Director’s Notes

YVONNE TAYLOR

Session should be in full swing by the time you read this, but as it is written, we don’t know how it is going to go with the pandemic in effect during a legislative session. I hope you are all signed up for our Legislative Updates. We send them out every Friday during Session, or as needed when a hot topic arises. The emails are free, and it allows you to have the most current information already in hand while your Legislators are still traveling home for the weekend. If you still need to sign up for the Legislative Update, see page 18.

Your conversations with Legislators during weekend cracker barrels or otherwise are the most valuable lobbying tool we have. Please keep in touch with those who have been elected to represent you in Pierre. Also, please keep in touch with the League lobbyists about your positions on bills, so we can follow up for you during the week. We are looking forward to seeing many of you here in Pierre for Municipal Government Day at the Legislature on Feb. 2. Please plan to meet with your Legislators the night before, at the annual Rib Dinner, which will start at 5 p.m. Central Time with a Legislative Briefi ng.

Also, keep your calendars open for other upcoming events. Election school webinars will be held in March 3, 15, 17, and 24; Building Offi cials ICC training April 5 (Rapid City) and 7 (Sioux Falls); Joint Law Enforcement April 19-21 in Deadwood; SD Municipal Street Maintenance April 26-27 in Rapid City; Code Enforcement Workshop May 11-12 in Ft. Pierre; City Managers and Administrators May 24-27 in Spearfi sh; Human Resources June 7-8 in Huron; and Finance Offi cers’ School June 8-10 in Huron.

These trainings are all a great chance for your employees to learn from the speakers and from each other – we can’t quantify it, but we promise it is well worth the money to send them!

Until next month, remember we are always available at 1-800-658-3633 or yvonne@ sdmunicipalleague.org. ■