City collects 345 tons during cleanup

BROOKINGS — The annual spring cleaning effort collected almost 345 tons of trash, Brookings City Council members heard at their regular meeting on April 28.

Half a million pounds were collected from along boulevards during the bulky item pickup effort, while the landfill collected another 117 thousand pounds.

The council also moved to transfer $13.4 million from the general fund to an account to begin construction on the new police station, set to be south of the Dakotah Bank Center parking lot in Brookings.

In the only discussion on the matter, Deputy Mayor Nick Wendell reminded residents that two projects — the new fire station and the new police station — which had once been been up for consideration as one facility are now split into two separate projects. The council allocated around $6 million to the fire station project earlier this year.

City Manager Paul Briseno took the opportunity to remind the public that the council had saved the money to do these projects rather than raise taxes.

“I say this every time — $19 million has been saved by the city council. Roughly every year we’re bringing in around $4 million in property taxes. Most communities would have increased property taxes to pay for that $19 million. This council saved $19 million rather than increasing property taxes, that would almost double your taxes. But instead, they saved this. So pat on the back to the city council, of course, staff — everyone who saved this over the years.”

In other city business the council:

— Heard first reading of various zoning changes.

— Heard first reading of changes in rules for home occupied businesses in Brookings, in general to make it more friendly to operate a small business out of a home.

— Granted temporary alcohol licenses to the Brookings Cubs to sell beer at home games, as has been allowed since 2019

— Finally approved new animal regulations after the council amended them to allow those who met original requirements — very few inside town —to keep backyard chickens to continue to do so.

— Immediately thereafter amended the fine structure for violating the city’s animal codes.

— Approved a resolution to support the Parks & Rec department applying for a federal grant to help improve Lion’s Park off Medary Ave at the railroad tracks. The council earlier approved $170,000 for this measure.

The next council meeting is set for May 12, with a study session also set for May 19.

Linehan is the Beacon’s managing editor and he welcomes story tips and comments at BrookingsBeacon@gmail.com