DIRECTOR’S NOTES

DAVID REISS | SDML EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As this April edition of the magazine is being delivered, the Municipal League staff will just be wrapping up the 10 SDML District Meetings. With winter and legislative session behind us, the district meetings have been my first opportunity to engage with many of our community leaders locally as the new executive director of the League. That time spent with local municipal representatives has been invaluable.

As a lifelong South Dakotan, I have always appreciated the incredible sense of community pride that each South Dakota city displays, and it is a privilege for me to be able to travel our great state and hear from you about local priorities and why each South Dakota municipality is so special. And thank you to our host communities of Sisseton, Huron, Alcester, Geddes, Onida, Hecla, Akaska, Murdo, Hot Springs, and Faith for your warm hospitality and willingness to dedicate time and energy to planning these important Municipal League events.

District meeting conversations involve a retrospective look back at the prior South Dakota Legislative session and updating attendees about laws passed, bills that did not come to be, and how new laws impact municipal orders of business. But what is so exciting about district meetings is that so much of the discussion revolves around the future for cities in South Dakota, discussing needs and goals for communities and organizational development for the League. The League staff and our affiliate pooling organizations are looking forward to exploring new opportunities to serve our local government members and their stakeholders. Those conversations really help us keep an eye on the future of the organization and for our members.

A critical part to the South Dakota Municipal League’s success is developing and representing policy goals that reflect the environment of municipal government operations in an everchanging world of rising costs and technological advancement. As the spring season advances, the Municipal League will be forming our annual policy committees to review current policy statements and to develop new policy goals based on new data, trends, and local concerns. I ask that you take time to review our policy statements and get involved in this critical organizational process so that the Municipal League advances policy goals for cities across South Dakota with future community needs always in the forefront of consideration.

April also brings a new round of municipal elections, so when spring turns towards summer, we will have new municipal leaders taking office. I encourage current SDML members to welcome new municipal leaders to our organization and share the Municipal League magazine with them so that valuable information about municipal processes is available to new leaders right away. It is exciting to see new ideas and new perspectives involved in local government and I look forward to getting new municipal leaders involved at the South Dakota Municipal League!

Please remember, we are always available as a resource for your communities. Contact us if you have municipal issues or questions at 1-800-6583633 or via email at david@sdmunicipalleague. org. ■