Jan 2015 SDML Mag For
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Official Monthly Publication Member of National League of Cities Contents Features www.sdmunicipalleague.org State Rates . .5 SDML Welcomes New Staff Members . .6 South Dakota SDML 2015 Events Calendar . .7 Legal Holidays for 2015 . .8 MUNICIPALITIES Municipal Tax Payments . .9 Managing Editor: Yvonne A. Taylor Editor: Carrie A. Harer 2015 Legislative Session: PRESIDENT DISTRICT CHAIRS Legislative Calendar . .8 Jeanne Duchscher Dist. 1 - Mike Grosek Carrying Your Message to the Capitol . .9 Finance Officer, Parker Mayor, Webster How an Idea Becomes Law . .10 1st VICE PRESIDENT Dist. 2 - Tim Reed How to Track a Bill Online . .11 Meri Jo Anderson Mayor, Brookings 2015 Legislators By District . .12-15 Finance Officer, New Underwood Dist. 3 - Amy Nelson Minimum Wage Increases January 1 . .16 City Manager, Yankton 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Notice of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program . .17 Laurie Gill Dist. 4 - Debbie Houseman Mayor, Pierre Finance Officer, Lake Andes Milbank Industrial Park Certified Ready Site . .18 TRUSTEES Dist. 5 - Renae Phinney SD DOT Awards Grants . .19 Greg Jamison President, Ree Heights Councilmember, Sioux Falls Obituary: Sam Tidball . .20 Dist. 6 - Anita Lowary Obituary: Donald Jones . .21 Sam Kooiker, Finance Officer, Groton Mayor, Rapid City Municipal Elections: Q & A . .22 Dist. 7 - Arnold Schott Pauline Sumption Mayor, McLaughlin 2015 Municipal Election Calendar . .29 Finance Officer, Rapid City Dist. 8 - Harry Weller “Do” Take the Smooth Road to Hiring . .30 Mike Wendland Mayor, Kadoka Mayor, Baltic Proven Techniques for Getting Returns Dist. 9 - Gary Lipp from Employee Wellness Programs . .32 Karl Alberts Mayor, Custer Finance Officer, Aberdeen Wellness Programs Revisited . .38 Dist. 10 - Fay Bueno PAST PRESIDENT Finance Officer, Sturgis Ethical Decisions in Tough Times . .45 Becky Brunsing Finance Officer, Wagner 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 Director of Research and Training Risk-Sharing News . .42 Jeff Mehlhaff Director of Municipal Electric Services Washington Report: Senator Thune . .44 Carrie Harer Director of Marketing & Communications Lori Butler Director of Finance In Every Issue Kristi Brakke Accounting Assistant Paula Lund Administrative Coordinator Community Calendar . .48 SD Public Assurance Alliance: Judith Payne Executive Director Classifieds . .50 Kristina Peterson Director of Underwriting Ron Burmood Director of Member Services Directory Changes . .19 Paytra Nichols Assistant Underwriter Jerry Krambeck Member Services Representative Municipal Calendar . .53 Deb Corkill Executive Assistant Cover photo courtesy of South Dakota Tourism. 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. JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 81, NUMBER 7 3 Director's Notes One of the most frustrating reach into anyone else’s pocket – we want to work with our arguments we face when citizens to reach into our own – but the state has sewn your talking about a local option, pockets shut. Even a local vote of the citizens, choosing citizen-approved Penny for the funding with which they want to pay for projects – Infrastructure comes from can’t open that pocket. Only the Legislature can allow state government officials. your citizens this ability. They somehow see allowing any additional local sales Please stay in contact with your legislators this session. Let tax for municipalities as them know you are capable of working with your citizens competing with the state to fund your projects. They just need to get out of the way. for revenue. Local control means citizens determining for themselves what to do, and how to do it. The state should not stand in That is so wrong-headed it the way of that. is hard to know where to start the arguments against it. Until next month, remember we are always available at 1-800-658-3633 or [email protected]. Look at the economic drivers in this state – the engines that keep the state on solid financial footing are working in the Yvonne Taylor cities. We sometimes hear some resentment against our Executive Director largest cities, but consider the sales tax revenue generated within them – in calendar year 2013, state government took in more than $500 million from just 16 cities that are over 5,000 in population. That half billion dollars flows to every school district in the state through the state aid Keep on top of what formula, and to every community in the state through other state programs. goes on under the Dome Subscribe to the SDML’s Legislative Update. Cities pay just about the full freight for water, sewer, streets, and sometimes electricity. Not to mention all the The SDML’s Legislative Update informs you on the amenities it takes to have people call your city “home.” hottest issues affecting municipalities as the South Parks, recreation, and the infrastructure for the businesses Dakota Legislature considers them. Each week League and industries that provide employment – none of it staff compiles an analysis of current and upcoming happens without city investment. For every penny the city committee and floor action in the Senate and House. invests, the state gets back four. As local leaders, you need to be a part of the action in And where do South Dakotans live? Increasingly, it is in Pierre. The Legislative Update helps get you there. city limits. The last census showed 70% of our population lived inside municipal city limits. The population of the As you know, decisions in Pierre are made at a fast and entire state grew by 7%. Municipal population grew by furious pace, and the Update gives you a grasp of issues affecting how you govern on the local level. 11%. Every bit of growth in population, PLUS a few thousand people – happened inside city limits. Cities can’t Updates are issued throughout the session on a weekly stand still, can’t be “maintenance only.” They have to grow or as needed basis, via fax, mail or email. Email is free, – and because they do, the state benefits. including an unlimited number of addresses to each city. Seventy percent of the population is served by City To receive the Legislative Update via email contact utilities and infrastructure – with very little help from other Yvonne at [email protected]. entities. Yet the state stands in the way of serving that population. If you don’t do it, who will? To get the Update sent to you by mail or fax please send $10 along with a request (include your mailing I’ve often pointed out that as your lobbyist, in more than address, phone number or fax number) to: 20 years, I’ve never gone to the state’s Appropriations SDML, 208 Island Drive, Fort Pierre, SD 57532. Committee and asked for state funding. We don’t want to 4 SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES President's Report 2015! Wow! It seems like just yesterday we were all educational and at times worried about Y2k! My age is showing when I do the quite profound at what these “remember when” thing… legislators deal with. As the New Year starts, South Dakota embarks on a very On another topic, I would important time of year. That is the legislative session. It like to recognize Christine starts on January 13, 2015. From my standpoint, I can report Lehrkamp, Director of that it is quite daunting as elected/appointed officials to get Research and Training for involved in the process. At times, I feel that it is not all that the SDML. Christine is important for me to get involved…there are plenty of people leaving the SDML staff. By that will keep abreast of the important issues. NOT! The the time you read this; she contact you have with your own legislator IS essential when will be settling in her you feel a particular bill is going to affect you, your city or new role as State Election your state. One of the best things you can do is to sign up for Coordinator in the Secretary Yvonne’s legislative update – unlimited e-mail addresses of State’s Office. Christine has been an important part of per city, free. Sent once a week, it is the only run-down of the league staff. Her knowledge base has been a tool that municipal issues. This format has become the easiest way to nearly all finance officers in the state have used one time contact your legislators! The weekly update from Yvonne or another. So, on behalf of the SDML Board of Directors will have links to the legislators’ e-mail addresses. The best and the SDML membership, I wish Christine all the best in way to reach legislators is to e-mail them, with a clear her endeavors and thank her for her dedicated service to indication in the subject line that you are a constituent in the SDML. their district – because they are inundated with e-mails, and care most about those from their own district. Otherwise, a Until next month; “The reward of a thing well done is to phone message can be left for them – all information have done it.”– Ralph Waldo Emerson available in the update. Also, if an issue becomes complicated, we cannot get much done without that local Jeanne Duchscher contact. Legislators care what the people in their district President think! The annual Legislative/SDML Rib Dinner is February 3.