STATE EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR CONSOLIDATION OF 911 CALL CENTERS
PIERRE, S.D. (Makenzie Huber / South Dakota Searchlight) – The South Dakota 911 Coordination Board commissioned a study Monday into the feasibility of consolidation among the 32 separately managed dispatch centers in the state.
Some state senators pressed the issue of consolidation during the 2024 legislative session, hoping to encourage regionalization in exchange for an increase in the phone-customer surcharge that funds 911 operations. The Legislature and Gov. Kristi Noem approved a 911 surcharge increase of 75 cents, from $1.25 to $2, with a 2026 sunset clause in order to review the increase.
The projected annual revenue from the $2 per line monthly surcharge is about $19.95 million, which public safety officials said was needed to sustain adequate 911 responses statewide. The surcharge is collected by phone companies, which then give the revenue to the state, which keeps some to fund its statewide 911 coordination efforts and gives the rest to local governments for their 911 call centers.
The study will be conducted by 911 Authority, which has worked with the state for years on South Dakota’s “Next Generation 911” system, which is meant to keep redundancies in place in case 911 systems are disrupted. 911 outages have happened twice in 2024.
Jim Lockard, senior project consultant for 911 Authority, told 911 board members the study would be completed by the end of this year. The company will charge the state $70,000 for the study, according to a written proposal.
The study will analyze call data and volume, technology use, staffing and facility needs, as well as costs. Lockard said 911 Authority would suggest another model to increase efficiency if its findings suggest consolidation is not the best option.
“Some could be factors for consolidation, some could be reasons not to consolidate,” Lockard said. “Sitting here today, I can’t tell you that it’s going to be a necessary and a good thing for South Dakota.”
Board member Duane Sutton, a Brown County commissioner, said the study would be a “valuable tool” when presenting needs and proposing legislation to make the $2 surcharge permanent next session.
House Speaker Hugh Bartels, R-Watertown, introduced the surcharge legislation last winter.
“I think this study might help,” Bartels said. “I think there are some areas of the state that should consolidate.”
While some dispatch centers cover several counties (Bartels’ local dispatch center in Watertown spans five counties), some dispatch centers cover one county.
Although the 911 board authorized the study, the board does not have the authority to consolidate dispatch centers. That’ll likely take legislative action, said Bartels, who is not seeking reelection in November.
ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE ELECTS FIRST EVER FEMALE PRESIDENT
ROSEBUD, S.D. (John Hult / South Dakota Searchlight) – The voters of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe elected their first female president on Thursday.
According to unofficial results posted late Thursday night, tribal council member Kathleen Wooden Knife prevailed by a vote of 1,192-870 in the presidential election over Steve DeNoyer Jr.
The tribe also elected a woman to serve as vice president, choosing council member Lisa White Pipe for that role.
Shakira Rattling Leaf, administrator for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Election Office, confirmed for South Dakota Searchlight that Wooden Knife is the first woman in the tribe’s history to be elected president. The tribe is located in south-central South Dakota and headquartered in the town of Rosebud.
Wooden Knife had served two consecutive terms and took a two-election-cycle break from council service before being elected to the council again last year. She joins Janet Alkire of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as the second woman leading one of the nine tribes in South Dakota. At the time of her election, The Associated Press reported that Alkire was the first woman to lead that tribe since 1946.
Wooden Knife has served on the tribe’s health board and worked for the Indian Health Service , a federal government agency Rosebud successfully sued for its failure to provide adequate health care at its Rosebud emergency room. Wooden Knife has also testified before Congress on health care issues.
Beyond health care, Wooden Knife helped organize the tribe’s pet clinic and played “a major part in founding the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Homeless Shelter,” according to a biography posted in advance of her testimony to a U.S. House committee in 2018.
Wooden Knife did not return requests for comment on Friday. On her Facebook page, Wooden Knife thanked the people for electing her and sent “well wishes to all the candidates who ran for office.” She wrote that she hopes to “move forward together, day by day, step by step as an Oyate,” referencing the Lakota word for “people.”
Election results must be posted by the first Monday following an election, according to the tribe’s election ordinance. If no one succeeds in challenging the results of the election, the results are certified on the first Friday after Monday’s public notice, which in this case would be Aug. 30.
Results will be final after that point, and the new president, vice president and council will be sworn in on Sept. 3, said Rattling Leaf, the elections administrator.
The tribe will hold a special election to select a candidate to fill out the remainder of Wooden Knife’s three-year council term.
There was no incumbent in the race for president. Former president Scott Herman stepped down this summer to take a position with Sinte Gleska University in Mission.
Acting president Willie Kindle was elected to a position on the tribal council. He’d served as vice president prior to Herman’s departure.
In the race for vice president, council member Elizabeth “Lisa” White Pipe bested Russell Eagle Bear by a vote of 1,131-919.
TWO PLANE CRASHES ON MONDAY IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA UNDER INVESTIGATION
NEBRASKA Undated – The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) has released more information about 2 separate plane crashes in Nebraska.
As of late on Monday afternoon Troopers remained on the scene of both crashes that occurred Monday morning in Northeast Nebraska,
According to The Nebraska State Patrol, they are leading the investigation on the plane crash that occurred in Knox County. That crash was reported at approximately 9:30 a.m. approximately four miles southwest of Crofton, Nebraska.
When first responders, including troopers and Knox County Sheriff’s deputies, located the pilot, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The pilot was the plane’s only occupant. The name has not been released pending notification of the family.
NSP says the second crash occurred a short time later near Wayne, Nebraska, with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office leading the investigation. NSP says that the Sheriff’s office will release more details on that crash when possible.
The National Transportation Safety Board has been contacted and will investigate both crashes.
Nebraska Troopers utilized drones to survey both crash scenes to assist in each investigation.
MEMORIAL SERVICE PLANNED FOR UNIDENTIFIED INFANT FOUND AT SIOUX FALLS RECYCLING CENTER
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Memorial services have been arranged for the infant found deceased at a Sioux Falls recycling center earlier this month.
The infant, who was later named Gabriel James Doe, was found on August 6th.
Services for the infant will be held at 10:30 a.m. on August 28 at the Miller Southside Chapel in Sioux Falls and the burial will take place at Hills of Rest Cemetery.
Open visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27 at the Miller Southside Chapel.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend to show support.
Funeral services will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
CITY OF STURGIS FACING SERIOUS BUDGET ISSUES
STURGIS, S.D. – The City of Sturgis is looking at budget challenges which will significantly impact how the community conducts business.
The Sturgis Mayor, Angela Wilkerson, is asking each city department head to resubmit their budget proposal requests and to cut 10% of their total minimal operating budgets.
Sturgis has already canceled future events such as this year’s two-day Musicfest and the Off-Road Rally because of budget concerns.
In some cases, fees for specific municipal services have not increased in 10 or 15 years although the cost to provide these services has increased in that timespan. In other cases, the city provides municipal services at zero cost to users or groups, although these services are not free to provide.
In the past, the city had cash reserves to depend upon when revenues were tight. But when the city used $1.4 million to purchase land in 2022, that cushion deteriorated.
Another reason the city’s reserves have fallen is because the city invested in infrastructure improvements through Tax Increment Finance Districts that will be slow to be returned from taxes on new developments.
Ideally, the city should have 20% of its budget as cash on hand. This year’s budget totaled about $30 million. That would mean the city should have $6 million in reserves.
Reserves ensure there is cash on hand to cover the costs for emergency or major problems within the city, such as a water main break, catastrophic road failure or a natural disaster.
Besides the efforts to develop a more accurate 2025 budget, the city has implemented other initiatives to correct the budgetary deficits. Department heads have significantly cut back on spending in 2024, deferring new initiatives or projects, delaying upgrades or improvements, and creatively operating day-to-day.
Sturgis is looking at new ways to increase revenue in each of their departments for 2025 and beyond.
