President's Report
Hello everyone! Greetings come to you this month from Mike Wendland and not Laurie Gill. Earlier this year, Laurie called me advising of her plans to not seek reelection and asked if I would be willing to begin as SDML President a few months early. Graciously and humbly, I said yes! By the time you are reading this month’s Municipalities Magazine, Laurie will have concluded her tenure as Mayor for the City of Pierre and subsequently the President of the SDML. Thank you Laurie for your dedication and passion!
Over the last few months Laurie, Yvonne and I have met to ensure a smooth transition. That is, until two weeks ago when I got the following text from Yvonne: “Hi- just a heads up that Sara in our office will be emailing you about writing the monthly column for our magazine. I know, forgot about the column when I said there wouldn’t be too much extra before you get your own term!”
Having been involved with the Municipal League for a number of years, I have gotten to meet a lot of you great folks across the State. For those of you who I haven’t met, let me take a few minutes to tell you a little about myself. As mentioned, my name is Mike Wendland. I am the Mayor of Baltic. I was first elected to the city council in 1996 and in 2000, I was elected Mayor. Yes, that’s right 17 years as Mayor! Will I catch Mike Grosek? I first joined the SDML Board of Directors while serving as District 3 Chair, then nominated to a Trustee and now the President. What an honor to serve as your President.
Mike Wendland, Mayor of Baltic and current President of the SDML Board of Directors, presents Laurie Gill, former Mayor of Pierre and Past President of the SDML Board of Directors, with a plaque in honor of her service to the SDML Board. JULY 2017
Closer to home, I serve as the Board of Directors President for MCDEA (Minnehaha County Economic Development Association) and President of the Minnehaha County Mayor’s Association. I am also a certified firefighter for the Baltic Fire & Rescue.
I can’t begin to tell you how blessed I am to have the support of my family. My wife Dawn and our children Jadin (25) and Connor (17) and Jacie (12).
Alright folks, let’s be honest. What you just read about me is nothing unique to a lot of you. We could certainly replace my name with your name. That’s because we all share the same sense of pride, dedication and drive for each one of the communities we live in. Whether you are an elected official or a city employee, the leadership you provide continues to define your city. When we combine your commitment, your fellow community leaders, along with the staff at the SDML, we are what continues to make South Dakota a great place to live! Respectfully, Mike
The SDML Board of Directors attended a reception at the Governor’s Mansion during their June Meeting in Pierre. 5
