Keystone trustees approve surcharge rates

Surcharge rates for the new sewer plant upgrade project have been established by Keystone city officials. The rates were approved at the Nov. 5 Keystone Town Board meeting. 

The monthly rates go into effect the first of the year and are based on usage. Those using less than 2,000 gallons will see a $5 per month charge while those using above 50,000 gallons will see a $500 charge. There are four tiers between those extremes. The surcharges will remain in effect until the loan on the project is paid off. All trustees voted in favor of the resolution establishing the rates with the exception of trustee Matt Fullilove, who did not give a reason for his vote.

Citizen Gerard Milnar asked trustees if they had made the decision on how far the water and sewer will  go on Old Hill City Road.  This would require boring under the road as part of the K Bar S expansion project and will be addressed at the next meeting. 

Tourism director Laura Schluckebier is resigning from her position. She will stay on until Nov. 14.  Schluckebier was the town’s first tourism director after it decided to move away from a chamber of commerce promotion model and toward a tourism director and marketing model. 

“I really enjoyed my time here,” Schluckebier said, adding “It’s been a hard decision to make.”

The board voted to advertise for the position immediately. 

Schluckebier shared data from September 2024 through September 2025 from Black Hills Badlands. It indicated hotel occupancy was at 54.7 percent, down slightly. Short term rentals were also down. Passengers at Rapid City Airport were up about nine percent, which she called a “huge leap.”  

Schluckebier said that the town is now part of the “Do you want to receive more information?” on the Black Hills Badlands site, which allows for more direct targeting. 

“These people have already said, ‘I’m interested in Keystone’ so we can send them our own information,” she said. She also said winter promotion on social media will feature summer photos to paint a picture for vacation planning. 

Trustees approved a $5,831 expenditure for lightpole banners, which will be printed by Vector  Design & Print out of Custer. HomeSlice Media will design the banners. Schluckebier said the town can do two different designs or the same design on both sides. Local organizations could also sponsor a banner to raise money. 

“It would take somebody selling that sponsorship,” Schluckebier said. 

Jerry Przybylski, supervisor of public works, said Battle Creek Fire Department is donating an older military generator to the town to use in case of emergency at the community center.

City engineer Zach Grapentine said the town got a “win” on the long eared bat that might have changed the sewer upsize timeline. 

“The feds are still furloughed in that regard, but the state came back and said that since it is not a federal granted project that we just have to write out how we’re gonna mitigate any issues with the long eared bat,” siad Grapetine.

This will be included in the project file. Grapentine  said the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources recommended that the city not bid until the loan was closed. 

“However, they don’t say you can’t,” Grapentine  said.

He expects to go to bid by Nov. 20 with a bid opening date Dec. 17. He said it seems like there are more contractors open to bid and expects to have a prebid date to vet the project. The sediment removal project will be finished by ANCO in the next few weeks. 

In order for the city to use the Chamber of Commerce’s “Visit Keystone SD” domain, town attorney Mitch Johnson suggested a license agreement be put on the agenda. The domain would then be linked to the town’s current website. 

Board president Casey  McNulty thanked Paula Cottrell and Stars and Stripes Alliance for their “gracious” donation of vinyl plank flooring to the Senior Center. 

“They’re excited to jump in and help us all out in town,” McNulty said.

The Keystone Town Board will meet again Nov. 19 at 5 p.m.