News

HCACF awards over $17k to community

Published by admin on Wed, 03/06/2024 - 8:57am
The Hill City Area Community Foundation (HCACF) gave out over $17,000 in grants at its awards ceremony Feb. 23. This was the third award ceremony since the HCACF was started around October 2021. 

Local and county bodies look to fill vacancies

Published by admin on Wed, 03/06/2024 - 8:56am
Nominating petitions for Hill City Council positions  are available for pickup in town hall. 
Several positions are available including that of mayor for a two-year term.
Both Ward 1 seats for Aldermen are vacant as well. One position is for two years and the other is for one year. A two-year term position for Alderman of Ward 2 is also up for grabs.
Circulation of nominating petitions must be filed with the finance officer in Hill City City Hall no later than 5 p.m. March 26. They can also be sent by registered mail by that same deadline. 

Institute invites public to celebrate

Published by admin on Wed, 03/06/2024 - 8:55am
Black Hills Institute of Geological Research (BHIGR) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in a huge way with free events all week March 11-16.
BHIGR was founded in 1974 by Peter Larson and James A. Honert. After Jim’s departure, Robert Farrar became a co-owner and partner in BHIGR. 
BHIGR has a collection of geological and paleontological specimens and is located in downtown Hill City.
All events  for the weeklong celebration are free and open to the public and most begin at 3:30 p.m.

Board discusses strategic planning survey results

Published by admin on Wed, 03/06/2024 - 8:46am
Tom Oster with Dakota Education Consulting (DEC) attended the Hill City School District (HCSD) Board of Education 2024 Strategic Planning meeting Feb. 20 to discuss the stakeholder survey results with the board and outline the next steps in the strategic planning process. 

County to do outreach on assessments

Published by admin on Wed, 03/06/2024 - 8:43am
Pennington County officials will hold a community outreach night March 19 at the Hill City Center.
The event will focus on how properties are assessed, a review of what happened in assessed value this year and how a home’s property tax is calculated. While the evening will be similar to last year’s event it will include new information.

Council continues triple B allocation discussion

Published by admin on Wed, 03/06/2024 - 8:40am
The Hill City Common Council picked up the discussion of how to allocate the Triple B funds at its meeting Feb. 26. 
Mayor Mike Verchio said the reason he brought this up for discussion was he discovered $20,000 was being given to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) out of general funds instead of Triple B funds. 

Council approves variance setback for auto sale lot

Published by admin on Wed, 03/06/2024 - 8:39am
Another variance request came before the Hill City Common Council at its meeting Feb. 26. 
The request was to allow for a zero-foot rear yard setback for a temporary office building at 408 East Main St. The current requirements for rear yard setbacks in this zoning district are 30 feet. 
If approved, the 12 x 14 anchored building would be used as an on-site office with enough space for two desks and customer seating. Transactions for the existing Top Tier Truck & Auto Sales business would take place in this structure. 

West Dam funding bill dies in committee

Published by admin on Wed, 02/28/2024 - 11:36am

One day after deferring action on it, the South Dakota Legislature’s Joint Committee on Appropriations voted 16-2 to send HB 1209—the bill that would have allocated $3 million state general fund money to West Dam construction—to the 41st day, killing the bill.
The bill was sponsored by District 30 Reps. Trish Ladner and Dennis Krull, District 30 Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller and two others. The two no votes to kill the bill were cast by Krull and District 27 Sen. Red Dawn Foster.

Star Valley homes impasse discussed

Published by admin on Wed, 02/28/2024 - 11:34am

More than a year after they were parked illegally on the public right of way on Galaxy Trail some homes owned by Tom McDill are now causing issues by keeping residents of the Star Valley development from properly accesses their properties or even constructing homes.
The issue has been brought before the Custer County Commission several times in the past year, and on May 16, McDill was served with paperwork telling him the homes were a nuisance and that he had 30 days to remedy the situation.

Conditional use permit changes tabled

Published by admin on Wed, 02/28/2024 - 11:32am

The Custer City Council moved to table the first reading of Ordinance No. 910 in last Tuesday’s meeting, aimed at “cleaning up some language” regarding conditional use permits.
The new ordinance modifies the process when property changes ownership and added language for  an offical appeal process.