Council discusses Ambulance funding, approves special event permit

With all members present, Mayor Danny Fergen and the Lennox City Council met Monday, July 14 at Lennox City Hall. The Council heard agenda items including the Park Drive after 5 event, finance report, and compensation study updates.

The Lennox Commercial Club has applied for a special event permit for their Park Drive After 5 event to be held on July 25. 

“The Commercial Club has applied for a special event permit for their Park Drive after 5 event which will be held on July 25. Just to clarify, this is not an alcohol license at this point, we wouldn’t have made the publishing deadline for public hearing on that. This event is quite a while in the making, we’re happy to have the Commercial Club partnering with us on this,” City Administrator Nathan Vander Plaats said. 

Vander Plaats reported to the Council that at sundown, the Independence Day fireworks will be shot from the old football field but only using the small fireworks due to the proximity of houses to the location. Alderman Bill Daugherty asked for clarification on the no alcohol as the malt beverages was checked yes on the application. 

“We talked on Friday and determined that we weren’t going to be able to do the alcohol. We didn’t update the application, but I think if we want to make sure that’s not approved, let’s just include that in the motion,” Vander Plaats responded. A motion to approve the special event permit made by Chad Swier, seconded by Daugherty, motion carried.

The Council was given the 2024 annual report by the Lennox Finance Officer, Tyson Dahler. 

“We got our 2024 annual report back a couple of weeks ago and I put together a highlight sheet comparing 2023 to 2024. Our general revenues for all primary income for governmental funds. Property tax revenue increased by $227,000, sales tax by a little under $29,000, building permits increased by $136,000, interest income by $31,000, special assessment revenue by $53,000, contributions and donations decreased by $183,000,” he said. 

Other notable comparison reported to the council were water fund revenues decreasing by $1.5 million, sewer fund revenue increase by $7.4 million, ambulance fund increase by over $29,000, and the swimming pool funds revenue increasing over $18,000. 

Vice President Daugherty requested the council consider looking into ambulance districts to help cover the cost of ambulance services.

“I continue to say this is an equity issue for those we serve. It’s not that we don’t want to serve our neighbors in the rural communities, but it’s becoming harder and harder to do so,” Vander Plaats responded to Daugherty. 

Vander Plaats warned the council that there is no way to sustain the services they currently provide as the town relies on property taxes and not sales tax without a hit to public safety. 

“Here’s the continual struggle, you are all elected to represent this community and make decisions for it based on what you’re hearing from the community. The services that we are providing are something that are requested by our residents, the people who vote for you in these elections. But what worries me are these are decisions that are being made in Pierre by people who have no idea what our residents want,” Vander Plaats said. 

A motion to approve the annual report made by Swier, seconded by Daugherty, the motion carried.

Vander Plaats has read the results of the compensation study being conducted by the consultant, Alternative HR, as they are nearing completion. 

“Earlier this year we agreed to do a compensation study with Alternative HR and it’s just about complete. The results of that study have been received, I do have a few questions and have been going back and forth in some emails with the consultant on that and we should have that wrapped up this week. Once that’s complete, it’d be helpful for an ad hoc committee to meet and review those results,” he said.

The Council agreed to let the finance committee handle the review process of the study in a meeting later this month.