Council’s Marketplace decision will go to citywide vote

Petitions have been verified and there will be a referendum election on the Brookings City Council’s November 14th decision to amend the Marketplace agreement.

Ryan Companies of Minneapolis was planning to buy 18-acres for 1.1 million dollars. Instead, they want 10-acres for $610,000. An initial plan that included a large anchor tenant has shifted to two smaller stores.

The petition was turned in by local developer Jacob Mills. He says they gathered some 1100 signatures and more than 1000 of them are valid.

Brookings City Clerk Bonnie Foster confirms the petitions have been verified and there were more than enough to meet the 651 required to refer the decision to a vote.

The City Council will set an election date at their meeting Tuesday evening. They could set a special election date or combine it with the April City Election.

December 12, 2023