Director’s Notes

One of the most important events of the Municipal League year takes place this month. More than 100 people, from all sizes of towns, will convene August 17 and 18 to determine the legislative policies of the Municipal League. The committees will meet again at the Annual Conference in October before submitting their work to the Resolutions Committee and a voteof the entire membership at the Annual Business Meeting.

The four Municipal League Policy Committees have the responsibility of reviewing the South Dakota Municipal League Statement of Policy, which serves as the League’s legislative policy and gives the League staff direction for lobbying during the Legislative Session, and for contact with the South Dakota Congressional Delegation. The four committees and their topics are:

General Government

The charge of the General Government Committee is to review policies dealing with municipal legislative issues, executive municipal policy, elections, and financial administration.

Examples include: j General statements of policy, such as a policy advocating that cities continue to review and upgrade job safety and health standards for all municipal employees, or urging municipalities to require seat belt use by municipal employees while on duty. j Personnel administration j Bid laws j Elections j Open meetings j Qualifications for office j Employee benefits j Insurance issues j Intergovernmental cooperation and relations j Alcoholic beverage policy (as opposed to taxation and fees)

Public Health, Safety, and Welfare

The charge of the Public Health, Safety, and Welfare Committee is to review policies dealing with Police, Fire, Protective Inspections, Ambulance, Health, Hospitals and Nursing Homes, Drug Education, Humane Society, Mental Health, Culture and Recreation, Parks, Libraries, Museums, Historic Preservation, and Economic Development.

Public Works

The charge of the Public Works Committee is to review policies dealing with Streets, Sanitation, Water, Planning and Zoning, Electricity, Airports, Telecommunications, Parking, and Cemeteries.

Taxation and Revenue

The charge of the Taxation and Revenue Committee is to review policies dealing with Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Licenses and Permits, Intergovernmental Revenue (Federal/ State Grants and Loans), State Shared Revenue (Bank Franchise Tax, Motor Vehicle Registration Fees, Liquor Taxes, Fire Insurance Reversion), and 9-1-1 Surcharge.

The 2016 Policy Statement, which will serve as the starting point for these committees, is printed on pages 2337. Policy Committee members are on page 22.

If you have any questions or comments on any of these policies, please contact me at 1-800-658-3633 or e-mail yvonne@sdmunicipalleague.org.

Yvonne Taylor Executive Director

Pool Testing

Municipal swimming pools are not 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 of bacteria for drinking water and pools. j “Total Coliform – Negative” means that no coliform bacteria were found and the water is safe. j “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.