Custer County Chronicle

Reviewing this year’s legislative session

Published by admin on Thu, 03/31/2022 - 8:57am

On Jan. 12, 2021, with my hand on my Grandmother’s Bible, I was sworn into office as District 30 representative for the State of South Dakota.
After I read and understood the oath of office—an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of South Dakota, and to faithfully discharge the duties of Representative according to the best of my abilities—I enthusiastically signed the document. It has been my honor to have done just that for the past two years. And I haven’t taken that responsibility lightly.

South Dakota: The state for business

Published by admin on Thu, 03/24/2022 - 9:26am

During my first State of the State address, I announced I wanted South Dakota to lead the nation, raising the bar in everything we do. We immediately got to work on that, earning big wins like Constitutional Carry and the Second Century Initiative to grow pheasant and wildlife habitat. Now, South Dakota will raise the bar in economic development.  
Earlier this month, Site Selection magazine released the rankings for its 2021 Governor’s Cup. Site Selection presents this award to the states with the most business development projects in a calendar year.

Letter on Ravnsborg is damning info

Published by admin on Thu, 03/24/2022 - 9:24am

Appalling.
That is the word that best describes some of the words and actions of South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg during and after he struck and killed Joe Boever on a South Dakota highway Sept. 12, 2020. That’s if you believe the contents of a letter written to the South Dakota House of Representatives speaker Spencer Gosch by Department of Public Safety secretary Craig Price.

Clearing up some RX cannabis issues

Published by admin on Thu, 03/24/2022 - 9:09am

Greetings! I thought I’d get through medicinal marijuana in one article, but I guess not. Just a quick alibi please! From last week’s article regarding medical marijuana, a correction:  Doctors, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants do not give patients their medical marijuana card.  This is done through the state, more specifically, the Department of Health (DOH).
This is pretty bureaucratic so let me try to explain the hoops you go through to get a card:

Working on the property tax situation

Published by admin on Thu, 03/24/2022 - 9:08am

If your most recent property tax assessment caught you by surprise, you are not alone! The issue of our property taxes increasing is the “elephant in the room” that no one has wanted to talk about. It has only gotten more pronounced with the invitation to move to South Dakota, the best place in the world.
Although true, I remember when we used to say, South Dakota, the best kept secret of the world...well I guess the word is out and now we have to deal with the consequences. For many of us, that has equated to a dramatic increase in property values and taxes.  

Property taxes are out of control

Published by admin on Thu, 03/24/2022 - 9:07am

Property taxes are out of control and we need to allocate the excess revenue we have taken in and give that back to the taxpayers in property tax relief. We also need to retroactively implement lowering assessment values going back a few years.

State needs open government fix-it list

Published by admin on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 9:15am

This week is Sunshine Week, a national observance to highlight the importance of openness and transparency in government and freedom of information laws.
Newspaper editors originated Sunshine Week in 2005, but all of us have a stake in open government. Knowing what government is doing and how it is spending taxpayer money is fundamental in a democracy and a cornerstone for good government at all levels.

Take action on property assessments

Published by admin on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 9:14am

Our jack-of-all-trades employee Jeannie Fuerstenberg was the first person to tip me off that the March 9 meeting of the Custer County Commission was going to be very well attended. She, like many in the county, had received her new assessment notice and was fit to be tied over a massive increase in the value of her property.
She told me her husband was going to go to the next commission meeting to protest, as were a lot of other people after a call to action was put on Facebook.

Nothing left to do but Veto Day

Published by admin on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 9:06am

Whew! The 97th Legislative Session is over.  All we have left to do is go back on Monday, March 28 tor Veto Day. If there are any vetoes by Gov. Noem, we have the option to overturn them at that time. That would take a two-thirds vote in each chamber to override a gubernatorial veto. We also are probably going to have to go back to finish with the impeachment proceedings for attorney general Jason Ravnsborg. I’ll write more on that in a later article.

Recapping this year’s legislative session

Published by admin on Thu, 03/17/2022 - 9:05am

It has been a privilege serving the citizens of our state for the last six years.  Every year I meet some wonderful people who are out getting involved and being more active in our state government. The South Dakota Campground Owners Association and the people from all over our state that helped stop the Custer State Park campground expansion was a great example of how your voice can matter.