A twin home development going up near Edgewood Vista doesn’t have to install sidewalks on the property at this point, Flandreau’s City Council decided.
But owners of Pulscher Brothers Farms, who are building the homes, have to eventually pour them in order to meet the requirements of a 2000 city zoning ordinance.
Steve Pulscher asked for a waiver for the sidewalks for the subdivision, in order to get a final plat approval, but the waiver was denied. Instead, the council is requiring a letter of assurance saying that he will install sidewalks within three years. The exception could be renewed for additional years.
“We’re probably asking for the waiver for indefinite for now,” Pulscher said.
With the preliminary plat, sidewalks were never discussed, he said. They don’t make sense in a neighborhood where there aren’t other sidewalks.
“We assumed there would be sidewalks, but I don’t know what that’s going to be,” Pulscher said. “I don’t know where to run it to and from. The sidewalks would kind of dead end here and there.”

All of the council members, except Mark Ekern, voted to deny the waiver, and all of the council members voted to accept a letter of assurance that sidewalks will eventually be installed.
In other city business,
•Council members met before the Aug. 3 meeting to dedicate and hold a ribbon cutting at the new city skateboard and dog park at Duncan Park.
Resident Anna Duncan shared the history of the park, and the city had a drawing for four prizes – dog leashes and skateboard pads.
•Council members unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe for the future of the Crescent Street bridge. The document is a good framework for the future project the two governments will work on, said Alderman Jason Unger.
The city has a grant to remove the closed bridge. The city will then give the bridge to the tribe, which will work to get funding to build a new bridge with work starting within five years.
•Council members heard a report from the Girls and Boys Club of Moody County, updating the city on work it is doing to serve families even now, during the pandemic. The club is helping kids with learning they may have missed during the interrupted school year, is working on character development and is feeding children.
The Boys and Girls Club has asked the city to continue its financial support. No vote was taken but the request will be considered during budget talks.
•The city has been lenient with utility customers during the pandemic, allowing customers to fall behind without being shut off. Records show there are 23 customers past due with the highest bill of $600, said Karen Gundvaldson, city finance officer.
The council voted that it is time to shut off people who have made no arrangements or efforts to contact the city or set up a payment plan. But if the city shuts off a customer, they won’t charge an additional fee.