8 Broadcaster Press Examples Legislative Of Leaders Stewardship Want A COLUMN BY To Get Back GOV. DENNIS DAUGAARD Annual It was President Grover Cleveland who said “a public office is a public trust.” Retreat The man who served as the United States’ 22nd and 24th president knew Americans expect their elected officials to do what is morally right and to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Still today, Americans believe that public servants should carefully and responsibly manage the things entrusted to their care. Since first being elected five years ago, I have abided by this principle. With the help of state employees and legislators, South Dakota has a number of recent examples of good stewardship to share. One example is the investment we are making in our roads. Our motor fuels tax had lost half of its purchasing power since it was last increased in 1999, and we saw that if we did not act, our roads and bridges would deteriorate. Time wasn’t on our side. Even though many of us in South Dakota generally oppose tax increases, we realized the longer we waited to act, the more costly it would be to repair our roads. So we came to a compromise that generated significant new revenue for construction costs without placing an unreasonable burden on our citizens. After months of discussions and studying the issue, the state Legislature passed a bill to raise $85 million in new revenue for our roads and bridges at both the state and local levels. Another way we have been good stewards is by maintaining our buildings and better managing our properties. For instance, we recently made investments in our State Capitol Building. When we learned that the glass floor in the Capitol Rotunda and the stained glass throughout the building were both at risk of collapse, we spent money in the shortterm to preserve the beauty of our Capitol Building and make improvements that will last for a century or more. Montana waited too long. They were forced to replace their Capitol glass floor, based on the same design as ours, with common ceramic tile. Stewardship in our state has also meant responsibly managing our finances. In 2011, South Dakota was facing a structural deficit. We cut state spending by 10 percent for every agency and office of state government. My staff and cabinet secretaries took a 10 percent pay cut and I cut my own salary by 15 percent. It wasn’t pleasant. But making difficult choices, we balanced our state budget and placed South Dakota on a firm financial footing. For four consecutive years now we have ended our fiscal year with a surplus. Since emerging from recession many states are balancing their budgets again. But far too many of those other states have long-term liabilities – unfunded pension obligations and large general obligation liabilities. In South Dakota we have neither of those things. Our state’s pension is in sound condition for present and future retirees. We are one of only a very few states in the nation that can say that. Good stewardship does not always mean not spending. We exercised frugality in 2014, when we received an unexpected windfall of $33 million. We used that money to retire bonds early and to pay cash, rather than borrowing, for a new veterans’ home. We were able to increase spending on education and Medicaid more quickly because of the savings we enjoyed from those decisions. Efforts of good stewardship may not always grab headlines. Stories of reinforcing the floor in the state Capitol and responsibly managing the state’s pension system don’t usually end up on the front page of the newspaper. But it’s this kind of stewardship that makes good government and it’s what the people rightly expect of their elected officials. SDHSAA Is Headed To More Democracy Referrals are part of South Dakota’s government tradition on the state and local levels. As the state flag proclaims: “Under God the people rule”. So it seems appropriate the SDHSAA would apply the same principle. The directors during their strategic planning session Wednesday and during the regular business meeting Thursday repeatedly talked about the need for more transparency by the organization. Jason Uttermark of Aberdeen Central is chairman, and Steve Morford of Spearfish is vice chairman. With Whitney, Klatt and Roger Bordeaux of Tiospa Zina tribal school, they form a nucleus for openness. The three freshly elected directors – David Planteen of Langford school board, Moe Ruesink of Sioux Valley High School and Bud Postma of Madison High School – seem to be of similar mind. The board and the association have seen major changes in the past three years. The tipping point was the attempt to take an extra dollar from sale of each playoff ticket. School officials didn’t waste any time that fall contacting legislators about their dissatisfaction. The result was a new state law in 2014 requiring the association to follow South Dakota’s open-meeting and open-record laws. SDHSAA also must report annually to a legislative committee. Leading the way was Sen. Corey Brown, R-Gettysburg, along with Rep. Timothy Johns, R-Lead, and thenHouse Speaker Brian Gosch, R-Rapid City. The directors currently are crossways with many legislators on transgender athlete policy. That issue will be up to the Legislature next year. The key point is the directors are moving fast in the right direction overall. BY BOB MERCER STATE CAPITOL BUREAU PIERRE – A few days ago, our board of directors took another big step making the South Dakota High School Activities Association more responsive to the members and the public. Notice the use of our. The SDHSAA belongs to all of us. The kids might be gone BY BOB MERCER from your and my houseSTATE CAPITOL BUREAU holds, but we still pay sales tax and property taxes for PIERRE – The Legislaour public schools. ture’s Executive Board plans We all have a stake in to hold a retreat this fall at what the association’s staff Custer State Park, reviving and the directors decide and a practice that had been do. scrapped about 15 years ago. That big step on ThursJason Hancock, the Legday was giving member islative Research Council’s schools the opportunity to director, outlined the plan refer some board actions to a Monday afternoon to the general vote of the memberboard. ship. He wants four other senNow any decision by the ior members of the LRC staff directors “that involves a to also attend the retreat. substantial (or) significant The event would start on capital expense or that the afternoon of Tuesday, requires adding additional Oct. 6, at Reunion Cabin near personnel” can be referred to the State Game Lodge in the the vote of the membership. park. The legislators would The trigger is filing a petistay at Creekside Lodge in tion with the executive directhe park. tor within 45 calendar days The LRC senior staff with signatures from either would cook breakfasts on at least 30 superintendents if Wednesday and Thursday for the policy affects all member the legislators. schools. There would be working If the policy affects a spesessions on Tuesday aftercific class of schools, then noon, Wednesday morning, signatures are needed from afternoon and evening, and 25 percent of the superintenThursday breakfast. dents from schools in that The Wednesday afternoon class for the referral vote to discussion would include the proceed. House and Senate chairs of During the referral, the the Joint Committee on Apdecision is on hold. The propriations. voting by schools is to be The Wednesday working completed within 45 days of dinner at the State Game the petition’s receipt. Lodge would include all The proposal originally members of the Executive called for a 60 percent majorBoard and the appropriations ity to overturn a decision. committee. But directors Linda Whitney “We haven’t tried to fill in of Sanborn Central and the actual discussion topics Sandy Klatt from the Branyet,” Hancock said. don school board amended The retreat was dropped the threshold to a simple after then-Executive Board majority. selected Jim Fry to succeed The vote Thursday was Terry Anderson as LRC direc- unanimous in favor by the tor in 2000. seven directors present. Fry resigned in September 2013 after an outside review commissioned by the board. The board selected Hancock in June 2014 as the permanent replacement. The Executive Board has • Farm Filters • Hydraulic Hoses • Bearings & Seals 15 members and the appropriations committee has 18 members. The Legislature has 105 members overall. 1007 Broadway Ave. • Yankton • 665-4494 Let Our Family Business keep yours in the go with: Sell it Local! Use The Broadcaster Classifieds! 624-4429 OUTSTANDING PAY PACKAGE Sign On Bonus Mileage Pay On Duty Pay Per Diem SOLID and RELIABLE TRUCKING Since 1937 Need Drivers IMMEDIATELY in the YORK, NE AREA Class A CDL + Prior Experience Call Curt for Immediate Consideration 402-678-2201 www.werner-trucking.com Cox Auto September 1, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com What’s Happening At Newton Hills And Good Earth BY: GIANNA HARTY AND CORTNEY REEDY This weekend at Newton Hills is all about wilderness survival and safety! On Friday, September 4th at 8:30 pm we will be showing a movie at the amphitheater. Saturday, September 5th at 10 am we are starting off the day with Animal Tracks, where we will learn to identify animals by their tracks and make a craft. At 1 pm we are to get All Tied Up to learn about different knots and their uses. Then at 3 pm, we are going to get wet and talk about safe drinking water while learning to make water filters. Then at 4:30 pm, we will continue talking about water safety in regards to swimming and boating. We will also address hypothermia through a fun (Really, it’s super fun!) activity. At 7 pm John will be waiting at the swinging bridge to talk about hiking safety while taking a little trip into the woods. In the evening we will show a movie at 8:30 pm at the amphitheater. Finally we will end the day with Newton Hills Night Hike at 9:30 pm. Meet us behind the Welcome Center for a walk on hard surface roads. Please wear good shoes. Flashlights are permitted but we will encourage you to keep them off to help with adjusting to night vision. On Sunday, September 6th you are welcome join in a nondenominational worship service at 9 am at the amphitheater. Come as you are, all are welcome, and refreshments will be provided. At 11 am we will start Orienteering 101 where we will learn to find our way without GPS through a fun game. Then at 1 pm we are going to talk Shelter Building and test out what we have learned by trying it our right here at Newton Hills. We will be looking for the truly adventurous at 3 pm when we talk about Incredible Edibles to learn what are some safe dining options in this environment. Then at 4:30 we will be talking fire safety and some tips for getting a good fire roaring. Finally, we will end the day with another movie in the amphitheater at 8:30 pm. September fun at Good Earth State Park at Blood Run! Crisp leaves and cool breezes! Fall has begun, come feel the difference! Run, jump, bound, and search Saturday, September 5th at 11 am! Come partake in the Wildlife Olympics and see how you compare to the animals at Good Earth State Park, it’s fun the whole family can enjoy! If you have any questions about the park or the programs for this coming weekend, do not hesitate to give us a call at (605) 987-2263 or email newtonhills@state.sd.us. More info including an event schedule may also be found online at www. gfp.sd.gov. If you would like to receive weekly email updates on programming at the park, like us on Facebook, or send an email to newtonhills@state.sd.us. The staff at Newton Hills and Good Earth looks forward to seeing you at the park this summer! 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Poplar Ave. Freeman, SD on: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH 4:00 P.M. LEGAL: Lot 7 and the North 2’ of Lot 8, Block 6, John Gross 1st-6th Addition city of Freeman, Hutchinson County, South Dakota. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY Keeping hopes high Will be closed on Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day holiday. for generations. • 1952 Ranch Style 2 bedroom home with 776 sq ft on the main floor. Full unfinished dry basement, attached 16 X 22 garage, move in ready condition. • 52 X 142 lot with mature trees, Shingles installed in 2010, vinyl siding, NG furnace with central air, birch cabinetry, extremely clean and neat. • Annual Taxes $623.72 and the current Assessed Value is $30,450.00. • Pictures, room sizes, and property disclosure available in the buyers packet. TO INSPECT THE HOME: You may contact the auctioneers at 800-251-3111 to set-up a private showing or you may visit www.wiemanauction.com for pictures and a buyers packet or call auctioneers and packets can be mailed out. TERMS: Cash sale with 15% (non-refundable) down payment auction day with the balance on or before October 8th, 2015. Warranty deed to be granted with the cost of title insurance split 50-50 between buyer and seller. Taxes to be prorated to the date of possession. Come check out a very clean, move in ready home that sells at ABSOLLUTE auction. 92 BUICK REGAL – SNOWBLOWER – MOWER 1992 Buick Regal 58K miles 1-owner, 3800 V-6, tan exterior tan cloth interior super clean; Ariens ST824 snowblower like new; Lawn Boy self propelled mower; Toro snowblower; ladders; Hand & Garden Tools; hose; lawn chairs; gas cans; weed sprayer fishing poles, rod holder; CorTrust Bank has the loans and services to help your ag business grow. Visit us today. Raise your expectations. cortrustbank.com • 101 W. Main St. • Vermillion APPLIANCES – FURNITURE- ANTIQUES – HOUSEHOLD GE Stackable washer & dryer; upright freezer; Maytag ringer washer; dryer; Drop Leaf Table 4-chairs; Dinning table 6-chairs; Contemporary 3-pc. Bedroom set with full size bed; 2-pc bedroom set with full size bed; cedar chest; octagon end tables; Recliner; Couch; Panasonic & Kirby upright vacuums; Philco TV; Microwave; Microwave cart; usual kitchen appliances; Tupperware; Corning & Correllware; lamps; Mission style rocker; Round Back Chairs; 5-6- &12 gal. Redwing Crocks; Sausage Press; Meat Grinder; Antique dresser; enamel top table; old utensils; fruit jars; Rinse Tubs; Commode; Laterns; trunks; Signer Sewing Machine; Cornado radio; Bedding; Old games; Towels; JESSIE GROSS –OWNER Wieman Land & Auction Co. Inc. Marion, SD 800-251-3111 Rich & Gary Wieman Brokers Dale Strasser Closing Attorney 925-7745