Chamber gets funding for birthday events

About a half dozen merchants came to the Feb. 9 Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting in support of the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce in its request for funding for a special Hill City birthday event. 

The proposed idea by Erica Layton, executive director of the chamber, is to hold the celebration Memorial Day weekend, starting at the Hill City Center for a locals gathering complete with a birthday proclamation, state dignitaries, hors d’ouveres, cake and Smokey Bear. Layton called it a “nice little get together for the community.”

Layton’s vision for Saturday through Monday is to bring in a lumberjack show which will perform three 30-minute shows each day.

“None of the shows will be the same,” Layton said.

Intermixed are two interactive lumberjack camps for children. 

“They get to do log rolling,” said Layton. 

These events would be free to attend. Adults could do axe throwing, which Layton wants to charge for as a fundraiser to support nonprofit organizations in town. Smokey would be available all weekend for photo opportunities. 

The package has a $7,500 price tag, and Layton was asking for $10,000 to cover expenses for celebrating the town’s birthday all summer long, including a weekend street dance in July.

The chamber received $200,000 from the city. However, the chamber itself cannot pay for events. It is focusing its money on the website, marketing and  increasing social media outreach.

While much of the discussion focused on logistics of if the event would best be held downtown on Main Street or at the Hill City Center parking lot, the real question on hand was whether aldermen would financially support the event.

“What I’m struggling with,” said alderman Ethan Walker, “is that we decided last year to withhold funding from specific events—the Arts Council, the Wine Beer and BBQ, the quilt show. All of those events bring tax dollars, and this is another event. In some ways, it feels like do we have to pick winners and losers now, which event we should fund versus which event we shouldn’t fund? I don’t like the feeling of that.”

HCCC president Lori  Miner said, “We’re only a month into this year approximately and already I’ve had discussions with Nate and other committees within the government, and  I’m hearing about $650,000 more that we need possibly within this year or next year to fund various projects,” referring to various infrastructure needs including the Museum Drive bridge project. 

She called these background preliminary discussions. 

“I understand it’s only $10,000, but I’m now facing as a councilman, as are the rest of them, how are we going to finish funding our water and sewer project? How are we going to  fund the bridge project?” said Miner.

Miner did not deny that the council supported the event but was concerned about expenses. She said the Business Improvement District board wants sidewalks in the alley way. 

“I think those are just as beneficial to the business community as an event,” she said.

Alderman Dennis Siebert pointed out, “We wouldn’t want to fund an ongoing thing. This might be something that produces a future without our funding.”

Council members made suggestions to the chamber about seeking money elsewhere, with Walker asking if the chamber could approach the Tin City Masons to sponsor the event and apply for funding from the Hill City Area Community Foundation or if the merchants themselves could fund the event.

Tin City Saloon owner Jessica Jacobs asked what investment the city wanted to make in its own birthday celebration. 

The city had budgeted in July 2025 $5,000 for updating bunting for the town.

Mayor Tana Nichols reminded council members that it had previously decided to stop funding events that were not self supporting after many years but had remained open to “something new comes up that might work and might be worth investing in that we would do that.”

Walker asked if the city could scrap the banner and put the money toward the proposed birthday celebration. 

Siebert motioned that and suggested another $2,500 come from the Bed, Booze and Boarding fund. 

Council members unanimously approved the expenditure and again encouraged Layton to seek donations for the additional $2,500 the chamber had requested.

Logistics about where the event will be located have yet to be determined. 

Pete Stach, who supported the compromise said, “It’s something that’s in our heritage that’s where this whole community started. I think it will pique a lot of people’s interest.”

Pennington County Sheriff’s Office deputy Jim Waldrop took questions about the recently-caught fugitive who had been in the area.

“He’d been living in the woods for a really long time, which is one reason we had such a tough time finding him,” Waldrop said. 

Waldrop said the fugitive wasn’t trying to harass the public but wanted to avoid the police.

Aldermen approved an amendment to one of its water and sewer ordinances. The changes will mean water and sewer payments will now be due on the 25th of the month in which meters are read. Businesses were already notified about the change. In order to assist those on  fixed income, staff is recommending each user receive a credit on their bills, so people do not face two bills in one month when the change takes place in March. This will be an action item on the next agenda. 

City administrator Nate Anderson said he has been talking to both Deadwood and Custer about their merchandise ordinances and expects to have something before HCCC soon. He also explained an idea to cover the top of a basin at the new water treatment plant which potentially will “save us quite a bit of money.” 

The HCCC meets again  Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m.