January 17,2022 at the American Legion
The annual meeting of the Garretson Commercial Club was held on January 17, 2022 at the American Legion beginning at 8:00 pm. President John Brinkman called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance followed. Brinkman welcomed everyone including Mayor Greg Beaner and Jesse Fonkert from Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.
The April 2021 annual meeting minutes were reviewed and approved. Then the 2021 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed and approved. The 2022 membership list was handed out showing 74 members earmarked at this time. There was a vote to retire $1,825.00 GCC gift certificates from 2018 and 2019. We have received ½ of the membership dues, phone book ads and toddler train signage so far. There is still one toddler train sign to fill. The cost is $50 for two double sided signs. Then there was a vote to approve the 2022 Budget for $36,800. This is down $725 from 2021.
The first item under Old Business was a recap from 2021. We started 2021 facing COVID-19. Even though this slowed our early activities the organization and community got back on track during the year. Our annual meeting took place in April rather than January.
The main street sound system conduit pipe is under the street for future hard wire. Options will still be considered going wireless.
GCC secured the domain www.visitgarretsonsd.com. Carrie Moritz helped get this established and got it connected to social media. Next Carrie gave an update to the GCC about the design and construction of this new website. She has been creating an online database for the commercial club that lists all members and member businesses as well as listings for all the amenities available in Garretson and all business opportunities as well. Businesses will be able to create their own blog posts on websites if they have them and will connect to social media as well.
There was discussion of the electronic sign beside Nordstrom’s Automotive off Highway 11. The sign in question is not very old but it is considered a dinosaur by technology standards of today. The controlling software is not able to be used on modern computers and must instead be operated on an older system. To help raise funds to replace the sign and software Mary Ann Carlson proposed to the Board that the sign be rented out for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and other events for a flat $10 fee as was done around the time of the 125th Years Celebration.
Jesse James Days was successful again this year. Friday night started off with a bean bag tournament on main, car show, model train display and a scavenger hunt. On Saturday the Firemen’s Pancake feed, parade with 60 units and inflatable rides for kids at the softball complex went off without a hitch. Having enough food vendors seemed to be a problem. Sunday’s events were affected by the weather. The Church service was good but kayak rides and Blue Jay baseball cancellation affected a smaller drum line turnout.
The golf tournament was the best year yet with twenty teams and good weather. The Trunk or Treat was successful with over 200 kids in attendance the very first hour.
Home Town Christmas was held with approximately 225 people fed with 22 Vendor Fair tables set up at the American Legion. The kids crafts went well at the school commons. The parade of lights had 12+ entries. A thank you to the Grow Garretson and City Park Department went out for all the hard work they did getting the City Park ready with lights for Home Town Christmas. It was a very windy year for the displays and lights.
Next there was a tourism update from Luke Dreckman. He stated that attendance was significantly higher because of COVID-19. The City Parks saw good attendance too.
Next was the nominating procedure to elect new club officers and board members. Garrick Moritz rolled into the Presidency, Megan Rollag is filling the V.P., Kris Johnson reupped as Treasurer. The vacant board positions were filled by Luke Dreckman and Rob Meyer reupped. All those up for election to the GCC Board were confirmed by unanimous vote.
Under New Business the first item was Garrick Mortiz taking the floor.
Owen Wiese spoke and asked Luke Dreckman questions about the road and entrance into the east side of Palisade State Park.
Jesse Fonket from Sioux Metro Growth Alliance spoke. This is a combination of the Minnehaha County and Lincoln County Economic Development organizations that have merged to form one entity. Fonkert outlined the services that the organization can provide going forward into this new decade and how Garretson Commercial Club can best utilize the services they offer. The hope is that they will become a willing and able partner in growing the Garretson business community in years to come. He then discussed the possible merger of GCC with Garretson Economic Development 501(c) (3). Jessica Fueston was named as Coordinator. He outlined the benefits and rewards of the new organization structure. He took questions from the attendees. There was no action taken by GCC.
Ron Luke, Board member, then spoke about the GCC and worries about the future. Stagnation, he warned, is something that could harm the organization. Too many people have spent too much time in certain board positions. He pointed out that the newest board member will be moving into his second term as President very soon and that everyone in the room has had multiple turns at the job, and then they tend to repeat. He expressed the need for new blood. The group proposed to study this idea further and then decide by membership vote at the next annual meeting if it is good to merge or not.
Door prizes were drawn in the form of $10 GCC gift certificates.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
jwb