DIRECTOR’S NOTES

DAVID REISS | SDML EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

By the time of this publication, we have been going hard at the South Dakota Legislature for three weeks. Luckily for me, the South Dakota Municipal League Board of Directors was able to twist Yvonne Taylor’s arm enough to keep her on board as a lobbyist on behalf of the SDML at the Capitol.

Yvonne has been educating me on the legislative landscape, providing me her thoughts on topics which I have not encountered previously, and bridged the experience gap from established executive director to new executive director. I am incredibly grateful to her for affording me valuable insights and background information.

We have an incredibly accomplished and knowledgeable legislative advocacy team at the South Dakota Municipal League, and we are constantly working to advocate for South Dakota municipality’s interests at the Legislature.

The most valuable messaging to Legislators by the Municipal League is done by our members. Please keep in touch with your local Legislators at cracker barrel events held locally and reach out to them about issues important to your community. Also keep in touch with us at the SDML and let us know about your thoughts and positions on issues so that our legislative advocacy team can reflect up-to-date concerns from our members.

As we cross the timeline into February, I implore our members to make time to come to Pierre for the SDML Rib Dinner Feb. 7. That evening we will discuss issues that are important to South Dakota’s cities, our services to South Dakota citizens, and needs that our member municipalities face that may require legislative input or action. The SDML Rib Dinner is an incredibly important part of the SDML legislative messaging process and we need your help and presence to make the event a success!

On Feb. 8 we invite our members to visit the state capitol for Municipal Day at the Legislature. We’ll attend various Legislative committee hearings and observe the floor sessions at the House of Representatives and Senate from the gallery.

Both the Rib Dinner and Municipal Day at the Legislature are our opportunities to show our Legislators that South Dakota cities are passionate about the happenings at the Capitol and that we are unified in moving municipal issues forward.

I hope each of you are signed up for our Legislative Updates email that comes out each Friday throughout the Legislative Session; these are free updates to our members and provide a snapshot in time of bills being deliberated by the Legislature. If you are not currently signed up for SDML Legislative Updates and wish to be, please email me at david@sdmunicipalleague.org.

Lastly, the SD Municipal League and our affiliates have several training and conference opportunities to SDML members and their staff. March will bring district meetings and four different election training webinars. Building Officials ICC trainings will take place on April 4 and 6, the Police Chiefs joint conference with the Sheriff’s Association will be held on April 11-13, and several additional associations will hold trainings and gatherings in the following months. Check the SDML website at sdmunicipalleague.org/events for a full schedule of district meetings, trainings, and affiliate conferences and advocate for your employees to get involved and attend.

As always, the League staff are available at 1-800-658-3633 or email me at david@ sdmunicipalleague.org. ■

Next month the Municipal League will be on the  road conducting our annual district meetings.  These meetings give our organization the chance  to debrief the past legislative session and discuss  what impact the bills passed will have on our  communities. Location and registration information  can be found on page 11 of this publication, or go  online to sdmunicipalleague.org/events.

Whether you are attending in Onida or Akaska, the  SDML District Meetings provide important local  government contacts and a chance stay up to date  with the critical legislative issues facing your cities.

Your SDML District Chair will be in attendance at  this meeting. They represent you on the South  Dakota Municipal League Board and provide a key  conduit of communication about your community  needs and concerns. In addition, local legislators  are invited to these meetings, and they can help  explain how and why bills turned out the way they  did.

If you have attended before, I challenge you to do  something a little different this year: invite and take  along your newly elected offi  cials and encourage  staff at all levels to attend. Succession planning  for the league is no different than it is in our cities.  We need to get our newest team members to  understand the league, how it works, and how it  helps our communities thrive. It is important for new  council people and new employees to meet their  counterparts in neighboring communities. These  connections can result in future partnerships and can serve as a resource to your community when  you face challenges or problems.

That said, we have been using the same format of  the district meetings for a long time. While I believe  they are still relevant, I wonder if the format is still  serving us well. Is the evening knife and fork format  still appropriate or should we  consider a lunchtime meeting?  After all, we’re all busy, and if  you have spent the evening  before hashing out whether or  not to buy the Bush Hog that  came in 10% overbudget, you  may not want to drive, possibly  through a snowstorm, to have  roast beef and conversation.

Perhaps the format could  change to be three regional  meetings with multiple districts  including a virtual option. Think  about it and let league staff or  someone on the board know  what you think would work best for you and for  your community.

Personally, I have always enjoyed the district  meetings, and I’m still waiting to win one of the  major door prizes! I have plenty of blaze orange  koozies, though, thanks. However, I do appreciate  that many of you in leadership have commitments  and plans with your families. We are living  differently in the world today and we can adjust  our sails if the wind is blowing a different direction.  I look forward to seeing you there! ■