No Extra School Taxes for New K-12 School Building Project Gittings and Peterson Retire Philip Council Notified of Police Chief
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$ 00 Inclu1des Tax No. 24, Vol. 110 Philip, South Dakota 57567 Thursday, February 4, 2016 www. pioneer-review.com No extra school taxes for new K-12 school building project by Del Bartels Two financial and architectural experts relayed information and op - tions to the Haakon School District Board of Education during a special meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 26, about a new kindergarten through 12th grade school building to be started the summer of 2017 and ready for classes in fall 2018. The main crux of the discussion was that a new K-12 school building was possible without any raising of current property taxes. The official resolution by the board for the new school building will be voted on during the board’s Monday, Feb. 8 meeting. If that vote and other legalities go according to plan, then community meetings will be held as soon as possible. If anyone opposes the board’s decision, that person has a legal number of days to get signatures on a petition bring - ing the project to a vote by registered voters in the school district. Any election procedure would be held as soon as possible. Bid letting for the construction project should be held soon so construction companies can plan to start the summer of 2017 as soon as warmer weather allows. Plans are for the project to be classroom ready by the fall of 2018. Pay - ment of the project would be over future years, with monies coming out of what the district has in reserves and what is already on the tax books Del Bartels to come in to the school district during those future years. Experts Toby Morris, left, Dougherty Company, Pierre, and Tim Cheever, Toby Morris, Dougherty Company, Pierre, and Tim Cheever, Upper Upper Deck Architects, Rapid City, discussed specifics with the Haakon Deck Architects, Rapid City, discussed specifics. It was estimated that School District Board of Education concerning the proposed construction bringing the current buildings toward code would cost around of a new Philip school building. $5,200,000. Even then the buildings would still be old. The layout of the multiple buildings would not be high in security, especially if any lock - down ever had to be ordered. Fitzgerald. Board member Doug Thorson stated that with a new building there Business Manager Britni Ross commented about the proposed con - will be a whole lot less renovating than what the school district has to struction and its costs, “I was comfortable with it, and I’m pretty con - pay for now. Any renovating to the current buildings does nothing for servative.” Ross had earlier stated that either new construction or everything being under one roof for if a need ever comes for a lockdown. renovation costs will be paid with existing capital outlay levies. The dis - The audience viewed small copies and a larger copy of the very prelimi - “The only way would be to tie all the buildings together,” said Thorson. trict would not raise taxes or go for a bond issue. nary blueprint. It shows two wings, both extending north from the north - Instead, a new single building would cost approximately $10,000,000 Morehart again stressed, “Nobody’s taxes are going up for this. This ern wall of the current high school complex. The two story elementary total. The building would be new. It would provide better security and is important to get out there.” building would be razed. The current elementary gym would be used for could even be locked down if ever necessary. Nine million of the total According to the Haakon County auditor, the school district’s total extracurricular and community activities, thus not part of the main build - cost would be borrowed, with approximately $700,000 to be paid on the 2015 tax request was for $2,050,314.14 and the school district’s total ing’s security shut-down protocols. The south section of the current debt annually for the next 20 years. 2016 tax request was for $2,580,417.31. shop/ag building would become a much-needed bus barn, while the “Word to get out to the public is this isn’t costing you anything,” said Morris and Cheever presented a suggested blueprint. This very pre - north section would be razed. The elementary playground would be Superintendent Keven Morehart. Concerning any possible disagreement liminary blueprint shows two wings, both extending north from the moved closer, probably to the north of the new structure, and parking from the district’s citizens, Morehart noted, “We’ve been putting it out northern wall of the current high school complex. The two story elemen - would pretty much surround the new building. there to the public for years, and we haven’t heard a thing from any - tary building would be razed. The current elementary gym would be one.” used for extracurricular and community activities, thus not part of the Board member Jake Fitzgerald agrees with plans to provide public main building’s security shut-down protocols. The south section of the moved to north of the new structure, and parking would pretty much awareness and hold public meetings. “We wouldn’t be reinventing the current shop/ag building would become a much-needed bus barn, while surround the building. Almost all of the finished building would have wheel, just summarizing where we’ve been and where we’re going,” said the north section would be razed. The elementary playground would be sloped roofs. Philip council notified of Police Chief Graham’s retirement by Del Bartels most organizations not close to their usage limit. The council established After an executive session, the council voted to include the Depart - During its Monday, Feb. 1, meeting, the Philip City Council accepted, the 2016 water and sewer rates, and authorized issuing credit based ment of Criminal Investigation in determining the ownership and legal with regret, the retirement of Police Chief Kit Graham, who gave writ - on the free allocated water. responsibility of an airplane seemingly abandoned at the Philip Airport. ten and verbal notice. The city will participate in and help sponsor a job fair, March 11, in The owner has until Aug. 1 to somehow remove the plane. “Please accept this letter as my formal notification of my retirement Philip. The Badlands Bad River Regional job fair will include booths Public Works Director Matt Reckling, Street/Sewer Superintendent from the Philip Police Department, effective May 31, 2016. I am giving representing over 20 businesses, and will run from noon to 6:00 p.m. in Rick Coyle, general maintenance Robbie Shipp and Brian Pearson will four months notice to ensure that there is sufficient time to find and to the fine arts building. The city will emphasize various possible openings, attend a safety training course, Feb. 18, in Wall. The South Dakota Mu - hire my replacement. but mainly its need for lifeguards at the swimming pool. Sponsorship nicipal League District 8 meeting is Tuesday, March 22, in Kadoka. “I would like to thank the city of Philip for the great opportunities and fees are $250. Reckling and Finance Officer Monna Van Lint will attend the South experiences I have had during the past 23 years that I have served as The total for bills pending as of Feb. 1 was over $45,202. Some of the Dakota Airport Conference, April 6-7, in Deadwood. your chief of police. After over 40 years in law enforcement, I am looking items concerning this meeting’s agenda are $525 for attorney retainer Mayor and council petitions must be filed with the finance office by forward to my retirement, but will miss the city employees who I have fees, over $4,870 for 369 residential garbage collections, and over $3,770 Feb. 26 for this year’s election. had the pleasure to work with during this time. I wish you all the best for parks/recreation free water credit. City offices will be closed Feb. 15 in observance of the legal holiday. and please let me know if there is anything that I can do to facilitate The city reminds property owners that sidewalks are to be cleared of Council will meet in special session Monday, March 21, at 4:00 p.m. the transition,” stated Graham. snow and ice in a timely manner. This applies to individuals, businesses, in the commissioner’s room to sit as board of equalization. Citizens are Mayor Mike Vetter said, “We thank you very much for everything organizations and nonpresent landowners. advised that the official PT-17 form must be filed with the finance office you’ve done. If anyone deserves retirement, you do.” A city-owned 1999 Ford Ranger and 1986 International dump truck by no later than 5:00 p.m., March 17. In other business, the council tabled any action until its next meeting with plow have been surplused and will be sold at public auction, Feb. The next regular city council meeting is Monday, March 7, at 7:00 after a public hearing concerning the on/off sale malt beverage and 28. p.m. in the community room. South Dakota farm wine license application presented by Ginnys, LLC. Council member Marion Matt said, “This is a different situation. We’re putting a drinking establishment in a residental area.” At least three individuals had voiced their opposition to council members and to Graham. Trisha Larson stated, “The major part of our business is gift baskets in our coffee shop. We are not going to make money on alcohol.” Gittings and Peterson retire Kerry Burns replied that people can order alcohol online, then she by Del Bartels last Friday he was unemployed.