STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council Monday night unanimously approved a recommendation to have the legal and finance committee begin negotiations to purchase a piece of property that could house a proposed Lakeside Adventure Park.
The Richards Property is located in southwest Sturgis off Vanocker Canyon Road.
Initial plans called for the proposed water park to be located at the fairgrounds property. But, at a special meeting of the council on January 10, the new location was discussed.
The 77 acres of land is for sale for $2.2 million by longtime Sturgis resident Dave Richards, who was in attendance at last night’s meeting.
He wants to work with the city to make this piece of property into something that could be a recreational hub for the entire area.
The property borders the Sturgis city limits the full length of the property on the west of Vanocker Canyon Road with high visibility from I-90 and the surrounding area.
Alison Creed with the Sturgis Aquatics Committee, who brought forward the lake idea to the city, says they are interested in the new property, but had some recommendations.
“As far as inspiration, I don’ want it to look like an industrial park, if we put businesses there. I think when you come down – it naturally invites you to come down into that lower level and I think it creates an opportunity to have its own little business-being environment and I would like to see that influence of Vanocker Canyon brought down into that area.”
Creed says she plans on talking with the engineers studying the lake about the new property.
“I would like to check with them to see what they think about building the project there, because I don’t want to lose this opportunity.”
Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen says discussions right now are focusing on the purchase of the Richards Property. A determination of building the lake and lakeside park would come later.
Once it is complete, a proposed purchase agreement will be brought to the council for consideration.
Also at last night’s council meeting, City Attorney Mark Marshall updated council members on the withdrawal of the Petition for Declaratory Judgement regarding a petition that was turned in seeking to set an election to vote on the termination of the city manager form of government.
The city had sought an opinion from the state Board of Election on whether or not the question asked in the petition was proper.
However, because the petition sponsors have taken the issue to court to force the city to immediately consider the petition valid and schedule an election, the declaration from the Board of Elections was no longer needed.
The council also appointed four members to the newly formed Office of the City Manager Subcommittee, which will look into any recommended changes to the city ordinances that contain references to the office of city manager position.
Appointed to the committee area Mike Bachand, Aaron Jordan, Dean Sigman and Mark Carstensen.
