South Dakota Record
Vermillion
KO

Kevin O'Kelley

Mayor2026-07-06 to 2030-07

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Jul 1, 2030.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
3
Total speaking time
9:19
Avg per meeting
3:06
Segments
233

Want every word O'Kelley has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has O'Kelley said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

high↑Aug 2026[40]

Proposed data center zoning ordinances (1565-1570)

Data centers would pay for their own initial and secondary noise reports, but no decommissioning bond requirement was adopted.

medium↑Sep 2026[25]

Nuisance abatement special assessments

Assessments range from about $32 to $643 per affected property.

high↑Jul 2026[22]

Joint Jurisdiction Zoning Area boundary reduction

No cost to the city beyond publishing the ordinance in the minutes.

high↑Sep 2026[15]

MRES S-1 Power Supply Agreement extension

MRES wholesale rates are projected to rise about 4.2% in 2027 after a 4.7% increase in 2026, which shows up in residents' electric bills.

high↓Sep 2026[10]

Rezone near Dakota Dome to R-3 residential

No direct city cost; future development would add to the property tax base.

high↑Oct 2026[10]

Traffic signals and lost business development

The city may be losing commercial investment and the tax revenue that would come with it.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Housing affordability and declining population

High mortgage rates and a $410,000 TIF affordability threshold shape what housing the city can realistically add.

low↑Nov 2026[10]

Malt Beverage Markup Receipts and Wholesale License Fee

The discussion concerns dedicated liquor-related revenue and whether a wholesale license fee continues.

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Fire Station No. 1 Remodel

The contract cost was not stated in the materials provided.

low↑Oct 2026[10]

Easement vacation paving way for Adams Street apartment complex

low↑Oct 2026[10]

Application fee increases for land-use requests

Applicants will pay up to $100 more per request than before.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Digger/derrick truck purchase for Light & Power

$685,966 total, funded through the equipment replacement fund and increased Light & Power department rent contributions — officials said no utility rate increase is required.

high↓Aug 2026[7]

Cherry Street water line replacement and CDBG grant

Up to $2 million in grant money could offset a $3.09 million project and keep water rate increases down.

low↓Sep 2026[5]

Naming policy for city property

medium↓Sep 2026[5]

Jack Powell Addition lots transferred to VCDC

Lot sale proceeds will pay down the Jack Powell TIF district debt.

low↓Sep 2026[5]

Blue envelope program for drivers with autism

medium↑Oct 2026[5]

county budget cuts

If the cuts hold, county spending drops for those programs—but residents could end up paying through reduced services or future cost shifts.

medium↓Sep 2026[5]

Bluestem Trail Addition rezoning

No direct city cost; enables future residential development.

medium↓Sep 2026[5]

3% storm drainage fee increase

Typical 10,000 sq. ft. residential lot rises from $39.02 to $40.20 annually.

high↓Sep 2026[5]

Human Relations Commission quorum trouble

There’s no clear price tag yet, but the commission could influence how city money and policies affect diversity efforts.

Decisions during term (141)

Recorded while O'Kelley was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

Voting record (20)

18 yes2 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

adoption of the following: ORDINANCE 1576 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY OF VERMILLION CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE XV, LAND USAGE; CHAPTER 155 ZONING REGULATIONS; SECTION 155.026 REZONING LOT M-3 AND M-1 OF

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 1576 (rezone to R-3)

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting shall show that the title to the proposed Ordinance No. 1574 entitled An Ordinance Certifying the 2027 City of Vermillion Property Tax Levy to the Clay

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting shall show that the title to the proposed Ordinance 1575 entitled An Ordinance Amending City of Vermillion Code of Ordinances, Title VII, Traffic Code;

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

Second reading of Ordinance 1574 — 2027 property tax levy

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

Second reading of Ordinance 1575 — motorized foot scooter definition fix

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

adoption of the following: BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting shall show that the title to the proposed Ordinance No. 1564 entitled An Ordinance to Amend the Midcontinent Franchise Agreem

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

adoption of the following: BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting shall show that the title to the proposed Ordinance No. 1573 entitled An Ordinance Amending City of Vermillion Code of Ordina

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Ordinance 1564 — Midco cable franchise extension (second reading)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Ordinance 1573 — Bluestem Trail Addition rezoning (second reading)

Voted yesAug 3, 2026

Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 1563 — Munger Ridge Planned Development District

Voted yesAug 3, 2026

adoption of the following: BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting shall show that the title to the proposed Ordinance No. 1563 entitled An Ordinance Amending Title XV, Land Usage; Chapter 155

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

adoption of the following: BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting shall show that the title to the proposed Ordinance No. 1560 entitled An Ordinance to Amend Title XV, Land Usage; Chapter 155

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

adoption of the following: BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting shall show that the title to the proposed Ordinance No. 1559 entitled An Ordinance to Amend Title XV, Land Usage; Chapter 155

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

Second reading — Ordinance 1559, Fuel Dispensing Mixed-Use Building definition

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

Second reading — Ordinance 1560, Fuel Dispensing Mixed-Use Building conditional use standards

Voted noJul 6, 2026

Election of Council President — Murra nomination

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

Election of Council President — Hellwege nomination

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

Election of Council Vice President — Jennewein nomination

Voted noJul 6, 2026

Election of Council Vice President — Murra nomination