STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council met for their first November meeting Monday night and established municipal utility rates for 2024, as well as approved the annual liquor and wine license renewal applications.
The city included figures for some increases in utility rates when it passed the 2024 budget last month.
City Finance Officer Fay Bueno said the water, wastewater and sanitation base rates will increase by 5% on residents’ January bill. She said the increase will help fund the increasing operational costs of the utilities.
Also, the city’s wastewater facility surcharge will go up 6.7%, from $15.79 to $16.85. All other surcharges will stay the same.
Also at the meeting Monday, the council approved the renewal of liquor and wine licenses within the city limits of Sturgis.
These licenses are valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024. Being considered for renewal are two off-sale liquor licenses (Sturgis Liquor Store and Sturgis Liquor Annex); nine on-sale Liquor licenses and 16 on/off sale wine licenses.
The Council also approved a resolution to pay for professional services from Simpson & Associates to provide a “Yellow Book appraisal” for various city properties and approve the payment of a retainer to do the work.
Sturgis Public Works Director Rick Bush says the city is considering selling some parcels of land it owns, but must first get an appraisal on those parcels.
Bush says the city is required to use the Yellow Book appraisal process because the sale of the city’s properties involves the conversion of Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) land.
