The Jefferson city council at its Sept. 24 meeting approved the second reading of an ordinance increasing water rates by 5 percent. Council member Chad Sloan cast the dissenting vote in a 4-1 vote. The council will hold the third reading at the Oct. 8 meeting, after which the change will be made.
The increase is an effort to keep up with rising costs in the operating the current water treatment plant, and to be able to set aside funds for the eventual replacement of the plant.
The council approved a sixth change order for the water treatment plant project. City engineer Jim Leiding explained that upon draining the newest of three clarifiers, it was found part of the surface had not been coated when it was originally constructed, and had become pitted. The change order is for $113,326.99.
City administrator Scott Peterson, as with recent change orders, told the council there is money to pay the change order in a reserve fund. “We’re whittling away at the savings, but there’s still money to pay,” Peterson said.
The council accepted the recommendation of the park and recreation board and approved hiring Henry Pohlmeyer as assistant park and recreation director. Pohlmeyer graduated from Johnston High School in 2015 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from South Dakota State University in 2020. His connection to recreation comes through wrestling. He earned All-American status while at SDSU, although Covid-19 ended the wrestling season early.
Pohlmeyer’s first day on the job will be Oct. 1. His starting salary is $48,000 per year. A farewell reception will be held that same day from 4 to 6 pm at the community center for retiring JPRD director Denny Hammen. Nathan Kral was promoted from the assistant director position to fill Hammen’s post.
Greene County Development Corporation director Ken Paxton gave a brief report and then turned the podium over to Sara Huddleston to report on her work with the Multi-Cultural Family Resource Center.
Huddleston has been on the job for four months. She said she’s working with eight families, helping them connect with resources via Greene County public health and the schools. She spends two hours a day, three days a week in schools assisting English language learners and teachers Kristin Heupel and Amy van der Meer in translating and communicating with parents and students. She said she was particularly impressed by the Paton-Churdan school when she went there to assist with a parent-teacher conference.
She also attended a job fair in Perry to assist Wild Rose Casino, AAI/Spalding and Power Lift in recruiting employees.
