BROOKINGS A new easement agreement affecting the Fifth Street Gym parking lot was given the go-ahead on a 5-0 vote at Tuesdays Brookings County Commission meeting.
While the county retains ownership of the parking lot, the city of Brookings will essentially be responsible for the majority of the lots maintenance. This will include snow removal from the sidewalks/boulevards and lawn care on the boulevards.
The easement puts the gym, at 606 Fifth St., one step closer to city ownership. Action is still required by the Brookings School District, which currently owns the gym and had it listed at $500,000, and the City Council before that can happen, though, and is expected to take place in the next month or so.
After the vote, Commissioner Larry Jensen noted that, several weeks ago, the county approved a bid to seal coat the gyms parking lot, and that it plans to still carry out that project.
If and when the city acquires the Fifth Street Gym, it wont cost taxpayers additional money, according to information from the city. Thats because necessary improvements estimated to cost $2.6 million will be paid for out of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Departments existing capital improvement plan. That dollar amount does not include annual operating costs estimated at $100,000 to $150,000 per year, nor possible replacement of the gyms worn floor.
States attorneys report
In an unrelated matter, commissioners heard from Deputy States Attorney Austin Oxner, who provided insights into a recently concluded jury trial. He said the two-day trial last week centered on a case involving a DUI and felony child abuse, and that the jury returned a guilty verdict on both counts.
In Brookings County, if an individual is arrested for driving under the influence, well charge that, Oxner explained. If theres a child in the vehicle, well also charge child abuse.
Weve traditionally gotten good results with that and good feedback and thats resulted in convictions under that theory almost always, he continued. This was actually the first one under that theory of prosecution that went to a jury trial and so it was interesting to see what a jury would do with it.
He finished, Its something we take serious here in the community, and its something that the jury showed they take serious as well.
Sentencing in the case is expected in a months time or so, Oxner added.
Election note
The upcoming Brookings City Council and Brookings School Board elections, set for April 8, are generating quite a bit of interest as well.
According to numbers from the county, early voting as of 3 p.m. Tuesday stood at 484. People can cast their ballots at the Brookings City & County Government Center, 520 Third St., leading up to the election until 5 p.m. April 7.
The contenders in the city race are Al Austreim, Holly Tilton Byrne and Bonny Specker. In the school race theyre Teri Johnson, Cassandra Juba and Kelsey Bowman.
On April 8, voters will be able to cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
- Brookings Activity Center, 320 Fifth Ave.
- Bethel Baptist Church, 714 17th Ave. S.
- Holy Life Tabernacle Church, 241 Mustang Pass
- Impact Church in Aurora, 201 E. Pine St.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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