The only true free-thinker is he whose intellect is as much free from the future as from the past. He cares as little for what will be as for what has been; he cares only for what ought to be. And for my present purpose I specially insist on this abstract independence.
– Author: G.K. Chesterton
The May 2, 2022, meeting was called to order by Mayor Dan Haeder with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Linda Talbott, Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples, Councilman Lukas Driesen, Councilman David Larsen. Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson absent.
Agenda Item #3 – (00:44.70) Approve agenda unanimous vote upon the removal of new council agenda item #10-plat map approval.
Agenda Item #4 – (02:07.27) Approve minutes of the 04/04/2022 and 04/18/2022 council meetings
Agenda Item #5 – (02:57.50) Approve warrants. What time period?
Agenda Item #6 – (03:33.13) Adjourn old council.
(07:06.93) David Larsen leaves at 6:07 p.m.
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New Council Agenda Item #1 – (08:12.03) New council called to order at 6:08 p.m.
New Council Agenda Item #2 – Oaths of Office
(09:46.50) Oath of Office administered to Councilwoman Darla Reppe-2 year term
(10:39.43) Oath of Office administered to Councilwoman Linda Talbott-3 year term
(11:44.43) Oath of Office administered to Councilman Lukas Driesen-3 year term
New Council Agenda Item #3 (12:54.53) 2022 Council Committee assignments.
New Council Agenda Item #4 (14:53.83) Ward II vacancies – 2 seats Awe no one wants a FOPAT on their back!
New Council Agenda Item #5 (15:36.07) Election of Council President and Council Vice President. So begins the DO-OVER goat rodeo of parliamentary procedures. (00:16:13.97) Mayor Haeder announces, “…there will come a time…when I will not be here at 12:30 ANY Monday…ever…”
IS THE MAYOR SAYING HE CANNOT/WILL NOT FULFILL HIS DUTIES AS MAYOR?
(00:17:40.80) Nomination of Lukas Driesen as President of the Alcester City Council and (00:18:51.17) nomination of Linda Talbott as Vice President of the Alcester City Council. At (00:20:23.27) we need a DO-OVER ’cause according to FOPAT, Councilman Lukas and Councilwoman Linda respectively should have abstained from voting for themselves. Where is Sam? Did he not get the invitation?
New Council Agenda Item #6 – Bank Account Signers- (00:22:49.73) Mayor Haeder calls, (00:23:07.63) “…motion to remove David Larsen from all city bank accounts at Premier Bank and add (a) and add (b)…in one fell swoop…but we can do it all…” (00:23:34.50) FOPAT tells the Mayor,“… in your motion I would have uh indicate Wanda and myself (FOPAT) that way the bank…when they get the minutes…they know exactly who we all have on the account…” (00:25:06.87) Improper procedure—-DO OVER…AGAIN OH-OH another oopsy-doodle. Where oh where has our Sammy gone. Once again Mayor is grossly ignorant of procedure. To abstain or not to abstain and now we have to negate the motion by letting it die from inaction. Proper or improper parliamentary procedure to advise the council.
New Council Agenda Item #7 – Public Input (00:29:59.90)
New Council Agenda Item #8 – Legal Updates (00:31:57.33)
New Council Agenda Item #9 – Police Update and Police Procedure Policy action.
New Council Agenda Item #10 – Deleted will be dealt with at a later date.
New Council Agenda Item #11 – (00:56:26.40) Alcester Fairgrounds Alcester Fairgrounds. Alcester has no fair. Union County has a Fair. In the discussion of the Union County Fair, (00:58:17.03) it was reported that CEO McDaniel suggested during the April 27, 2022, (closed to the public meeting) with select Union County Commissioners, select Alcester City Council members along with Fair Board members, “…get private donations, fund-raise to build new fairgrounds from citizens after the sale of the current fairground lands to FCS…” Folks, I attempted to attend this meeting and was told I could not attend. In addition reporter Gordon Richard was turned away at the door. Commissioner Joffer indicated the commissioners wanted full transparency. From the reports of discussion I heard during last evening’s council meeting, I see no transparency what-so-ever. (00:58:17.03) Mr. McDaniel reportedly stated (00:59:21.17), “…FCS wants possession by the fall of 2023…” Is that true? Mr. McDaniel reportedly went on to say (01:00:18.07), “…if we cannot make money and expand, we will go elsewhere…”
FREE WILL OR BLACKMAIL?
It was reported in the discussion from our council members that Mr. McDaniel proceeded to give them the benefit of his grand expertise (01:00:50.03), “…you (presumably our council and commissioners) need to focus on a five (5) year plan…”
Additional reporting of the Wednesday, April 27, 2022, discussion, (1:01:52.43) it was reported either FCS or the Union County Commissioners demanded the city’s assurances the proceeds from the Alcester City Land assets were to be turned over to the Fair fund.
(1:02:39.13) Mayor Haeder’s remarks on the ownership of the land surrounding the former Alcester Steakhouse are in error. The owner of the land around the former Alcester Steakhouse is the Alcester Industrial Park, Inc. a non-profit NOT THE CITY OF ALCESTER!
(1:03:29.63) Contrary to opinions from the mayor and FOPAT, “…wrong, the citizens of Alcester have a say and they deserve full and complete disclosure! The City Council is obligated to inform the Alcester Residents of any attempted disposal of city assets!!!
(1:04:08.57) FOPAT thinks (Heaven helps us), “…an agreement would have to be drawn up…if the city is willing to put 100% of the sale proceeds to be reinvested into the fair…but if the fair is no longer here…the investment will come back to the city…” Talk about a scam. What do you think Folks? Are ya willing to lose your streets for pie-in-the-sky on a fair spin-the-wheel bet?
New Council Agenda Item #12 (1:15:40.00) Finance Office Updates
New Council Agenda Item #13 -HRC Update – (1:36:23.10)
New Council Agenda Item #14 – Fair Board (01:41:54.03) Discussion on the 2022 fair. Listen to Mayor Haeder’s wild hair. (01:41:54.03) Mayor Haeder says, “…we could, we could make this the Clay County Fair in Iowa…in Union County…” Mayor you have delusions of Grand Marnier!
New Council Agenda Item #15 – Executive session SDCL 1-25-2.1 Personnel – Council votes to go into executive session to discuss personnel which I suspect is to discuss personnel at the community Albatross. Executive Session began at 7:48P.M. and ended 8:17 P.M. approximately one-half hour later.
New Council Agenda Item #16 – Adjourn Meeting 8:17 p.m.
Folks call your City Council members, Contact your County Commissioners, let them know. Think about it when the county takes this land out of taxable status as it will for the fair, our school loses the tax income and our county loses tax income. By the Union County Commissioner’s purchase the old Steakhouse, they have removed a property valued at anywhere from $160,800.00 to $200,000.00 from the tax rolls and reduced funding for our school and county.
Let your commissioners and city council know this must go to a public vote!
Let them know if FCS doesn’t like our terms, they are welcome to follow through on their threat
and while we are asking questions,
When is the city going to finish working on the streets?
Contact City Council
Mayor Dan Haeder 605-934-2287 605-770-7929
Councilwoman Darla Reppe 605-934-2602
Councilwoman Linda Talbot 605-254-3074
Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples
Councilman Lukas Driesen
Patricia Jurrens 605-934-2517
Union County Commissioners
Commissioner Milton Ustad Milton.Ustad@unioncountysd.org
Commissioner Rich Headid Rich.Headid@unioncountysd.org
Commissioner Tom Kimmel Tom.Kimmel@unioncountysd.org
Commissioner Michael Dailey Mike.Dailey@unioncountysd.org
Commissioner Kevin Joffer Kevin.Joffer@unioncountysd.org
A Voice from the Gallery 