Jul. 6—MITCHELL — The Mitchell City Council, during its regular meeting on July 7, will hear a presentation on Lake Mitchell from Barr Engineering.
Council member John Doescher believes that the city will be charged more for lake dredging because the lake will be emptied before bids are put out for dredging the lake.
He also believes a lake dredge may only solve part of the lake’s algae problem, and that it would be a temporary solution.
“We were told that 50% of the lake problem with the algae comes from the lake bed itself, the other 50 % of the problem with the algae and pollution in the lake comes from the source—Firesteel Creek,” Doescher said.
Doescher told the Mitchell Republic that he voted in favor of the city purchasing the Kelley property to tackle the algae problem upstream.
The 371 acres cost the city $4.1 million in 2019.
“We’ve owned that property for how many years now? I don’t know what’s been done,” Doescher said. “What has happened to improve the half of the problem?”
A 4-4 vote on dredging the lake in 2023 gridlocked the council. However, voters in 2024 narrowly approved a $25 budget toward water quality improvements, and in 2025, the city of Mitchell took out a $16.8 million loan through the state. An estimated $6.7 million in interest brings the lake dredge project to
$31.76
million when all is said and done.
“We’ll spend many millions of dollars draining and dredging the lake,” Doescher said, “but how many years before we’re right back in the same boat because upstream nothing happened?”
The lake is scheduled to be drawn down in the fall, with dredge work starting in the spring or summer 2026, Public Works Director Joe Schroeder told the Mitchell Republic in a June interview.
In addition,
the lake supplies irrigation water
for Lakeview Golf Course, the Cadwell Sports Complex, Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex and businesses and sports fields in Mitchell.
In addition to hearing a presentation from Barr Engineering on Lake Mitchell, the council will discuss or consider more than 30 meeting agenda topics for the meeting on Monday, July 7.
The Mitchell City Council will c
onsider the second reading of a rezoning ordinance for Justin Thiesse’s lakeshore development
, and the project plan for Tax Increment District No. 43, which is for a proposed Peaceful Pines senior living center in Mitchell.
The council will also consider a grant for a revenue producing hangar, an agreement with the Davison Hanson Ambulance District for rural EMS services, and a grant application regarding the Lake Mitchell watershed, and a Scenic Court annexation agreement for city services.
The council will also consider a South Dakota Department of Transportation temporary easement for a new bike path, and surplusing mobile homes and one house at the city-owned mobile home park.
The council will consider electing a president and vice president, consider the mayor’s recommendation for council liaison positions to the city’s various boards, and consider reappointing department heads for the city of Mitchell through July 2028.
The council will sit as the Board of Adjustment to consider a variance permit for Maurice and Julie Hartmann for a rear yard set back for an attached garage, a variance permit for Karl Knight for a rear yard set back for an attached covered patio, and
a conditional use permit for townhomes in the 900 block of West Norway Ave.
A full agenda can be read on
the city’s website.
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 7, at 612 N. Main St.