DIRECTOR’S NOTES

DAVID REISS | SDML EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As the grinding winter of 2023 subsides and we transition into the summer season, we look forward to the warmth of the sun and new growth that occurs. The month of May brings a fleury of activity across South Dakota municipalities. Many public works projects mobilize and begin physical construction to improve infrastructure, roads, parks, and vital community facilities.

2023 will be an exceptional year of building in South Dakota communities; American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) state and local funds have been coupled with Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources State Revolving Funds (SRF) and Governor’s Office of Economic Development Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) grants to spur infrastructure improvements on a grand scale statewide. We will also see housing infrastructure projects begin to take shape as the $200 million South Dakota Housing Infrastructure Financing program begins making an impact and accepting funding applications.

These projects are incredibly important for longterm growth and viability of critical infrastructure serving homes, businesses, and community facilities but are often not given the attention deserved until it affects daily life for those within a community during the construction phase of the project.

It is very exciting to see these projects coming to our communities and to anticipate the impacts they will make in our cities and towns, but with these works comes an increase in workload for city staff and the need to provide information to members of the community. City councils, managers, administrators, finance officers, attorneys, engineers, planners, utility staff, and streets and maintenance staff all play a significant role in bringing these projects to fruition. They also play a critical role in helping community members adapt to temporary challenges that occur during construction projects within cities.

With the challenges of day-to-day duties coupled with additional responsibilities associated with these projects, it is incredibly important to support city staff with training necessary to complete their work on behalf of South Dakota communities and be provided up-to-date regulatory and procedural information from experts.

The SDML provides critical peer sharing and training opportunities to cities and their staff through numerous conferences and online training resources. Code Enforcement (May 10-11), Human Resources (June 6-7), Finance Officers (June 7-9), Building Officials (June 8-9), and budget trainings (June 21 and 28) all hold their conferences and trainings in the coming months and are valuable opportunities for learning and creating peer networks of support.

I encourage you to attend or support city staff attendance at these events, the value of these events cannot be understated and they help equip our public servant staff with valuable learning resources to complete work on behalf of our cities.

President Theodore Roosevelt famously stated that “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” That statement rings true today as it did then and is a guiding principle in my views towards leadership.

Municipal leaders and public servants throughout South Dakota care for their communities and sacrifice their time and energy to make their cities a better place. I am honored to work with and for you. I look forward to visiting with many of you in the coming months during conferences and in your communities as we travel throughout South Dakota supporting our members and their work.

Please remember, we are always available to you as a resource for your communities and I urge you to contact us if you have municipal issues or questions at 1-800-658-3633 or via email at david@sdmunicipalleague.org. ■