South Dakota Awarded $21 Million Federal INFRA Grant
Secretary of Transportation Darin Bergquist says the South Dakota Department of Transportation has received a $21 million Infrastructure Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to be used for the Veteran’s Parkway project in Sioux Falls.
U.S. Sen. John Thune announced the award in a press release on June 5. Thune, along with colleagues in the House and the Senate, authored the grant program that was included in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015.
“We are thankful to Sen. Thune for advocating to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao the importance of safe and reliable infrastructure to the citizens of our rural state,” says Bergquist. “This additional funding will not only help the Veteran’s Parkway project, but allow the department to move forward with an additional $21 million in construction projects for FY2018 that were not originally programmed.”
The Veteran’s Parkway project was let to bid in November of 2017 at nearly $55 million dollars and is one of the largest highway construction projects let by the SDDOT.
This multi-year project will reconstruct the interchange of Interstate 90 at Exit 402 with Veteran’s Parkway, reconstruct one mile of rural, two-lane Timberline Road to a six-lane divided highway and reconstruct two railroad grade separations. To date, the department has completed construction of Veteran’s Parkway from 57th Street north to Rice Street. Once this project is built the new roadway will connect travelers from Arrowhead Parkway to Interstate 90.
“Providing a safe, efficient and reliable infrastructure for the citizens and travelers of South Dakota is our number one priority, says Bergquist. “I look forward to the partnership with the city of Sioux Falls to deliver a muchneeded roadway to accommodate the economic and quality of life needs for that area of the state.”
New Municipal Tax Changes Effective July 1, 2018
Beginning July 1, 2018, three South Dakota communities will implement new municipal taxes or update their current municipal tax rate.
The municipal tax changes taking effect include: •
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Rosholt, S.D., increasing its 1 percent general sales and use tax rate to 2 percent. Roslyn, S.D., increasing its 2 percent general sales and use tax rate to 3 percent. Hermosa, S.D., imposing a 1 percent municipal gross receipts tax rate on lodging, eating establishments, alcoholic beverages, and ticket sales or admissions to places of amusement, athletic and cultural events. This tax is in addition to its 2 percent general sales and use tax rate.
South Dakota municipalities are able to implement new tax rates or change existing tax rates on either Jan. 1 or July 1 each year.
The South Dakota Department of Revenue has Municipal Tax Information Bulletins available listing all municipal sales and use tax rates statewide, along with information on tribal sales, use, and excise taxes.
Updated bulletins are free of charge and available after July 1, 2018. To obtain a Municipal Tax Information Bulletin, download it on the Department of Revenue website at http://dor.sd.gov/Taxes/Business_Taxes/Publications/Municipal_ Tax.aspx or contact the Department of Revenue at 1-800-8299188.
Pool Testing
Municipal swimming pools are no longer regulated by the State of South Dakota, however, these facilities should be tested for coliform bacteria during each week of operation.
All pool samples should be tested for “total coliform”, which is an indicator bacteria for drinking water and pools. • “Total Coliform - Negative” means that no coliform bacteria were found and the water is safe. • “Total Coliform - Positive” means that coliform bacteria were found. Two or more consecutive positive samples indicates a general trend of bacteria presence in the pool. Corrective measures should be taken, such as superchlorination, to prevent a health related incident caused by poor water quality.
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