Director's Notes We hope you are taking a few minutes from preparing to come to Watertown for the Annual Conference to read this issue! The City of Watertown has worked hard and has enthusiastically welcomed this Conference, and we are very pleased to join them in offering a packed agenda of information, great speakers, and relevant topics this year. It seems early to be gearing up for the legislative session, but to us, a big part of the Annual Conference is hearing from you on the Policy Committees’ work on the annual Statement of Policy. And in case you think these policies don’t matter, look at our legislative agenda for the past years. Every bill is based on a statement you have adopted. The biggest bill of the last session, the highway funding package, was previewed by a speaker at last year’s
conference. It is incredibly important that you make sure we are representing the thoughts of your city when we talk to your legislators. The Conference Agenda contains a wealth of information. For General Sessions, we are especially excited to hear from Janet Ady, who wrote The Rural Economic Development Toolbox and has a wealth of practical tips and tools for you to craft your own economic development strategy. Internet security, cybercrime, and the physical safety of your employees also takes a front stage at this conference, as Attorney General Marty Jackley discusses identity theft, fraud, and other security issues, and Trooper John Peary walks you through dealing with dangerous people. Finally, we look forward to hearing from Mark Mickelson, Speaker Pro Tempore of the SD House of Representatives, as he discusses the future of our state, focusing on economic development, education, and the state’s fiscal status. In short, we think you will learn a tremendous amount, get to meet and greet old and new friends, and have a great time at this year’s Conference. We can’t wait to see you all there! Until next month, remember we are always available at 1-800-658-3633 or yvonne@sdmunicipalleague.org. Yvonne Taylor Executive Director
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SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES
