The Garretson Commercial Club met in regular session on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.
The board voted to accept the minutes from the last meeting and the treasurer’s report. They struck old business from the agenda, as there were no updates on the sound system, merger or signage projects.
In new business John Brinkman reported the results of the Commercial Club Golf Tournament, and they were generally favorable.
The 2022 Annual Report for the State of South Dakota is due, but Brinkman said that it should be filed as of this meeting.
The Commercial Club was scheduled for Flag Duty on Sept. 5th for Labor Day and President Garrick Moritz and Sam Williamson volunteered to handle it.
Trunk or Treat of 2022 is in question. Citizens have asked if the Commercial Club would host this year and the board was in general agreement that we could host it. The consensus was to gather more information and get a direction at the next meeting.
The next item of business was a fundraising opportunity that board member Luke Dreckman had brought forward. With all the projects the Commercial Club wants to undertake, it’s clear a fundraising effort is needed, especially for the new sound system or putting up new signage. Dreckman had made some inquiries as to purchasing a new camper from a local dealership for about 18 thousand dollars, and if the Commercial Club sold 350 raffle tickets at $100 a piece, the club could almost double our money. It was a limited time opportunity however, so we’d have to act fast. He had also had some initial discussions out at Kibble Equipment for a UTV raffle. He wasn’t sure what funds the club had in reserve. Treasurer Kris Johnson was not present at the meeting, and neither was secretary Jessica Fueston, but Brinkman pointed out that the $17k cash balance in the report they’d just approved was it. However, that number was not up to date as it did not include profits from the golf tournament they’d just discussed. He guessed the closer number at around $23,000.
Dreckman also wanted to know if such funds could be used for things like grant projects or financial incentives for local entrepreneurs, or people who want to fix up disused buildings downtown to get them back into general use as business and/or active properties.
This discussion led to the board’s next item, which was discussion about the Commercial Club’s mission statement and future plans. It was agreed that it might not be a bad idea to look over the mission statement and by laws documentation to decide if they are reflective of what the club currently is and what the club wants to do in the future.
Guy Johnson expressed frustration that had been expressed to him, of citizens and members wondering what was going on with the merger, as there had been little to no news all summer. He and Dreckman wanted to know what the Commercial Club’s goals were, both now and in the future, and did the club even want this merger to go forward. Would it be good for the community and the local businesses? President Garrick Moritz said that he shared many of these same concerns. He said he’d been waiting all summer for some forward motion and updates from the city and club secretary on what the merger of these community organizations would look like. The secretary had been absent from meetings for most of the summer.
It was agreed that Moritz would get an update from the club secretary as soon as possible. Brinkman said he would get a full update on current reserve finance from the treasurer as soon as possible as well.
Rob Meyer of Humble Hill and Legion Post #23 also suggested that instead of and/or in addition to the fundraising efforts, the Commercial Club should consider using reserves to purchase sound system equipment. He said that to his mind that’s the most important project the Commercial Club has going right now and if the sound system is installed sooner, rather than later, then it’s a quality-of-life upgrade for downtown that everybody will notice and enjoy.
To all of this, Moritz proposed the club hold a second special meeting on August 31st. There the club could reconcile the reserve finances, vote as to whether or not to buy the camper or invest in another fundraising project, or do as Meyer suggested and purchase the sound system for downtown, which in theory could be ready to play by Hometown Christmas. The Club could also make a final decision on hosting Trunk or Treat during Halloween. The board agreed, and voted to hold that special meeting on August 31st.
The meeting then adjourned.
Later that day, Club Secretary Jessica Fueston submitted the following letter via email “Hey, Garrick!”
“Quick updates- the City Council decided to make me full time economic development for the City. With that, as economic development director, I cannot be an active, voting member on boards. This is official resignation from the Commercial Club!”
“The merger- the Commercial Club is not involved in the merger. It is solely between two other organizations. Once those two become one, the Commercial Club can show interest and we can have that conversation at that point. I heard there’s some contention on it being on the agenda, and I agree it should be removed until the Commercial Club decides to bring that conversation up in the future!”
While this is potentially very good news for the City of Garretson, and the future economic development of the area, it is problematic for the Commercial Club. With this in mind, another item that will be on the special meeting agenda is the search for someone to take up the secretary’s position for the Commercial Club.