City of Yankton

The Yankton Plan is a comprehensive development plan designed to provide a vision for the city's future and guide community actions. It focuses on key strategic pillars including economic development, growth and community design, transportation and infrastructure, community services, and quality of life. The plan aims to improve the lives of residents, enhance the city's attractiveness for potential growth, and foster a unified community vision through efficient land use, mobility, and riverfront development.

This comprehensive plan, 'Ideas Flow Here: Yankton 2045', serves as a guiding policy document for decisions regarding future growth, development, policy, and capital improvements for the City of Yankton. It aims to improve the quality of life for residents and enhance the city's attractiveness for potential growth. The plan outlines goals and strategies across key areas including efficient land use and infill development, fostering accessible and safe multi-modal mobility, ensuring a variety of attainable housing options, expanding and maintaining recreational facilities and interconnected trails, strengthening public services, and enhancing the visual appeal and community character of Yankton.

The City Commission meeting agenda included routine business such as roll call, agenda approval, the schedule of bills, and the City Manager's report, alongside a Proclamation for National March for Meals Month. New business items featured consideration for the purchase of a Kubota RTV for the Chan Gurney Municipal Airport, approval for a Sidewalk Café Permit application, and consideration of an alcohol license for the Yankton Area Senior Center, including a waiver of the application fee. Bids were awarded for the annual supply of liquid asphalt and bituminous mix. The meeting also included a scheduled executive session to discuss contractual, litigation, and personnel matters.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance. Key agenda items included the approval of the current agenda, modified to remove the executive session for personnel, and the approval of the minutes from the February 9, 2026, meeting. The commission also approved the schedule of bills for payment. During the city manager report, updates were provided regarding the upcoming March Employee Appreciation Month and the 2026 citywide cleanup scheduled to begin in April, along with information on water meter replacement protocols. Commissioners provided updates on community achievements, specifically congratulating the Yankton High School JV Bucks bowling team for winning the state title for the third consecutive year, and recognizing Yankton's role in hosting the state Bantam hockey tournament. A proclamation was read honoring Mr. Jim Black, a 102-year-old World War II veteran. During public appearances, a citizen addressed the commission regarding the need to incorporate a public bathroom into the sky deck of a building near the Discovery Bridge. The Sheriff also provided remarks thanking the community and local agencies for their support of the Battle of the Badges event.

The meeting included routine business such as a Proclamation for Jim Black, who recently celebrated his 102nd birthday. Consent items involved establishing a public hearing date for a new retail alcoholic beverage license for The Center. New Business featured a public hearing and consideration for the alcoholic beverage license application, the purchase of a Kubota mower for the airport, and the bid award for an alley paving project. The Commission also conducted second readings and public hearings for ordinances amending meeting schedules, the 2026 Annual Appropriations Ordinance, and temporary street closures/no-parking zones for special events. A resolution was adopted adjusting special event fees. Other actions included approving a Special On-sale Liquor License for SD JCI Senate and adopting a resolution approving the revised Personnel Manual. The Commission also approved a change order for a concrete/asphalt crushing contract and authorized the purchase of several new trucks and snowplows for the Public Works Department. Finally, a resolution was adopted authorizing Banner Associates, Inc. for bridge structure inspections. The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss contractual and personnel matters.