review out of town burial requests was discussed.

McLain plans to meet with more people prior to the next board meeting. She encouraged the public to have input in the process. No action was taken on this matter. 

A heated debate about “confusion” surrounding the building code took place as the board approved a building permit for Tammy Hunsaker.

“A permit is required when the project exceeds the sum of $250,” read Hunsaker, who said the cost of her project fell under this amount. “I would like you to not charge me.”

She referred to the part of the ordinance which referred to blasting permits, according to town attorney Mitch Johnson.

“I think this is a real good opportunity for us to look and refine some parts,” said trustee Lynette Gohsman.

Johnson disagreed with Hunsaker and reiterated: “Are you applying for a blasting permit?”

Hunsaker felt the charge was “harassing and ridiculous” and stated “it’s not simple and it’s not over.” The board voted to approve Hunsaker’s permit, which she has already paid for.

Land leases for the ambulance service, the fire district and the visitor information center were all approved by the board.

An easement for a hydrant on Blair Street was approved.

Finance officer Cassandra Ott asked the board to allow the city to apply for the floodplain grant the town had planned to do previously but was unable to due to an error by the county.

“Last year at this time we tried to submit a floodplain grant application to remap the floodplain in Keystone so that it is accurate,” Ott said. “It would be a $30,000 portion from the city to pay for those expenses.”

The state pays 75 percent of the cost. The city already paid for the application and the board approved this application.

The Keystone Town Board will meet again Oct. 16 at 9 a.m.

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