PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Summer is finally here. We think. I see the telltale signs of warmer weather: dandelions are blooming, parks staff have opened up the comfort stations, street crews are putting up cones and barriers. That all means we made it through legislative session and we can relax right? Right? Not exactly. The next couple of months are busy ones for the South Dakota Municipal League. Many of our affiliate organizations, league staff, and the league board use the summer months to train and prepare for the upcoming year. In some cases we have new laws that will impact how we operate as early as July 1. In June, the Human Resources and Finance Officer schools are both scheduled to take place in in Pierre. The Building Officials training is taking place in Sturgis, and there are two opportunities to participate in budget training.

Affiliate groups are a great resource for new employees in your cities to learn the ropes, and a helpful resource for seasoned city staff to learn the nuances in their respective fields and share information. I make sure my staff knows they can, and I hope they do, participate in those trainings. Sure, it can be a pain back home for a few days when key staff are out town and watermains break and neighbors call upset about thistles in the yard next door, but taking time to train, have some fun, and let off steam with colleagues is good for our organization and our community as whole. Plus, I think it helps my staff to know that the City Commission and I really do want them to have the tools they need to succeed. It’s a worthwhile investment in our human capital.

The SDML Board of Directors is meeting June 14 in Yankton for its quarterly meeting. Please consider reaching out to league staff or myself if you have items you would like to bring to the board for consideration regarding next year’s legislative session. In addition, if you have feedback for the board relating to the upcoming annual conference or with league operations in general, contacting a board member in advance will give us the opportunity to discuss your ideas and suggestions. You can find us all on the league’s website.

Many of you have elections in June, and you will likely have new elected officials; some of whom probably have not been in public office before. It is easy for them to feel immediately overwhelmed and like they are drinking from a firehouse with everything they are getting thrown at them. The League offers first time Elected Officials Training in Pierre every year at the end of July. This day is a crashcourse on the fundamentals of municipal government.

Your freshman mayors and council members will learn some valuable, practical skills like the basics of Robert’s Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure. They also will get valuable insights into the laws governing open meetings and the guidelines associated with closed (executive) sessions.

Having sent my elected officials in the past, I know how beneficial it is for these newly elected folks to build positive relationships. Attending provides newly elected officials with an instant network of peers throughout the state who understand the dynamics of serving the public including how rewarding and challenging it can be. If your city cannot send a representative, make sure you provide the elected officials handbook produced by the League to all of your elected officials. It is a good reference and reminder for city staff too.

For those of us on policy committees, put August 16 and 17 on your calendar. Before we know it, we will be reviewing policies! Have a great summer! ■