09/19/2023 A Voice From the Gallery

Pinocchio is a fictional character,  a-lie-ve and well in Alcester, SD!

The September 19th meeting of the Alcester City Council was called to order by Mayor Dan Haeder in the Alcester City/School Library at 6:00 p.m. with Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples, Councilman Lukas Driesen and Councilman Kyle VandenHull present.  The council and gallery recited the pledge of allegiance.

(00:52.57)  AGENDA ITEM #3 – APPROVE AGENDA  discuss of a change in the agenda with the removal of Agenda Item # 12 Executive Session SDCL 1-25.2.1 Personnel with the proposed discussion to take place in the Agenda Item #16 Executive Session CTA.  Council voted unanimously to approve the agenda as amended.

(00:02:31.03) AGENDA ITEM #4 – WELCOME TO THE LIBRARY BY LIBRARIAN PAIGE GERMAN  Ms. German welcomes the council and gallery to the library explaining the programs, offerings and events which have taken place in the past season and coming up in the future specifically mentioning donations, Junior Fiction section, SWANK movie licensing, and grants.

(00:12:27.87) AGENDA ITEM #5 – JOY HEMMINGSON PRESENTATION -Alcester Let’s Get Growin’ This community growth presentation was delayed until after Agenda Item #6 due to the advertised Public Hearing time of 6:15 P.M. (00:56:39.50)  Hemmingson presentation resumes.

(00:15:16.37) AGENDA ITEM #6 – PUBLIC HEARING ON PHASE I WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY IMPROVEMENT FINANCING PROPOSAL  Presentation was made by SECOG Harley Ferguson-Planning Specialist.  (00:24:06.20)  Mayor Haeder opens public hearing for public input on the financing proposal and wastewater treatment facility.  (00:24:18.33)  Ms. Joy Hemmingson speaks and plays video,  MUFTI  (Michigan Urban Farming Initiative) 2013 FORD COLLEGE COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Y4OOIstc0

Once video finishes up Mayor Haeder pontificates about AgriHoods which is off topic for the public hearing and application for funding the Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade, remember Mayor Haeder’s comment ?(00:23:44.07)

(00:34:51.07) Kyle Pennings Alcester resident asks questions concerning the Wastewater, current and proposed volumes or capacities.  (00:40:28.60)  Vickie Larsen, resident speaking.  (00:44:48.70)  Notice how Mr. Haeder interrupt when a point or points are being made by me?  So how is it again?  (00:23:44.07) Pinocchio your nose is growing!

(00:45:33.07)  Vickie Larsen addresses an anti-housing position unless code and covenants are adhered to and enforced.  (00:46:20.33)  Mr. Haeder calls for a motion to approve the application for funding from CBDG  (00:46:55.43) Kyle Pennings speaks to amounts of money cost and amounts of money in grants and loans.  He speaks to the $4.4 million price tag and comments on the CBDG grant of $700,070.00 and the apparent shortfall of funding.  Finance Officer Pat Jurrens speaks to additional funding in the process.  (00:52:31.30)  Mr. Haeder calls for a motion to approve application for CBDG funding.  (00:48:29.83)  Kyle Pennings asks another question.  ( 00:52:31.30)  Councilman Kyle VandenHull moves to approve the application for CBDG funding, Second came from Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples with a unanimous vote of the council as it exists with a Ward I vacancy and a Ward II vacancy.

(01:25:31.00)  AGENDA ITEM #7  PUBLIC INPUT  (01:25:36.23) Vickie Larsen input.  (01:26:20.30)  Progress on Direct Deposit for employee checks.  Listen to what Mr. Haeder says, (01:26:26.67) “…most of the employees are against it…” 

Really? Not what I hear!  (01:23:32.77)  Gallery member Kyle Pennings asks the question, “…they’re against it (direct deposit)?”  He (Mr. Pennings )states everybody he has talked to wants direct deposit.  Check yer pants Mayor Haeder, FOPAT is gonna have to call the Fire Department!

(01:34:37.47)  AGENDA ITEM #8  505 OFSTAD PROPERTY  Motion to approve up to $1500.00 to remove a tree at 505 Ofstad.  Unanimously approved by council.

(01:37:38.10)  AGENDA ITEM #9  LEGAL UPDATE SAM NELSON  Sam Nelson is not present so no legal update just a message sent through the city bookkeeper.  Nice!

(01:38:05.50)  AGENDA  ITEM #10  IOWA STREET STORM SEWER   No Sam just a message he is working on it.

(01:30:40.70)  AGENDA ITEM #11  CHAIRPERSON UPDATES. 

(01:44:35.43)  AGENDA ITEM #13  COMMUNITY CENTER PERSONNEL

(01:45:04.07)  Community center employee re-assigned from kitchen to server with a wage reduction to $7 per hour.  Motion to approve wage reduction.  Unanimous vote.  (01:45:49.90) Motion to hire Andrew Terwee as a part-time cook at the community building.   Motion approve by a unanimous vote.

(01:49:07.57) AGENDA ITEM #14   2023 BUDGET SECOND READING Motion made, seconded and approved unanimously.

(01:51:10.97)  AGENDA ITEM #15  FIANCE OFFICE  (01:57:15.20)  Change in the October meeting dates.  October meeting dates just do not fit into FOPAT’s social calendar.  So the council does not NEED her at the meeting.  Aide to the Finance Office Abigail is certainly able to take sufficient notes or better yet have Alcester City Attorney Sam take notes.  I am quite confident he can handle note taking for the city!  So folks the October 3rd meeting has been moved to October 10th and in the interest of ODC the October 17th meeting has been shifted to October 24th to maintain a 14 day separation.  Whew that was a close one!  (01:59:19.97)  Motion passed unanimously!

(02:01:46.67) AGENDA ITEM #16 EXECUTIVE SESSION SDCL 1-25-2.1 PERSONNEL  Motion made, seconded and unanimous vote to go into Executive Session for Personnel discussion at 8:02 p.m.  (02:03:16.43)  at 8:48 p.m. Council was declared out of executive session (02:03:06.33) 

(02:03:16.43) Motion was made by Councilwoman Darla Reppe, seconded by Councilman Lukas Driesen to hire Landon Nygard at $19.75 per hour and Kelsey Ericson at $15.63 per hour as CO-General Managers of the community center effective immediately to be reviewed on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023.  Motion passes unanimously. (02:05:45.47)

(02:06:09.07)  AGENDA ITEM #17  ADJOURN  8:52 P.M.

  Folks you have options to the resolutions, ordinance and other attempts to raise our taxes.  Write up an initiative, get signatures and put it to a city wide vote. 

Contact City Council

Mayor Dan Haeder                            605-934-2287     

Councilwoman Darla Reppe             605-934-2602

Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples           605-934-2096

Councilman Lukas Driesen               605-934-

Councilman Kyle VandenHull          605-934-

Patricia Jurrens                                  605-934-2517

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09/15/2022 A Voice From the Gallery

“He is a kitchen wench and all grease, and I know not what use to put him to than to make a lamp from him and run from him by his own light.

a bastardization of a William Shakespear quote.

I missed the opening of the meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance and the call for Agenda approval.  The video begins with (00:17.33) the last stage of agenda approval.

(00:25.83) Agenda Item # 4 Approval of the August 1, 2022, and August 17, 2022, meeting minutes.

(00:01:00.07) Agenda Item #5  Public Input

          Brian Johnson – Mr. Johnson asks the Mr. Haeder if he has a copy of the Oath of Office.  Once a copy has been given to Mr. Haeder, Mr. Johnson asks. “…would you please read it for me…” (00:03:20.83)  Mr. Johnson next addresses the Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson and asks Mr. Nelson to summarize the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  (00:03:30.67)  Mr. Nelson replied, “…Ah I would have to look it up…you know I think you have a right to counsel…”  According to Cornell Law: 

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay, the right to a lawyer,  the right to an impartial jury, and the right to know who your accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you.  It has been most visibly tested in a series of cases involving terrorism, but much more often figures in cases that involve (for example) jury selection or the protection of witnesses, including victims of sex crimes as well as witnesses in need of protection from retaliation. (https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/sixth_amendment#:~:text=The%20Sixth%20Amendment%20guarantees%20the,charges%20and%20evidence%20against%20you.)

In anticipation of Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson’s inevitable response to the semantics of the phrase ‘criminal defendants’ and from my own experience with the Alcester City Council which at the time consisted of :  Mayor Dan Haeder, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Linda Talbot, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, Councilman David Larsen, Councilman Marcus Ireland and Councilwoman-under-fire Vickie Larsen will have Mr. Nelson note the ‘issue’ of advice of counsel.  Amendment to 6.5.1.3 Right to Confront Adverse Witnesses:  Current Doctrine.  Spells out the right to have assistance of counsel for defense, reliability of trustworthiness, reliability of evidence tested in the crucible of cross examination.  Folks while I missed the meeting, I anticipated the outcome and did some ‘light reading’.

(00:05:33.50)  Mr. Haeder asks, “who was terminated?”  Duh?  Hey Mayor Haeder, where was your head when you folks came out of Executive session at the August 17th Alcester City Council Meeting and “…(1:05:38.60)  Mayor Haeder calls for motion to terminate Clint Nyreen.  Councilman Kyle VandenHull makes the motion to terminate Clint Nyreen for cause, Second came from Councilwoman Darla Reppe.  Councilman Kyle VandenHull, Councilwoman Darla Reppe and Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples all voted unanimously and by roll call to terminate Clint Nyreen effective August 18, 2022 at 8:00 a.m…”  Evidently your ears were filled fecal material!  (00:06:08.70) NOWHaeder states, “…the individual resigned…”

MAYOR HAEDER DEFENDS HIS NON-FEASANCE.  HIS PATHETIC, COWARDLY FAILURE TO DO WHAT THE ALCESTER CITY COUNCIL INSTRUCTED HIM TO DO.  LIAR! 

FOLKS WATCH THE VIDEO 08/17/2022  (1:05:38.60)

(00:06:52.87)  Mayor (?) Haeder states he was instructed to hand out the termination papers at 9:30 A.M.  Nah Mr. Haeder the motion/instruction was “…effective August 18, 2022, at 8:00 am …”   Video 08/17/2022  (1:05:38.60)

WHAT WERE YOU WAITING FOR MR. MAYOR,  MR. LUSK TO COME ON DUTY SO HE COULD DO THE DIS-HONOR FOR YA?

Gordon Richard Input (00:14:35.87)  Mr. Richard asked for the Statement of Financial Condition of the community center.  (00: 15:11.30) Response from Mayor Haeder, “…I don’t know…”  Mayor Haeder comments about another request for a Statement of Financial Condition of the community center by Mr. Gary McKellips.  Finally Mr. Richards is told by Mayor Haeder and FOPAT he will get a copy of the Statement of Financial Condition of the community center.  Hopefully that night!

Aaron Larsen Input (00:15:50.93)  Mr. Larsen questioned why the Mayor and council did not call for the employee’s side?  (00:17:50.53)  Mr. Larsen asked, “…why did you (mayor and council) fail to allow Mr. Nyreen to defend again the specious allegations put forth in ‘open meeting’ of August 17, 2022, by California Karen who accused one of our councilwomen of being ‘grossly negligent’  and one can assume more specious allegations were delivered by employee-cook-in-training Connor Lusk son of California Karen when he was invited into the Executive Session of August 17, 2022.  (00:17:59.30)  Mayor Haeder attempts to defend his abysmal failure to hear both sides of the allegation.  (00:18:15.37)  Mayor Haeder says, “…enough people involved in the Executive Session conversation…discussed…”  Folks ya gotta hand it to Haeder, fire a guy for an unproven cause while ya only have three (3) council persons present – just barely a quorum.  Those in attendance for the quasi Scopes Monkey Trial were Mayor Haeder, FOPAT (not a council member, just the bookkeeper), Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples and recently appointed Councilman Kyle VandenHull, City Attorney Sam Nelson with Councilman Lukas Driesen absent and Councilwoman Linda Talbott’s resignation due to the threats of California Karen and her cohorts still echoing in the ‘council chambers’.  Oh and lest we forget also making his grand entrance into the Executive Session by invitation was cook-in-training bravo-bozo Connor Lusk who has yet to learn what a butt-shark is or a one delta ten tango.  Now we have to wonder why FOPAT was in the session?  She is just the bookkeeper, although she certainly has experience in inappropriate behaviors.  Talk about your Looking allegations.  How many LOOK minutes does it take for a FOPAT to determine Duluth Underwear sizing for inappropriate gifting to employees?  Mayor thought it was funny.  FOPAT was not fired for cause.  How many invitations from FOPAT which carried BYOB to the golf course bar birthday party was the firing line criteria for FOPAT’s violation of state and city liquor law/ordinances.  Where the firing for liquor violation for cause that time?  Or how many computer hard drives did the city purchase from Applied Software.  Oxymoron?  What about the False 911 call?  No talks of firing for false claims.  Why not?  Seems to me some preferential treatment when a legitimate termination should have taken place.

Police Chief Austin Schuller Input – (00:20:14.07)  Apparently FOPAT just couldn’t get her act together to get the Police Department and Chief Schuller on the agenda.  Chief Schuller gave updates on activities occurring within the city. 

FOPAT Input(00:25:47.03)  States she was contacted by a landlord whose tenant up and left him with the water bill.

(00:29:39.57) Agenda Item #6    Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade   Tanya Miller

(00:30:33.97) RE- BID DATE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDACannot be considered because FOPAT FAILED to include it on the agenda and the council approved the agenda without a bid-date.  It cannot be acted upon with just a flimsy cover-yer-ass blanket statement which describe nothing but the incompetence of the Alcester Finance Officer!  (00:34:23.07)  Hey mayor time to step aside if yer that tired.  WOW  Mayor wants to cut to the chase…he is tired of the 9:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m. meetings.  Well mayor quit your inane blathering, inform the council proper, hire a Finance Officer who can get the job done correctly and then step aside for someone who knows what they are doing.  (00:45:05.80)  Motion by Councilman VandenHull with second from Councilwoman Reppe to do the Wastewater Facility Upgrade with the various changes.  (00:46:04.33)  Unanimous Aye x 4 vote!

(00:49:18.33) Agenda Item #7  Iowa Street Storm Sewer  NO ACTION

(01:06:46.60) Agenda Item #8  Legal updates  This Agenda Item #8 was relegated to Agenda Item #8B and in its stead Agenda Item #13 was inserted as Agenda Item #8A.  Evidently Sam needed a boredom break ’cause he left the meeting. (01:07:59.17)  Council goes into Executive Session alleged to discuss personnel SDCL 1-25-2.1 at 7:12 P.M.  (01:09:16.60) Council back in open session after Executive session lasting one (1) hour.  (01:09:36.31) Actual legal updates now.  Fairgrounds – Original appraiser could not be used due to concerns of conflict, found a commercial appraiser for $5000.00.  City Attorney Sam Nelson leaves the meeting at 8:17 P.M.

(01:14:03.17) Agenda Item #9  Council Committees Mayor Presentation

(01:14:51.77)  Agenda Item #10 Finance Office

(01:15:54.37) Call for motion and second to pay for AHHS Utilities  $2616.61  Motion by Councilwoman Darla Reppe with second coming from Councilman Kyle VandenHull, no discussion and a unanimous x 4 vote.  (01:16:49.67)  Motion to pay August warrants made by Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples with second coming from Councilman Lukas Driesen, no discussion and a unanimous x 4 vote.  (01:17:27.23) Budget Presentation by FOPAT

(01:59:57.07)  POLICE DEPT CRITIQUE

(02:10:24.53)  2023 APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FIRST READING

(02:10:33.10)  Motion by Councilman Kyle VandenHull, Second by Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples, no discussion with a unanimous x4 Aye Vote.

(02:10:58.00) 2022-05 SPECIAL MAINTENANCE FEE RESOLUTION

(02:11:35.43)  Motion by Councilman Kyle VandenHull, Second from Councilman Lukas Driesen, no discussion and unanimous Vote x 4.

(02:12:26.00) RESOLUTION 2022-06 ADJUST RATES FOR WASTEWATER DISCHARGE

(02:13:35.13)  Motion from Councilman Lukas Driesen, Second from Councilwoman Darla Reppe with discussion from Councilwoman Peeples for clarification for total cost with a unanimous Vote x4.

(02:21:36.30)  Agenda Item  #11NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY

(02:25:10.90)  Agenda Item  #12  – FAIR BOARD UPDATE

(02:27:47.17)  Agenda Item #14  City Employees

(02:28:00.63)  Motion by Councilwoman Darla Reppe to increase the wage of Sam LNU and Conner Lusk by one (1) dollar per hour and retroactive to August 18, 2022, with second coming from Councilman Lukas Driesen.  Amazing how back stabbing your boss ’cause you had to give up your phone and actually work can pay off!  No discussion and a unanimous Vote x4!  Oh and by the way Mr. Lusk had the brass

(02:29:33.60)  Agenda Item #15  Adjourn

(02:29:41.07)  Motion was made by Councilman Kyle VandenHull with the second coming from Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples and with no discussion Vote was unanimous X4.  Adjourned at 9:33 P.M.

Folks you have options to the resolutions, ordinance and other attempts to raise our taxes.  Write up an initiative, get signatures and put it to a city wide vote.  You do have the ability to reverse these addle pated edicts from Mayor Haeder and his hand-maiden FOPat.

Contact City Council

Mayor Dan Haeder                            605-934-2287     

Councilwoman Darla Reppe             605-934-2602

Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples           605-934-2096

Councilman Lukas Driesen               605-934-

Councilman Kyle VandenHull          605-934-

Patricia Jurrens                                  605-934-2517

09/05/2022 A Voice From the Gallery

(0:11:13.97)  Gordon Richard  Mr. Richard questioned the lack of financial condition information on the Alcester Community Center, the Grill and the Event Center.  So where is it FOPAT?

FOPAT answered the latter of Mr. Richard’s questions as it related to the HWY 11 trash collection property first and once she had swept up that matter she stopped apparently with no intent to comment on Mr. Richard’s first question regard the Community Center and its operations until Mayor Haeder forced the question (0:13.07)   08/19/2022 Council meeting

(0:13.22)  Alcester City Council Meeting   FOPAT stated, “…I usually do those at the first council meeting of the month…”

I have further questions:

It appears the operations of the Albatross are inter-mixed with the operations of Alcester City.  WHY?  The operations of the Community Center (Albatross) should be treated as a stand-alone entity and as such all operations including financing income, all expenses and work product income should be reported as an independent entity showing profit and loss without any hide-the-pea-under-a-shell accounting maneuvering by the finance officer.

Why did FOPAT avoid the question?  Surely at any point in the month she should have an “intimate” knowledge of the profit/loss, right?

Why did FOPAT avoid Mr. Richard’s question?  H-m-m?



ATTEND THE MEETING TONIGHT!

Let your City Council Know How YOU Feel in person!

Contact City Council

Mayor Dan Haeder                            605-934-2287     

Councilwoman Darla Reppe             605-934-2602

Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples           605-934-2096

Councilman Lukas Driesen               605-934-

Councilman Kyle VandenHull          605-934-

Patricia Jurrens                                  605-934-2517