Official Monthly Publication Member of National League of Cities Contents Features www.sdmunicipalleague.org 2015 Municipal Annual Report Forms . .6 2016 Legislative Information . .6-11 South Dakota SDMEA Superintendent & Foreman Conference . .12 MUNICIPALITIES 2016 District Meetings Schedule . .13 Managing Editor: Yvonne A. Taylor Editor: Carrie A. Harer SD Police Chiefs Accepting Award Nominations . .14 PRESIDENT DISTRICT CHAIRS SD Building Officials Seminar . .15 Meri Jo Anderson Dist. 1 - Mike Grosek Finance Officer, Mayor, Webster Code Officer of the Year Nomination Form . .16 New Underwood Dist. 2 - Tim Reed Scholarship Funds Available . .17 1st VICE PRESIDENT Mayor, Brookings Laurie Gill SD Transportation Alternatives Program . .18 Mayor, Pierre Dist. 3 - Amy Nelson City Manager, Yankton Building Relationships at District Meetings . .19 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Mike Wendland Dist. 4 - Debbie Houseman Important 2015 Tax Information Mayor, Baltic Finance Officer, Lake Andes Form 1095-B (Health Coverage) . .20 TRUSTEES Dist. 5 - Renae Phinney Gov. Daugaard Awards Four Community Pauline Sumption President, Ree Heights Finance Officer, Rapid City Development Block Grants . .21 Dist. 6 - Mike Hammrich Greg Jamison Councilmember, Ipswich How Cold Is Too Cold? Problems for Storage Tanks . .22 Councilmember, Sioux Falls Dist. 7 - Arnold Schott When It Doesn’t Surface . .24 Karl Alberts Mayor, McLaughlin Finance Officer, Aberdeen Using Social Media Effectively . .26 Dist. 8 - Harry Weller Steve Allender, Mayor, Kadoka Fixing Sign Codes after Reed: All Is Not Lost . .28 Mayor, Rapid City Dist. 9 - Carolynn Anderson Engaging Residents as Volunteers . .30 Anita Lowary Finance Officer, Wall Finance Officer, Groton Growing Public Servants . .34 Dist. 10 - Fay Bueno PAST PRESIDENT Finance Officer, Sturgis State Historical Society Awards Grants . .49 Columns LEAGUE STAFF 1-800-658-3633 Fax: 605-224-8655 Director’s Notes . .4 Yvonne Taylor Executive Director President’s Report . .5 Sandi Larson Director of Risk Sharing Services Lori Martinec Director of Research and Training Risk-Sharing News . .42 Jeff Mehlhaff Director of Municipal Electric Services Carrie Harer Director of Marketing & Communications Washington Report: Representative Noem . .44 Lori Butler Director of Finance Kristi Brakke Accounting Assistant In Every Issue Paula Lind Administrative Coordinator SD Public Assurance Alliance: Community Calendar . .48 Judith Payne Executive Director Kristina Peterson Director of Underwriting Classifieds . .50 Ron Burmood Director of Member Services Paytra Nichols Assistant Underwriter Directory Changes . .48 Jerry Krambeck Member Services Representative Deb Corkill Executive Assistant Municipal Calendar . .53 SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES (ISSN 0300-6182, USPS 503-120) is the official publication of the South Dakota Municipal League, published monthly at 208 Island Drive, Ft. Pierre, South Dakota 57532, phone 605-224-8654. This institution is an equal opportunity provider, and employer. Periodical postage paid at Pierre, South Dakota and additional mailing offices. Non-member subscriptions are available for $30.00 annually. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the South Dakota Municipal League. Postmaster: Send address changes to SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES, 208 Island Drive, Ft. Pierre, South Dakota 57532. FEBRUARY 2016 VOLUME 82, NUMBER 8 3 Director's Notes Session will be in full touch with the League lobbyists about your positions on swing by the time you bills, so we can follow up for you during the week. read this, and I hope you are all signed up for our We are looking forward to seeing many of you here in Pierre Legislative Updates. We for Municipal Government Day at the Legislature, February send them out every 2nd and 3rd. Please plan to meet your Legislators at the Friday during Session, or annual Rib Dinner, which will be held the evening of the as needed when a hot topic 2nd starting at 5:00 p.m. Also, the SDML Board of Directors arises. The email version will be meeting at 3:00 p.m. on the 2nd at the SDML is FREE, and allows you building. SDML Board Meetings are open to any members, to have the most current so please just call our office if you would like to sit in. information already in hand while your Legislators are Please keep your calendars open for other upcoming still traveling home for the events. The Code Enforcement Workshop will be held weekend. If you still need to sign up for the Legislative May 4 and 5 at the Ramkota Hotel in Pierre. Look for more Update, see the bottom of this page. details in future magazines. Your conversations with Legislators during weekend The annual Human Resource School is being planned for cracker barrels are the most valuable lobbying tool we June 7 and 8 at the Holiday Inn in Spearfish. This school have. Please keep in touch with those who have been will be an excellent opportunity for municipal officials elected to represent you in Pierre. Also, please keep in involved in any aspect of human resources to hone their skills and network with others. Plans are also in the works for the 2016 Finance Officers’ Keep on top of what School, to be held at the Holiday Inn in Spearfish, June 8, 9, and 10. This is a fantastic opportunity for your Finance goes on under the Dome Officer to get everything from the basics to the more sophisticated issues, and to meet people from all over the Subscribe to the SDML’s Legislative Update. state who will be there to help the rest of the year. The SDML’s Legislative Update informs you on the Remember, upcoming SDML events can be found at hottest issues affecting municipalities as the South www.sdmunicipalleague.org, agendas and registrations are Dakota Legislature considers them. Each week League posted as they become available. staff compiles an analysis of current and upcoming committee and floor action in the Senate and House. Until next month, remember we are always available at 1-800-658-3633 or [email protected]. As local leaders, you need to be a part of the action in Pierre. The Legislative Update helps get you there. Yvonne Taylor As you know, decisions in Pierre are made at a fast and Executive Director furious pace, and the Update gives you a grasp of issues affecting how you govern on the local level. Updates are issued throughout the session on a weekly or as needed basis, via fax, mail or email. Email is free, including an unlimited number of addresses to each city. To receive the Legislative Update via email contact Yvonne at [email protected]. To get the Update sent to you by mail or fax please send $10 along with a request (include your mailing address, phone number or fax number) to: SDML, 208 Island Drive, Fort Pierre, SD 57532. 4 SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES President's Report The SDML is busily working to get legislation passed this one they are focused on. legislative session based upon the policies you adopted in As you can well imagine, October at Conference. my face and voice betray me quite often when Alas it is a busy time for so many dedicated public servants dealing with citizens (and and your dedicated league staff. We must all be as officials) and their ideas supportive as possible in helping to achieve these goals. for the direction the Keep in contact with legislative representatives from your city/town should take. district so they understand that the driving force behind the SDML is local control. Locally citizens understand that Above all we must be their opinions count, and do influence how the local supportive of the final governing board will guide their cities/towns. They also decision the majority made. want to know that they can count on their local elected I grew up with family votes officials and the worker bees to make changes happen on and the majority vote was the State level that will be advantageous to their city/town. always upheld. You accepted it graciously, the majority Truly the most understood part of government, by the had voted for it, but the issue was always discussed people, is local control. thoroughly and vocally prior to the vote! The end result was majority rules, gotta love that. Just so you understand, It amazes me and pleases me, to be at the ground level of there are twelve siblings in my family and me being the government and see how any one individual can bring fourth in line I saw a lot of votes. We even voted on each about change. They may refuse to come to the meeting younger sibling’s names! The thing I learned early is fight (small towns), but do rely on the worker bees and elected hard and true for your beliefs on whatever issue, but in the officials to get their ideas, directions, and sometimes end you support whatever the final outcome of the displeasure across to the governing board. Our job is to majority. Do the best you can do to help guide and bring be supportive of the people who make up our communities about appropriate legislation for your city/town, but win and try to help them see all sides of the issue, not just the or lose support the majority vote, just try to get the majority on your side! Good luck with finding new and innovative ways to help your community and your state to grow constructively. State Rates After all this rambling, there is another key for your key (As of July 1, 2015) chain the “SUPPORTIVENESS” key! Meals: In-State Out-of-State Respectfully, Meri Jo Anderson Breakfast $ 6.00 $ 10.00 President Lunch $ 11.00 $ 14.00 Dinner $ 15.00 $ 21.00 Lodging: In-State $55.00 plus tax (Check-in Sept 1 through check-out June 1) $70.00 plus tax (Check-in June 1 through check-out Sept 1) Out-of-State $175.00 plus tax Mileage: $0.42/mile (Federal Mileage: $0.54/mile as of 1.1.16) The Board of Finance sets the per diem rates available for South Dakota state employees.