The City of Wagner held a special council meeting on Tuesday, June 25th at 5:30 p.m. As one walked into the meeting as either a participant or simply an attendee, he or she must sign in and then are given the option if they would like to speak to be put on the list for the public comment part of the meeting. Looking around the room before the meeting started every chair was taken and it was standing room only. The meeting began by being called to order by Mayor, Tammy Thornton, followed by those in attendance being told that this city council meeting was being videotaped. Then everyone in the room stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance in unison, before being seated. Mayor Thornton then proceeded to ask the city council if there was anyone who had a conflict of interest with anything on the day’s agenda. With no one having a conflict, she then asked for a motion to approve the agenda for the current meeting. After being unanimously approved by those on the board in attendance, the mayor then opened the floor for public comment.

There were 11 people that wanted to speak during the public comment part of the meeting. They were each granted a maximum of three minutes to speak. Rita Remme started by speaking about the Lhotak family farm that is located in very close proximity to Wagner Lake. She spoke about being worried what the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) may mean to their family farm and being able to build on it because it falls within the mile ETJ radius of the city of Wagner. Mark Huber then stepped up to the podium and also spoke about ETJ. Mark spoke about how he was concerned that the ETJ would be appealed in its entirety which he felt would leave Wagner in a vulnerable position to unwanted development. Jim Bastemeyer was next on the list. Jim spoke about how he was in favor of zoning and had even been a past member of the board but felt that the current ETJ ordinance went too far overboard. Jim suggested that the ETJ stay within guidelines, but not to the point where it is limiting community growth. He feels that the ETJ has limited the building in Wagner and that is the reason that there is no construction or development currently in Wagner.

Ken Thaler then spoke. He wanted to remind the council why there was a need for the ETJ in the first place; because of the potential negative environmental impact that the City of Wagner may face depending on the type of development. He also agreed with both Mark and Jim. He asked the council to revisit the issue as a council. Ken expressed his hope that regardless of what the council eventually chose to do to at least not completely get rid of the ETJ for environmental issues. Janet Lhotak then spoke about the Lhotak family farm right outside of Wagner. She admitted that her son, Brad, was not a farmer, but was farming. Brad and his family would like to move closer to the farm as they are on the other side of town in the country. They would like to build a shouse three fourths of a mile past Wagner Lake very close to the farm but have been unable to obtain the proper permits needed because of the ETJ. Brad Lhotak was then next to speak. He spoke of how his late father, Francis, used to attend the city council meetings. Francis was a big believer of not restricting growth in the Wagner community and did understand the need for zoning laws. Brad asked the council to update the ETJ as it needs to be considerate of the fact that Wagner is a rural community and that there is a need for a happy balance between zoning and agriculture.

Gina Carda then took to the podium. She has an empty lot next to her house that she would like to buy but has not been able to purchase. Last summer the lot needed to be mowed and since she has been mowing the empty lot and keeping the weeds at bay in order to keep her own property from having the same problems. Gina came to be put on the upcoming agenda because of the desire to build a garage which would mean the need to expand her driveway. Jamie Tjeerdsma then was given her chance to speak. She talked about how she believes that zoning is important. As a resident that lives within the one-mile radius of the city limits, she talked about how she would like to see representation when it comes to ETJ matters of those that are not within the city limits but are being affected.

Jolene Stewart was next to speak. She owns agricultural land in the ETJ zone. Jolene expressed that she felt that the ETJ had created hard feelings throughout Wagner due to the lack of information and understanding making it an ETJ versus the city residents’ kind of a feel. Jolene said that she feels like the ETJ is restricting operations for agriculture. She brought up the point that the ETJ requires the need for ag operations to come to the city council in order to spread fertilizer on their land, and yet fertilizer is sold within city limits. She would like to see basic zoning rules but scaled back. Jeff Stewart spoke next. He spoke about how he lives inside the ETJ on agricultural land. He brought up several of the same points as Jolene but did talk about how they are doing retail sales with the berries they sell. Afraid to come before the city council for a permit because of not knowing if his business is violating the ETJ. Jeff also wishes there was more transparency from the city council and that they advertised more than once or twice about upcoming meetings in the newspaper. The final speaker of the public comment part of the meeting was Ron Kokesh about the ETJ. He talked about how he had grown up here and farmed here all of his life. He is at a point in his life where he wants to retire and build his dream house. More discussion of the particulars of him building a shouse within the ETJ finished up his time at the podium with City Administrator, Debbie Houseman explaining to him the steps needed for him to obtain his permit.

The floor was then closed to public comments. Gerrit Juffer who was on the agenda then spoke very briefly on the ETJ and he requested an appeal due to the fact that Wagner is not growing because the ETJ is being too controlling and holding Wagner back. Mayor Thornton then told the council and attendees that the council would take all that was said into consideration. That was the end of the ETJ discussion, members of the council did not ask Gerrit any questions nor did any further discussion or conversation on the ETJ ensue.

Next on the agenda was Arlis Kafka in regards to moving the cancer ribbon at Wagner Lake’s Park. The organization would like to take the current cancer ribbon and replace it with a solid concrete based pink ribbon. It would be located in the same vicinity as the other one and would be visible from both the highway and gravel roads. The motion carried and the request was approved.

Jeff Doom then asked Mayor Thornton when the city council would decide and or start making decisions about the ETJ issue, looking for a time frame on the matter. Houseman told Jeff that there is a long process in order to change the ETJ. There are many different stages to the process of changing or appealing the ETJ. Questions were asked by Doom to be put on the agenda for the city council meeting on July 1st to which was replied that the mayor sets the agenda and that is who is needed to speak to in order to be put on the agenda.

Next on the agenda was the pool committee. Jamie Tjeerdsma was the representative for the group. Jamie updated the city council on the recent large donations that the pool fundraising committee had received. She then talked about how the building of a pool is not getting any cheaper and as a committee they would like to start the project. Some of the contractors who do this type of work have a waiting list a year out and so the committee felt it was time to have a discussion with the mayor and the city parks and recreation committee to see what can be done and how they can move forward. It is also a time-sensitive issue as it is time for the committee to either write a check for the progression of the pool or reinvest their money. Motion carried and request approved for a discussion to be had.

Mayor Thornton then asked Brenda Jaton for the name of an appointee for the Ward III Council Position. Brenda suggested Mieke Slaba for the position. There was a motion and a second with all council members in favor. The next matter on the agenda was ETJ board member, Jessa Doom’s, letter of resignation from the ETJ board. Her resignation was accepted and approved by the council. Next was the approval of the hiring of new city police officer, Robert Abdo Jr. It was discussed that he will be hired at $24.00 an hour with the expectation to get his certification. Abdo has previously worked for the Charles-Mix County as a deputy.

The HDR contract for the city drainage project was up next on the agenda. HDR was only hired to design the project at a cost of $33,325 and required an additional fee of $39,755 for a total of $73,080 to be paid for the original and extension of the project in total. A motion followed by a second and unanimous city council approval was had on this matter. Lastly on the agenda was the hiring of lifeguard, Nevaeh Morgan, for the teaching of swimming lessons. As Morgan is certified to teach lessons and has to come from a distance it was set that she would be paid $20 an hour for lessons from July 1st through July 12th. If she did any on call lifeguard work, she was to be paid $12.50 an hour.

As there was no further business, a request for a motion to adjourn the meeting was asked for and received with a second. All council members approved. The meeting ended at 6:19 p.m.