News

Council members take oaths

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:56am

Incumbent city council members  Julie Jenniges, Todd Pechota and Dixie Whitaker  were sworn in for their next terms on the council after taking the oath of office at the Custer City Council meeting last Monday evening, July 1.
Following the oath of office, the council elected its president and vice president. Alderwoman Nina Nielsen made a motion to nominate Peg Ryan for council president, and with no other nominations, it was carried unanimously. Ryan’s motion to nominate Nielsen for vice president was also passed unanimously.

Buffalo Gap tax issue still in flux

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:55am

There is no new news—and a little additional confusion—regarding the missing tax payments owed to the federal government by the Town of Buffalo Gap.
The issue was discussed briefly at the town’s July 1 meeting, with town chief financial officer Shelley Harris telling the 30 or so people gathered at the Buffalo Gap Community Center for the meeting that the town recently received a letter from the IRS saying all taxes were paid for the first quarter of the year, while another letter was received saying back taxes of $6,000 were still owed.

First responders busy with accidents

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:55am

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office responded to a couple vehicle accidents Monday, June 29.

Cell silencing approved

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:12am
On July 1 the Hill City School District Board  of Education (HCSB) approved all the handbook changes it had discussed at its June meeting. 
These included the cell phone policy which now reads, “Cellular phones, telecommunication devices, and portable digital media devices are: 1. To remain powered-off and inoperable during the academic school day or when their use is otherwise prohibited by school personnel. 2. Not to be visible during the academic day. 3. Staff may direct students to use cell phones/electronic devices if there is an academic component to its use.

Hill City gets new city website

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:11am
The City of Hill City has a brand new website. Residents can now find all the pertinent information regarding local government at hillcitysd.org. 
The previous website hillcitysd.com was jointly built with the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) around 2010. This was a one-stop site for residents, visitors and those looking to move to the area. 
“The theory was is that we wanted one place that people could go,” said city administrator Brett McMacken. 

Board concedes to pay old bill

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:08am
After a brief executive session at its July 3 meeting the Keystone Town Board of Trustees agreed to pay an old AE2S invoice for  $4,069.
The invoice is due to additional work the company did to secure  permits for the sediment removal project.
“I understand where the  confusion is,” trustee Will Parks said. “Based on the contract it says this agreement can only be amended, supplemented, modified or canceled by  a fully accepted  executed written instrument.”

Enter the Hill City Center photo contest

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:05am
Calling all photographers. Community coordinator Christy Derynck is looking for people to capture the essence of Hill City life through photography and enter their photos in a contest. The winning images will be displayed as wall art in the Hill City Center (HCC). 
“This is kind of the last part of finishing HCC,” said Derynck. 
There were various ideas about what type of artwork to display in the center, but an idea from Merle Glenn rose to the top. 

Vissia resigns as county DOE

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 12:07pm

Custer County is in search of a new director of equalization after Leah Vissia resigned following an executive session at the Custer County Commission’s June 20 meeting. Her final day in the role is July 5.
Vissia started as the head of the county’s equalization office Oct. 21, 2019. Since that time property valuations and subsequently property taxes have skyrocketed as Vissia’s office struggled to get the county in line with state-mandated valuations in regards to full and true value of county property sales.

Debate over land subdivision riles some at meeting

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 12:07pm

The Custer County Commission wants the Town of Hermosa to deal with a variance/subdividing request within its one-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction before it delves into the issue, it was learned at the June 20 meeting of the Custer County Commission.

Board discusses reimbursements

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 12:06pm

Mileage reimbursment payments for families in Hermosa were discussed at the Custer School District Board of Education meeting held last week in Hermosa. It was brought up that some parents who choose to drive their children to school and get reimmbursed for the mileage may not be truthfully reporting that to the school by not taking as many trips to the school as they report.
“People understand the system and screw the system to get an extra buck,” said board member Larry Baker.