Vermillion City Council to Weigh Ward Boundaries, TIF District Next Week
The Vermillion City Council is scheduled to vote on new ward boundaries and the creation of a tax increment financing district when it meets Monday, July 6, following a series of advisory board discussions that previewed major land-use and infrastructure projects.
Agenda materials show the council will also give first readings to ordinances that would define and permit "Special Mixed-Use Buildings" in the General Business district, and approve a final plat for the Bliss Pointe Addition.
Planning and Zoning
The Planning & Zoning Commission held public hearings June 22 on two ordinances that would reshape the city’s fringes. One, Ordinance 1562, would rezone about 3 acres on the north side of Timber Road, roughly one mile west of Vermillion, from agricultural to heavy industrial for storage units. Staff, however, recommends a lighter industrial designation to limit nuisance uses. A first reading of the rezoning is set for July 20.
The other, Ordinance 1561, would shrink the joint jurisdiction boundary by about 1,391 acres west of SD Highway 19 and south of Timber Road, as well as south of East Main Street.
The commission also reviewed a pair of ordinances to add a “Special Mixed-Use Building” definition and conditional use standards, along with a proposal to designate Tax Increment District #13 for Johnson’s Addition. A final plat for the Bliss Pointe Addition was also before the panel. No votes were taken; minutes have not yet been published.
City Council
On June 23, the City Council held a special meeting to award electrical supply contracts for the new Light & Power building. The administration recommended approving a $137,465.60 materials bid from Graybar Electric and a $62,994.00 generator contract to 3E Electrical Engineering. The underlying construction contract with Van Buskirk Const. is already awarded at $4.63 million. The council’s decisions on these bids have not been published.
Monday’s 6 p.m. regular council meeting will take up second reading of Ordinance 1558, which would codify new ward boundaries following recent annexations. The council will also conduct first readings of the mixed-use building ordinances (Nos. 1559 and 1560) and consider a resolution formally creating TIF District #13 on Lot 21 of Johnson’s Addition at the corner of Elm and Alumni Streets. A mutual aid agreement with the city of Beresford appears on the agenda as well. An earlier noon special meeting that day includes only a briefing and an airport tour.
Solid Waste Board
The Joint Powers Solid Waste Advisory Board on June 25 discussed the Landfill Cell 7 project, backed by a $2.132 million loan at 3.5% for 10 years plus a $568,000 grant. A gate fee increase for special waste—from $125 to $200—was approved in March, while out-of-county haulers remain ineligible for licenses. The board also reviewed a 2025 operating loss of $157,860 and a May 2026 cash balance of $3.59 million. No formal action on Cell 7 was reported.
Human Relations Commission
On July 2, the Human Relations Commission focused on community outreach, discussing future VCDC Lunch and Learn programming and plans to issue official proclamations. No votes were taken.
Coming up
The Vermillion City Council meets Monday, July 6, at noon for a procedural briefing and airport tour, and at 6 p.m. for its regular session at City Hall. Agenda packets are available online.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.