By Brandon Bennett
STURGIS— A resolution to keep Main Street closed an extra day and open 2 am Monday August 16th at the end of the rally failed to pass the Sturgis City Council at its July 6th meeting.
Resolution 2026-28 was presented for reconsideration by Mayor Rod Bradley after it was tabled at an earlier meeting.
“I know it’s an issue with various opinions on it, I’ve talked with all the councilors, Tony’s expressed he’s had citizens wanting their town back,” he said.
Bradley stated he’s talked with Director of Public Safety Geody Vandewater and Public Works Director Rick Bush and Vandewater said he has the staff available to handle the work and he offered a hybrid shift and most of the officers were favorable to it. Vandewater did say there’s no money in the budget for overtime but
Rick Bush stated what he could do is a shift in work instead of more work.
Bradley added he talked with businesses on Main and opinions varied from approval to indifference.
“My thought process on it is if we have them here let’s sell them as much as we can while we got them here,” said Bradley.
Ward 2 councilor Tony Dargatz asked what the overtime rate would be and if it’s budgeted and next what are we going to do with the vendors who are trying to leave?” he asked.
He added vendors are leaving Sunday or as early as Thursday.
Vandewater did say at two am Sunday morning most of his rally staff is heading home.
Rick Bush overtime will factor into his budget as well since crew will be tearing down barriers and related equipment.
When it came time to make a motion Ward 4 councilor Jesse Blakeman made the motion to reject the resolution but it was suggested he could just rescind it. When he did that the motion died.
