This week in Brookings: July 20–26

The biggest item on the county's plate this week is a public hearing on alcohol licensing. The Brookings County Commission holds a second reading and public hearing Tuesday, July 21 at 9 a.m. on Ordinance 2026-04, which would set the requirements, fees, and regulations for issuing alcoholic beverage licenses countywide. Residents can weigh in during the hearing before commissioners vote. Later in that same meeting, commissioners are set to act on Resolution #26-26, authorizing the purchase of two generators, including installation, through the Sourcewell purchasing cooperative, and Resolution #26-25, which would establish three-year terms for members of the Brookings County Extension Board. A representative from NextEra Energy is also scheduled to give a project presentation to the commission.

Elsewhere in county and city business, the Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center Advisory Board meets Monday, July 20 at noon for its regular business, including a director's report and a 4-H youth advisor's report; its next meeting after that is set for September 21. The City Council itself is not holding formal business this week, but a notice of quorum flags that at least four council members may attend the Target Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, July 21 from 5 to 6 p.m.; no official city business will be acted on there.

Several city boards and commissions are also meeting this week, mostly on reports and planning rather than binding votes. The Human Rights Commission meets Tuesday, July 21, with agenda items covering commission membership, budget, and an International Ice Cream Social, plus liaison reports from the Brookings Police Department, Brookings School District, and SDSU. On Thursday, July 23, the Dacotah Bank Center Advisory Board reviews events, operations, and finances; the Brookings Disability Awareness Committee discusses access issues including voting in Brookings and temporary parking for events, along with plans for an ADA proclamation on July 30; and the Public Arts Commission holds a meeting to kick off rubric planning, with no votes taken.

For accessibility, assisted listening systems are available at city meetings upon request, and accommodations for any meeting can be arranged by contacting the city's ADA coordinator at least three business days ahead.

On the community side, the Brookings Public Library has a full slate for teens and craft-lovers. Monday, July 20 brings a Book Nook Tins craft class for ages 13 and up, making a small bookshelf scene inside a tin. Tuesday, July 21 features Teens in the Kitchen, where participants make s'mores pudding cups. Wednesday, July 22 offers two book clubs: the Teen Book Club, discussing "Lovely War" by Julie Berry, and the Teen Graphic Novel Club, reading "Divine Incursions" by Kouya Ashitaka -- both give registrants a free copy of the book. Thursday, July 23 has a Cricut Certification Workshop for ages 18 and up in the library's Maker Lab, a prerequisite for reserving the Cricut cutting machine on your own later.

Residents wanting a say in county alcohol licensing rules can attend Tuesday's commission hearing, and those interested in library programming can find sign-ups for the teen classes and clubs running throughout the week.