Tag: David Larsen Alcester SD

02/05/2020 A Voice From the Gallery

Two things right off the bat.

First I must apologise for the lack of video, you cannot know how much I regret not checking for the danged memory card!!!

Second an update that the council agenda missed in the Finance Office Reminders and Updates. Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens Trial is still on for tomorrow February 6, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.

At the February 3, 2020, regular meeting of the Alcester City Council was called to order by Mayor Tom Glas at 6:00 p.m. with Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilman David Larsen, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, Councilwoman Linda Talbott and Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson present. Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson was absent.

The Council and gallery stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda Item #3-Approve Agenda was called and approve unanimously.

Agenda Item #4-Approve the Minutes of January 6, 2020, and January 27, 2020, was called and again unanimously approved.

Agenda Item #5-Alcester EMS Update delivered by EMS President Jon Serck was called. In Mr. Serck’s presentation he gave an update the ambulance was down to three (3) EMT’s with one in the wings to be certified. Mr. Serck described to the council and gallery the need for EMT’s. He also announced that our Ambulance would be transporting only emergency calls, those emergency calls would be mandatorily delivered to the Hawarden Hospital until otherwise announced.

Agenda Item #6-Alcester Fire Department-Pat Kast Fire Chief requesting special alcohol permit and the change in date to Saturday, March 21, 2020, running from 3:00 p.m. to12:00 a.m. in the Alcester Fire Department. Fire Chief Kast’s request was approved unanimously.

Agenda Item #7-Public Input- I, Vickie Larsen addressed the council with comments regarding Alcester City Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens verbal attack on a person at their place of business regarding a circulation of petition, what was in the petition, what did it involve, who was circulating the petition and where was the petition. Folks this is at least a second report of Alcester City Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens verbally accosting people with regard to circulation of petitions. This is an illegal act due to the fact the Alcester City Finance Officer is the election official of the municipality of Alcester. It is my understanding the first time was FO Pat heard gossip there was a petition being circulated, she wanted to know who, what, where and expressed her desire to, “…tear it up…” It is my understanding the council became aware of the most recent violation of election issue. Which I imagine was dealt with or not dealt with in Executive Session.

Agenda Item #8-Legal Updates-Sam Nelson, Alcester City Attorney-

a)   ACA Nelson presented the City Council with copies of 2020 House Bill 1116 (revisions regarding the use of perpetual care trust funds to maintain cemeteries), 2020 House Bill 1120 (allowing second or third class municipalities to act as Planning and Zoning commissions), 2020 Senate Bill 61(revision of certain provisions regarding a municipal office nominating petitions) and 2020 Senate Bill 135 (bid limits of certain public improvements). I would like to thank ACA Nelson for giving me copies of those bills.

b)  Alcester Community Building-sealed Bid, Bid Opening March 2, 2020, at 6:30 p.m.

c) 2020 Chip Sealing and FDR Bid- Motion to approve advertising 2020 Chip Seal Bid and FDR (Full Depth and Reclamation) set for March 2, 2020 at 6:45 p.m. O-o-o-p-s FDR is no longer an option cause it seems Ol’- FDR with the snow, rain and subsequent wetness now resides in the storm sewer and in our street department’s considered opinion isn’t such a good idea after all. SO NOW WHAT? ACA Frieberg is working on the bid documents, work to be under $30K H-m-m if I remember accurately our annual (not for long) little ol’ street maintenance TAX garners somewhere around $37K per year. H-m-m.

Agenda Item #9– Ordinance Changes-

a) Second Reading of Ordinance 2020-01 – 1.0202 An Ordinance Amending the Existing Municipal Ordinances of the City of Alcester, South Dakota, Title 1, Chapter 1.02, Section 1.0202 Regular Meetings. Moving the regular meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  IT seems the meetings are running past Mayor Glas’ bedtime. Oh by the way the Mayor was encouraged to read the Ordinance aloud, Yeah. If it would not have been cruel and unusual punishment on the gallery, I would have called for Mayor Glas to repeat the ordinance so the gallery could hear and understand the dyslexic pontification in the style of Comedian Norm Crosby Mayor Glas put out. No amount of better acoustics is going to cure that.

b) Second reading of Ordinance 2020-02 – 5.02 An Ordinance Amending the Existing Municipal Ordinance of the City of Alcester, South Dakota, Title 5, Chapter 5.02, Sections 5.0211, 5.0212, 5.0212A and 5.0213 Fluffy and Fido. Licensing Pussy Cats as well as Puppy Dogs. IT seem the ratio between pussie cats and Rats has dipped and Fluffy has worn out her welcome within the city. So the City is mandating a license to bell the cats so-to-speak.

Now folks let’s taking a look at this and apply a human element into this war on pussy cat Fluffy. IF Pussy Cat Fluffy lives within the city limits of Alcester she must be collared, belled, spayed and licensed. So begs the question, IF Pussy Cat Fluffy declares her residence OUTSIDE the city limits does she need to be collared, belled, spayed and licensed. She gets her mail via RFD but she does spend her days within the city limits earning her living.

So now the human element, City Council person is elected/appointed to Ward II, he must live, get his mail and sleep in Ward II, Right? But what if City Councilperson buys a house in Ward III and intends to live in said Ward III house, according to statute HE/SHE must resign from city Council because HE/SHE no longer lives in Ward II. SO what happens if he only sleeps in Ward II and does everything else in Ward III. H-m-m it is no wonder the City Council wants advice from BAMBEE HR of California!

Agenda Item #10-Nuisance Property Discussion

a) 210 Ofstad Update

307 Broad Street

Speaking of nuisances, What about the place on East Iowa across from Mayor Magoo where the owner parks the backend of her car across the sidewalk?

Speaking of nuisances-I suggest we Fire Geoff Fillingsness, follow the lead of Beresford and get rid of excess city baggage.

b) Water flowing off the City Owned Building (Bar) flowing through the city      owned alley and onto adjoining property adversely affected Arlene’s Cafe. The city owns the bar, run-off from the building and alley is adversely affecting the adjoining property owner. The fix is the financial responsibility of the city.

Agenda Item #12 Street Updates-Lonnie Johnson

The street department mentioned the Full Depth Reclamation issue and the Street Committee of Councilman Lance Johnson, Councilwoman Linda Talbott and Councilman Dan Haeder (hopefully I got the names recorded correctly) were going to contact Engineer Kim McLaury to get his opinion. When asked what McLaury’s qualifications were with regard to streets, I believe it was FO Pat who answered, “…well he owns his own company…” Yeah just a refresher course on Mr. McLaury’s expertise in engineering and I do not mean Thomas the Train Engine. Mr. McLaury’s engineering expertise the Alcester SRTS inflicted upon the city of Alcester where he designed an ADA Bridge traversing the horseshoe pit and alley through the park. Where the contractor had to go back in a raise the topography into the air almost at the same height as the swimming pool diving board because Mr. McLaury just could not seem to grasp the incline/slope into ADA regulations. I believe the cost overrun on that jewel of engineering was something like $20K which the city elected to kick over and pay. Got to wonder how much the fix for FDR is going to cost the city taxpayers. I swear it would be cheaper to add FDR to Mount Rushmore than cover FDR on our streets.

Agenda Item #14 Property Purchase 01.01.13.1040 Quam & Berglin Rentals $15,000 to come out of the second penny sales tax. There we go again, Mayor Glas and FO Pat working on Pay-Day Loans. It is to be noted here than Mr. Wegh does not mind an add-on garage to the building next to his establishment. Well evidently the Mayor Glas, FO Pat and Councilman Lance Johnson asked if Mr. Wegh would be bothered by a garage.  A courtesy they did not extend to the folks on Anderson Street.  Purchase was unanimously approved.

Agenda Item #17-Pleasant Hill Cemetery Update.-Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens

a) changing the signatories on the bank accounts which includes signers Mayor Glas, Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens, ASS’T Finance Officer Wanda Halverson, and Councilman Dan Haeder. Folks one work of caution on this acquisition, perpetual care carries a great deal of future debt. When the spaces are depleted, the money for care stops and becomes an obligation of all taxpayers.

Agenda Item #18 -Finance Office Updates-FO Pat

a) Warrants – Bills for condensing unit for the Bar-general fund

Bill for a Reznor Tube Heater city shop-general fund

Warrants approved unanimously

b) Tax Abatement-County gave us a refund and P-f-f-t it is gone.

c) City Utility Positions-Add a new FT job at $13.00/hour, city to hold interviews for candidates.

d) HR Services- Folks the city wants to contract out to Bambee HR, Los Angeles, CA to tell them how to deal with the city employees. Note here that not one (that I am aware) of the council members is a business owner who employees more than five employees. WOW Price Tag $500 up front audit of employees related expenses, re-write the personnel manual, $200/ month billing whether Bambee is used or not.   The reason, oh folks you are going to love this (and I wish I had this on video) the council is tired to paying out $125.00 per hour for advice from City Attorney Sam on their HR questions. Oh man you should have seen Sam’s face. DEJA VUE! Sam I hate to tell you, but you are not the first attorney Mayor Glas and FO Pat have done this to.  Folks you need to check out the Terms of Service of Bambee (https://www.bambee.com/legal/tos ) Evidently the council has not because they would not have been talking in the terms they discussed in front of the gallery. If the council carries though with the logic they discussed, they are going to be sued. I know Mayor Glas did not read them because I did not see a Dick and Jane Version of the Terms of Service on Bambee’s website.

Folks we are members of the South Dakota Municipal League, both Sam Nelson and Thomas Frieberg are lobbyists for the SDML, Alcester pays a membership fee which covers certain entitlements of membership so why in the world are they asking a California psychic HR for advice on South Dakota municipal employees. Granted both the state and the federal dictate rules and regulations over employees but still BAMBEE? Are ya kidding?

Agenda Item #18 (f) -Reminders and Updates.

Agenda Item #20 Community Center Update February 11, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. at the city auditorium. Evidently it is a come and go and of course scheduled off hours for anyone who works for a living. Nice timing, right. Let Mayor Glas know. Geez Louise, why 4:00 p.m.? Does it interfere with Mayor Glas’ early evening Nap?

Agenda Item #21-Update of Volunteer Roster

Names removed from EMS: Don Brose, Mike Burke, Nancee Cowell, Brandi Smith, Paula Wiberg. Names removed from FD Jesse Duncan and Ryan Micke

Agenda Item #22-Executive Session Personnel

Entered into Executive session at 8:06 p.m. with the Mayor Glas, City Council members, Larsen, Reppe, Haeder, Kay and Talbott, and Finance Office personnel Patricia Jurrens and ASS’T Finance Office personnel Wanda Halverson, Exited from Executive session at 8:23p.m.  Do you s’pose they discussed Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens illegal attack on a citizen over petitions?

Agenda Item #23-Adjourn

Council Adjourned at 8:24 p.m. early enough for Mayor Magoo to rush home and make his beddie-by time.

 

PS: “How to circulate a county or municipal Initiative or Referendum Petition” Steve Barnett-SD Secretary of State

elections@state.sd.us   

 www.sdsos.gov

 

02/01/2020 A Voice From the Gallery

Agenda 02/03/2020

 

COMING UP:

January 6, 2020,AGENDA ITEM #18 (e)-Motion to Approve CDBG Loan to City $32,640.66 (police car). 0% Interest, 4 year Payback per schedule. No action taken on CDBG Loan to City as Sam Nelson needs more information.

January 27, 2020,Special Meeting Agenda carried no provision for City Attorney Sam Nelson’s report on the $32, 640.66 proposed CDBG Loan to pay for the Police Car. H-m-m?

February 3, 2020, Agenda Item #8-Legal Updates-Sam Nelson-NO CBDG?

*Generally I do not like to use Wikipedia as a source because it can be edited by anyone. I will in this case include a quote from Wikipedia as it relates to Allocation of Funds,

“…communities must meet certain requirements…First, ‘not less than 70 percent of CDBG funds must be used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons.’ Secondly, funds MUST be spend on eligible activities, which are broadly defined as including ‘community development activities directed toward neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and improved community facilities and services.’…Such activities may include ‘Acquisition of real property, Relocation and demolitions, Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures, Construction of public facilities and improvements’ and more…Third governments must follow a plan of project selection that includes citizen participation, especially by citizens who live in ‘areas’ in which the grantee proposes to use CBDG funds” *(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Development_Block_Grant.)

State Allocations and Contacts State CDBG allocations by state are listed at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/budget/. The best contact people are the HUD Field Office Directors, whose contact information can be found at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/staff/fodirectors/.

 

CONCLUSION:

NO CBDG FUNDING OF EQUIPMENT DESCRIBED AS POLICE CRUISER AND PER THE ALCESTER ORDINANCE FOR SECOND PENNY SALES TAX–ASSETS ONLY– NOT POLICE CRUISERS THOSE MUST COME OUT OF GENERAL FUNDS. NO PAY DAY LOANS ALLOWED FO PAT!  Wow, I did not realise Beacom had a program in PayDay Loans!

February 3, 2020, Agenda Item #14-PROPERTY PURCHASE 01.01.13.1040 QUAM & BERGLAND RENTALS, $15,000, 2ND PENNY-Class NADC and NADC2 valuation 2019 $16,260 Purchase price to be taken from 2nd penny sales tax. It is to be noted here, upon city purchase the property ceases to accrue tax dollars benefiting the residents of Alcester.

February 3, 2020, Agenda Item #15(b)-Golf Cart trade-in/purchase to come out of 2nd penny sales tax. Questionable 2nd penny assignment per ordinance restriction language.

February 3, 2020, Agenda Item #15 (c)-Golf Top Dressing Mower Purchase to come out of 2nd penny sales tax. Questionable 2nd penny assignment per ordinance restriction language.

February 3, 2020, Agenda Item #18 (e)-Motion to approve Loan to City, from Revolving Loan Fund (?), $32, 640.66, 0% interest, 4 year payback per schedule.

SO FOR US NOT-SO-ASTUTE RESIDENTS, ‘Lay Persons’ and ‘snoopy, busy-body neighbors’…Tell us what is the difference between the CBDG and a Revolving Loan Fund.  Just a name change?  Semantics Sam?  ACA Sam, is your judgment of a ‘well constructed letter for a lay person’ based upon Class ‘A’ legal advice, English degree, South Dakota Municipal League Lobbyist, seat in the SD Bar or participant/advisor to the city council in canvass of the 2019 mayoral votes meeting where Alcester City Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens handed over the keys to the ballot box and the council was allowed to handle the election ballots?”  Sam just because an argument does not ‘jump-out’ at you like a 400 lb. gorilla, it does not mean a small soft warning growl in the dark of a room does not mean there are no paws, no claws and no jaws waiting, on the ready to defend to the end! The FAT LADY is STILL not singing, do-re-mi-oorah!

 

Please readers, attend this meeting.

It is important.

Public Input is AGENDA ITEM #7, TELL THE COUNCIL WHAT YOU THINK. IT IS YOUR RIGHT, YOUR VOTE, YOUR TAXES!

 

01/27/2020 A Voice From the Gallery

The January 27, 2020, special meeting of the Alcester City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Glas, Councilman David Larsen, Councilman Dan Haeder*, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, Councilwoman Linda Talbott and Councilman Lance Johnson present. Absent was Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson.

The council along with the gallery recited the Pledge of Allegiance and with that the meeting began.

First order of business after the call-to-order and the pledge was approval of the agenda. Mayor Glas called for a motion to approve the agenda (03:48:80). Glas mentioned an ‘error’ and the two fives would become 5A and 5B, so Councilman Johnson moved to accept the agenda without adding the change in the agenda, a second came from Councilman David Larsen with no correction to the agenda, and with no discussion the council voted unanimously to accept the agenda.

Agenda Item #4 – Public Input. I responded I had public input and with my announcement, Mayor Glas commented(04:27.80), “…Let’s try to hold it down to a couple minutes…” to which I responded…”…well it will take what it takes…”(04:31:87),” and I proceeded with my comments. There was no other public input.

Agenda Item #5 – (A) Approve Architect Agreement, CO-OP Architecture (AIA B101). FO Pat did an introductory quasi summary, most of which related to the 500+ pages of just one of the agreements. FO Pat noted there was a tele-conference between CO-OP Architecture, Tom Freiberg, Sam Nelson, Mayor Glas and FO-Pat to discuss the contract.

Agenda Item #5– (B) Community Center Plans and Specifications. This item was re-listed by Mayor Glas as Agenda Item 5B but it was not approved as such, there was no motion on Agenda Item 5B, there was no second on Agenda Item 5B, there was no discussion on Agenda Item 5B and no separate vote on Agenda Item 5B. So as I see it, Community Center Plans and Specifications renamed by Mayor Glas as Agenda Item 5B and approved as such by the council in their approval of agenda was not dealt with at all.

Agenda Item #6 – Community Center Advertising. Councilwoman Melissa Kay moved to approve this agenda item, Councilman Lance Johnson seconded the motions and under discussion Councilman David Larsen made some observations and remarks. (20:31:60)

During this discussion Councilman David Larsen wanted to make it clear that he was in favor of the project but with strong strings attached. In these remarks Councilman Larsen insisted that the finance office and the council chamber existence were non-negotiable in his opinion.  No mention of the police department.  So what are they to do, run around like a taco truck type mobile office to maintain law and order?   Councilman Larsen states that,

“the finance office needs a better place…the office is cramped…small and should be across from the council chamber because of all the hauling of stuff the finance office staff has to do for council meeting… and in the five months of summer operation the city could save $120 per week by having the finance office accept those few (2-4) greens fees that may come in the morning hours (8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.) …”

In addition the city council chamber needs to be more sound proof… we have 3 million votes for the community building and while a vote of citizens is okay it would be a waste of time and money… astute citizens…”

Argument

  • the finance office needs a better place, the finance office is cramped, the finance office is small.  Vickie’s Answer:  Find a building downtown that has more space. Present finance office is around 180 square feet give or take. Clean out the superfluous junk out of the finance office. Take one desk out of the finance office.
  • the finance office should be across from the council chamber.  Vickie’s Answer:  The Finance office does not have to be across from the council chamber, if all that heavy lifting of a bunch of stuff for council meetings, get the finance officer a grocery cart.
  • if the finance office received the green fees, the city could save $120 per week by the finance office accept 2 to 4 greens fees.  Vickie’s Answer:  Dump the second Finance officer in favor of a golf course employee who can take greens fees, read meters, do mailings and pick up the mail. You will save more like $15,000 per year.
  • the council chamber needs to be more sound proof.  Vickie’s Answer:  Yeah, it does! According to the technical article of February 1, 2016, titled, “6 City Council Chambers Design Mistake to Avoid… council chambers revolve around communication…Audio, Video and Technology should be considered early during the design process…Failure to consider these items now will result in problems down the road…Acoustics…Just like any other gathering place or presentation space, speech intelligibility is critical in a City Council Chamber…contemplate camera angles…(Base 4 Tech, LLC dba Vibe Design Group) (vibedesigngroup.net/6-city-council-chambers-design-mistakes-to-avoid/).”  So tell me where is the gallery supposed to sit in the COOP Chamber room? Going by the supposition the existing finance office/council chambers (measures approximately 325 sq.ft. for council chamber and 200 sq.ft finance office for total of 525 sq. ft.) and the projected COOP finance office/council chamber (appears as 883 sq.ft. which if divided equally between the two rooms will allot the finance office 441.5 sq.ft and the council chamber 441.5 sq. ft.)  

In Councilman David Larsen’s remarks he says, (20:56:45), ” we have 3 million votes for the community center…a vote of the citizens is okay but an astute citizen…would be a waste of time and money…”

Stepping back to a question posed by Councilwoman Melissa Kay about what happens if we do not raise the shortfall money for the community project, can we get a loan. Finance Officer Pat Jurrens answered no because we (the city) already have a loan for $500,000 for the community center project. Listen to the video. In addition and so the citizens are aware, it is my understanding there are strings to those 3 million votes to the effect if the matching moneys are not coughed up the deal is dead. So that is imaginary votes or money?

Now going back to that part of the statement “…we have 3 million votes…”.  Please tell me that you do not mean 3 million dollars translate into 3 million votes and they hold more weight than our 830 some votes as a tax-paying citizens. Evidently I am not one of those “astute citizens”.  I in my world 3 million dollar/votes, do not dictate how to spend our tax dollars nor burden our children with a debt the city cannot pay but in my world a  finance officer we cannot trust according to indictments would be summarily dismissed.

Motion on Agenda Item #6 was made by City Councilman David Larsen, seconded by Councilwoman Darla Reppe, no further discussion with a unanimous vote of aye.

Agenda Item #7- Approve Architect Agreement COOP Architecture-Councilwoman Melissa Kay made the motion to approve the agreement with the second coming from Councilwoman Linda Talbott, no discussion and a unanimous vote of aye.

Agenda Item #8– Executive session-was not needed. Amazing!

Agenda Item #9 – Adjourn-Councilman David Larsen moved to adjourn, second came from Councilman Lance Johnson, no discussion and a unanimous vote of aye the January 27, 2020, meeting was adjourned at 6:24 p.m.

* Alcester City Councilman Dan Haeder purchased a home on the east side of Park Street which places him in Ward III. According to statute he cannot represent Ward II IF his place of residence has changed, that he would have to resign his seat. I asked him about this back in late December and he said that he had discussed it with the council. I am left to wonder about the delay in residency.

09/05/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

Oyez, Oyez and O Yeah.

 

What happens when a citizen inquires about a building permit? This!

 

 

As I explained in my 09/3/2019 A Voice From the Gallery Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson failed to display a building permit for his property located at 518 Anderson Street. As I stated I was there in person yesterday, standing in the middle of the street, I could not see the city building permit. I asked the two workman from Pies Construction standing next to the Pies enclosed trailer in front of 517 Anderson Street, “where is the building permit?”  The Pies employee told me, “I am just an employee, you will have to ask that guy,” indicating a man standing in the work area on the 518 Anderson Street site. The Pies worker standing in the middle of the site called to me and asked what I needed. I replied from the middle of the street that I was looking for the building permit. The onsite employee/worker said, “it is probably in the mayor’s pocket.  I asked, “Mayor?” still maintaining my position from the street. The Pies employee/worker said, “Yeah, the one who lives over there indicating 517 Anderson Street.” I said, “he is not the mayor, he is just a councilman.” To which the Pies employee/worker replied, “Well, you will have to talk to him.” I walked back to my car parked at the curb in front of 516 Anderson Street, climbed into my car and left.

I went down first street to the intersection of SD Highway 11 and First and witnessed Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson in his John Deere Green pick up pull out of the gas island at Total Stop, talking on his cell phone. Intuition kicked in and yup after a trip to my shop, I went back downtown and there I saw that little ol’ John Deere green pickup truck parked in front of the city offices.

I went into the city office atrium where I heard Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson’s voice yapping about trespass in the Police Office. Intuition wins again, hands down. I actively eves-dropped to Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson temper tantrum. The Finance Office door was closed, it was Tuesday afternoon. I could almost see the joint wall between the finance office and the police office breathing in and out.

Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson turned around and caught sight of me standing in the atrium and took off out the door like a scalded duck. I repeated the above events to both officers and left.

Now what I find rich, is here sitting Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson who pulled down election posters of Michael Bucholz from the Total Stop wall, who pulled up campaign signs belonging to Michael Bucholz and who destroyed said property has the unmitigated gall to cause me to be served with the document above.

This is the type of individual who is occupying a seat on the Alcester City Council?

07/01/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds.

John Perry Barlow

And so it begins!

Mayor Tom Glas called the July 1, 2019, regular meeting of the Alcester City Council to order or at least that was I assume his intent with Alcester City Councilman David Larsen, Alcester City Councilwoman Melissa Kay, Alcester City Councilwoman Linda Talbott, and Alcester City Councilwoman Darla Reppe in attendance with Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson sitting in his chair. Also seated at the Table was Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson.

The Council, Cling-ons Pat and Wanda, and the gallery stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The council began their duties by approving the agenda as written by Pat and since the meeting actually took place, FO Pat must have managed to post it properly. The council went on to approve the minutes of the June 3, 2019, and the June 19/20, 2019 meeting as penned by FO Pat. Next on the approved agenda was item #5 May 2019 warrants, wait a minute? May 2019 warrants? FO Slip-shod forgot the May 2019 warrants? How was the absence of a routine, imperative agenda item missed in the May agenda? Evidently paying bills was not a high priority on FO Pat’s ‘list’ in May.

Public Input was called and of course I responded. Really, I think they should just give me my own agenda line item. Chuckle, Chuckle Prior to the meeting I placed copies of my second request to be emailed an agenda for all city meetings. The original requested was made August 7, 2017 and was ignored, not even a peep from FO Pat. A-mazing! I am entitled as a resident, as a reporting entity and I provided a copy of Conducting the Public’s Business in Public, A guide to South Dakota’s Open Meetings Law (revised Fall of 2015) where I highlighted pertinent passages the council had been ignoring. One of the highlighted areas was the opinion of the SD Attorney General who opined, “that ‘local news media’ is all news media-broadcast and print that regularly carry news to the community.” The third document I provided to the council was a citation of SDCL 1-25-11,

” Recording of open public meeting to be permitted. No state, political subdivision, or public body may prevent a person from recording, through audio or video technology, a public meeting that is open to the public as long as the recording is reasonable, obvious, and not disruptive.(Source: SL 2016, ch 11, §1.)  

Councilman David Larsen asked me if the Open Meeting citation I used included the changes which went into effect on July 1, 2019. I told him no, it did not. Readers rest assured I will read the changes and report how they may affect the residents of Alcester.

Legal Updates from Alcester City Attorney Sam included the Cemetery Update. I am not sure it was the wisest thing for the city to take on a perpetual care money pit. Perpetual care was deemed to be a good thing once upon a time, but it doesn’t ever seem to take into account perpetual care can mean not just mowing and trimming but roads, maintenance of markers, plot assignments, and etc.

And then there was the attack on the feral cat. Now folks I like cats, I am allergic but I like cats and I hate the idea of trapping them in cages and hauling them off to be euthanized. I spoke to the humane society today because it was my understanding they would not take feral cats, I was given the information they will attempt to re-home some feral cats which are healthy they will not take on feral cats suffering from feline leukemia or bat-bite rabies. These cats will be euthanized. In addition the bat-bite, rabied cats are dangerous to trap ’cause rabies is not always apparent and we do not pay our police enough money to take that chance. FO Pat maybe but not our police force.

So the council decided to use the animal-at-large ordinance for the time-being. So take heed Councilmember who has the cutest little cats, hauls them out to the acreage 6 miles out of town, those little cuties will come back into town and as an Alcester taxpayer you will have the privilege to pay to have then spayed and/or euthanized!

Next up agenda item Community Clean Up. The Finance Office Nazi’s are at it again! Demand letters are in the mail.

Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking Assistant Finance Secretary/Meter Reader Wanda to read your water meter through your windows.

Vickie A. Larsen shamelessly inspired by John Perry Barlow

One resident has pushed back on FO Pat Jurrens, Code Officer Geoff’s demand to breach the sanctity of their home for inspection. Really? The PC and folks this stands for probable cause not politically correct! Frau FO Pat Jurrens and Freikorper Geoff Fillingsness using FO Pat’s Bible of Bilious Bullying, the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code.

The 2012 International Property Code book includes chapters on Scope and application, Administration-Powers of Code Official, Definitions, General Requirements, Light-Ventilation and occupancy limits, Plumbing facilities & fixtures, Mechanicals & Electrical, Fire Safety, Reference Std and Boarding Std.

(http://www.hs-sd.org/assets/docs/uploads/Planning-administrator/icc.ipmc.2012.pdf)

          Folks anyone armed with this listing of tactics, a camera, and allowed within a house-hold can produce enough probable cause for a magistrate to use against Mr. Clean’s household. Do not take my word, look the code up and then ask yourself, “how well would my home do” held to the exaggeration of any one of these standards? Stop Mayor Glas and FO Pat’s Bullying!

The council voted to allow $12K for a Sioux Falls company to ‘come-in and force-ably clean house. Hey will that work on the Finance Office? Can we start a go-fund-me to clean up our Finance Office? Oh I know, we’ll take out a CDBG loan to clean up our finance office.

Going on to the Curb and Gutter discussion, Ya know the one 518 Anderson Street Randy Roo’s where Mayor Glas and FO Pat maintained approval was given, professionally chopped the Curb and council approval. Both Mayor Glas and FO Pat LIED and Denied FOIA answers. In fact FO Pat gave permission which she was not authorized to give (01:12:59) per Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson. ACA Nelson says there should be a building permit, so Mayor Glas declared since there were no materials purchased no building permit fee was due! REALLY? So what about the demolition fee? Randy Ray Roo definitely demolished the curb, a city asset. Can the rest of us do that? Evidently yes, ’cause ol’ Councilman Lance Johnson has his non-materials picked-out so he doesn’t have to back his 5th wheel camper across Randy Roo’s lot to get to the street. Let Mayor Magoo know what you think of that, 605-934-2188 The professional who butchered the curb was in fact Randy Ray Heuer. Gee I thought he was a farmer. Professional what? Rooster? Or the ‘other’ kind of professional? Oh and let’s not forget Mayor Glas’ declaration that, “…the cutting out was done professionally and does not affect the flow of water…” Are ya kidding? So just how does water flow Mayor Magoo? Downhill or from a rain-laden cloud to the earth via gravity?

Agenda Item# 10 Downtown Sidewalk -width-not-width ADA? Heck if we know!

Agenda Item #12 Circle Drive Estimated at $6300 but that is too much. So we can cobbled it (no pun intended) by applying 64 ton of rocks ($2500 with $4 per ton trucking) Motion and vote went like this, we spend up to $3K and with five ayes passed.

Agenda Item #16-Pat actually made it to this conference, she larned all about public input-we’ll see.

Approve June Warrants- Evidently we are going to follow the agenda.

Confused discussion on time sheets, paychecks, paystubs, detailed comp time and pay rates. Pat explained this to council members who are supposed to be over-sight to Pat’s book-keeping. Good Luck on that one.

Meeting adjourned at 8:42 pm.

01/07/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

Mayor Tom Glas called the January 7, 2019, regular Alcester City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the following council members present; Councilman David Larsen, Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Linda Talbott, Councilman Lance Johnson and Councilwoman Melissa Kay and Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson.

The mayor called for Agenda Approval.  Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson moved to approve the agenda with no changes, Alcester City Councilman Melissa Kay seconded the motion and with no further discussion the group voted unanimously to approve the January 7, 2019, agenda with no corrections or additions.

The mayor then asked for council approval of the minutes from December 3rd, regular Alcester City Council Meeting and December 10th special Alcester City Council meetings.  Councilman David Larsen moved to approve the minutes of both meetings without any additions or corrections with a second to the motion from Councilwoman Darla Reppe, council voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Input-I had and I did.  First up was my commentary on ‘professionalism’ in the finance office and FO Pat’s ‘cost cutting’.  Prior to the January 7, 2019, meeting I distributed photocopies of a September 20, 2018, three page letter authored by Finance Office Jurrens sent to the Office of the South Dakota Hearing examiners defending herself against my complaint she violated open records to the table placements of the Alcester City Council. What was interesting is according to FO Jurrens, “…Ms. Larsen questions my (FO Pat) qualifications to competently do the job as City Finance Officer.  I am a graduate of the University of South Dakota, Beacon School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy…I am knowledgeable of Government Accounting, Financial States and operation QuickBooks…”  Folks this is a letter to the Office of South Dakota Hearing Examiners by a representative of Alcester City.  I pointed out to the council the use of letter head for all three pages.

patties professional letter 09-20-2018

Folks please note, there are no page numbers to distinguish the page order, the lack of title for Chief Hearing Examiner Duenwald and the familiar use of comma in a formal business letter plus numerous grammatical errors most high school students learn to avoid when they are crafting a term paper.  Folks if I used a red pencil to mark the errors I would have run out of red graphite.  In addition even if I did not have a BA degree from Northern I learned as a sophomore in my high school Secretarial Science Course, one only uses letter head for the first page, uses page numbers and uses footers in a formal letter.

I researched the USD Beacon School of Business, I couldn’t find it.  Then I noticed there was a BEACOM School of Business, not Beacon.  Really such an exemplary honors student does not know her alma mater Beacom from Beacon?  Evidently one can see the ‘light’ and one is left in the grammatical dark.

On to page 2 of the September 20, 2018, letter to the South Dakota Office of Hearing Examiners where FO Pat says, “…Regarding Ms. Larsen comment about using my work email address researching something on Pinterest-the research was completed on my off-work time but for fund raising projects for the City.  The City of Alcester had a financial shortfall for a special project and research was conducted for ideas to re-use pallets and other fund raising ideas…”    FO Pat writes the research was completed, so when was it started?   Fund Raising?  Really Fund Raising?  FO Pat the good citizens of Alcester DID NOT hire you to organize bake sales, given lessons in Pinterest pallet art con termites nor your rampant Conflict of Interest position as Chamber of Commerce President!  You, yourself crow you are proficient in Government Accounting, Financial Statements and operating QuickBooks  Accounting Software.  How is it the City of Alcester even developed a financial shortfall for a special project under YOUR professed proficient Accounting and Financial prowess?  Who ‘creates’ the budget out of the erratic mumblings of Mayor Concrete Google Master?  Granted the council gives their okie dokie but their okie dokie is predicated on your so-called ‘expertise’.  But I have to hand it to ya Madame FO, you seem to be adapting yourself to taxing Peter to fund Pat!

Going on to my FOIA request for an accounting for work hours, on call hours, over-time hours of two members of the police force.  FO Pat further states in her September 20, 2018, letter to the South Dakota Office of Hearing Examiners that, “ … each letter (my FOIA) asks for a full and complete copy of…total hours worked…active…on-call…salary…total over-time earnings…date of payment…” going on to explain to the Office of Hearing Examiners that, “…Ms. Larsen, due to her interaction with the Police Department is aware of names…I personally witnessed her interaction with each member of our Police Department and called them by name…Another reason a physical examination of the weekly timecard is necessary…This is not information that can be run in a report from the TimeClock Software…”  REALLY? 

WINDOW PEEPER DOG LICENSE

She witnessed my interaction with each member of the Police Department, HOW does FO Pat get anything done if she has our police department under surveillance to see when I talk to them. These particular employees ‘punched’ in for work on their cell phones.  No time cards!  The software should have the ability to create a report of hours, type of hours and rates of pay, and etc.  In addition QuickBooks the accounting program used by the City of Alcester, is the same QB program I use it in my business.  I am able to create wage reports in QuickBooks and I didn’t work for a ‘software’ company hawking QuickBooks.

In addition to the FO Pat’s answer to OHE File Number PRR 18-03 Larsen vs. City of Alcester, I provided a list of questions I verbally posed to the City Council.  I have started following this procedure so I don’t forget my questions, the council can read my questions and I can get answers instead of the usual mayoral shrug-off.

ALCESTER CITY COUNCIL QUESTIONS

WHERE IS THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE MONEY NOT USED FOR CHIP SEAL? (2018)

Answer:  special account

HOW MUCH CHIP SEAL WILL THE RESIDENTS GET NEXT YEAR FOR THEIR TWO YEARS WORTH OF FEES?

Answer:  2 shots

WHERE IS THE FLOW DETAIL ON THE DONATION RECEIVED BY THE CITY OF ALCESTER FROM THE CANTON BARN FUNDRAISER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ALCESTER NURSING HOME CRASH?

Answer:  Non-answer

WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF THE CURB VANDALIZATION ON ANDERSON STREET ALONG THE NORTH JOHNSON PROPERTY?

Answer:  Beyond the temper tantrum of Councilman Lance Johnson calling me, lady followed with my short reactive set-down of, “Mr. Johnson, my name is Mrs. Larsen…”  Councilman Lance Johnson said he didn’t own the property.  I had already checked with Beacon-Schneider parcel ID 01.11.10.1035 Lot B, Block 10, Tr 3, Numsen’s Addition, Alcester City (12/20/2013 property was divided into parcel 01.11.10.1035 Lance Johnson Family Trust and parcel 01.11.10.1036 Randy and Pam Heuer).  Councilman Johnson YOU as an Alcester City Councilman and it is your DUTY to notify the city of acts of vandalism!

LANCE JOHNSON

HAS THE REPAIR OF THAT CURB BEEN EFFECTED AND PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO RIPPED OUT THE CURB?  CITATION ISSUE?

Answer:  Undecided

Going on down the agenda:

6. Legal Updates to the Personnel Policy-stalled, Legal Updates to the Police-no action yet.  No action taken.

7. 2019 Legal Retainer-Same as 2018 with Frieberg, Nelson and Ask.  Unanimous Approval.

8. Official Newspaper 2019 Named-introduction of Mr. Gordon Richard, writer/reporter for the Alcester Union-Hudsonite.  Unanimous Approval.

9. Office Bank 2019 Named-Premier Bank  Unanimous Approval.

10. Ordinance changes regarding Cats-No action ’cause the humane folks do not take feral cats just our Fluffy’s.

11. Ordinance change Appointed Officers (2019-01)-Still a ‘work in progress’.  This ordinance change is to all intents a purposes change FO Pat from an appointed position to a hired position.  Evidently she doesn’t want done to her what Rick Johnson did to her predecessor Mike Kezar, where Mayor Johnson declined to ‘appoint 30 year veteran Finance Officer Kezar and where then Councilwoman Jurrens cast her ‘bye-bye’ to remove Mr. Kezar.  Evidently FO Pat recognized Karma when she spotted it comin’ at her at raceway speeds and tryin’ to take evasive actions.  The council also discussed the verbiage used to terminate or fire a city employee.  This ordinance had its first reading (not on the agenda?).

12.  Pleasant Hill Cemetery-perpetual care monetary minimums, cash assets, paperwork and grounds keeping were issues discussed.  Questions but no answers.  No action taken.

13.  Nuisance Property Discussion-Mayor Glas’s hobby horse.  He complains about several mattresses in his backyard view.  Really, chuckle, chuckle.  Mayor Glas change the zoning and charge a sizable entertainment tax on those mattresses and apply the income to our street maintenance so we can repair our streets without taxing Peter to Pay FO Pat!  Say you could even make a video and put it up on the city website?  Oh that is right we do not have a website ’cause it is not a priority for FO Pat, however she is still working on those Pinterest pallets for fund raising.  Well now a pallet has been defined as a mattress, so FO Pat could collect those ‘pallets’ for her fund raising efforts.  Shoot she can display them next to the walls where she is hawking paintings in the Alcester City Council Meeting room and put up her sign—Pat’s Pinterest Palace of Paintings and Pre-Used  Poly Pallets.

There was an open session disgust-tion of the Code Enforcement Officer by Mayor Tom Glas and Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson.

18. (a) Finance Office warrants (bills to be paid)  Unanimous Approval

(b) Resolution for City Fees-Key Fee here is the Finance Office Staff Fee goat rodeo              courtesy of an action initiated by yours truly.  I will discuss this lil’ ‘ol fee in a future          installment.  In addition to the FO staff fee, Golf fees and pool fees were among the            changes.  Unanimous approval.

(c)  2019 Election Vacancies:

          Mayor-5 years, * 50 legal signatures to be safe

          Ward I-3years 15-20 legal signatures to be safe,**

          Ward II-3 years 15-20 legal signature to be safe **

          Ward III-3 years 15-20 legal signatures to be safe **

          Petitions take-out-01/25/2019,

          Petition hand-in-  02/22/2019,

          Voter Registration-03/25/2019,

          Election-04/09/2019

                        * at least 3 times the Ward signature number

                        ** my opinion if more than one candidate

(d) 2019 Salaries:

          Executive session was called-Council went into Executive session at 7:22   p.m.             and was out 7:26 p.m.  Unanimous approval of the 2019 Salaries

(e) HRC- Housing Redevelopment Commission

          Open Terms – 5 year term- held by president

                                    -3 year term- held by vice president

24.  Adjournment

        Unanimous approval  Meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

 

07/11/2018 A Voice From the Gallery

The regular meeting of the Alcester City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Tom Glas with the following council present”  Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilwoman Linda Talbott, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, City Attorney Sam Nelson and at 6:05 p.m. via Skype, Councilman David Larsen.  AWOL Ward III Councilman Lance Johnson who was going to be late.

*Just prior to the start of the council meeting, Finance Officer Jurrens presented an envelope addressed to me.  I slipped it into my bag without opening it.

The agenda was approved with the exception of the Agenda Item #8 Pool Update to be delivered by Pool Employee Sam Jensen to be moved to just after Agenda Item #4-Approval of June 4th and June 11th meeting minutes. 

Agenda Item #8 Pool Update – Sam Jensen delivered the report stating things were going well.  Mr. Jensen was asked the question, if the pool needed to do things differently what would he recommend.  Mr. Jensen stated a new for a new pool vacuum.  Note nothing was asked about the pool rules of Mr. Jensen. I will reiterate, “Folks nothing was introduced on pool slide rules or the imminent danger of injury due to the placement of the slide and rules of use, i.e. pool safety recommendations of  feet first sliding, no head first or backwards sliding , no child under the age of 6 years old without parent in the pool catching, only one child on slide or slide ladder at a time, no toys on the slide and roped off to keep swimmers out of the splash down zone.  I passed out pool slide rules from other sources including a national organization for safety last meeting for the council to read.  Evidently it is not as Finance Officer/Bookkeeper Pat Jurrens puts it, a high priority.  Alcester children it appears are not a high priority.  Imagine your 8 year old or 10 year old suffering a spinal cord injury with the life-long result of tetraplegia or paraplegia because the pool rules were not set or enforced.  Are you willing to bet your child’s future on FO Pat’s ability to distinguish high priority or ignorable priority.  FO Pat’s, Mayor Hal-Glas’d and the city’s pocket are not deep enough to restore what may be lost through sheer ego and terminal stupidity! 

Agenda Item #5 Public Input–  I responded for public input, I distributed spiral bound documents for each council member and distributed them to their usual seats at the council table prior to the meeting.  Contained within the document was Safe Routes to School Issue which contained email transcripts between Mr. Kim McLaury of McLaury Engineering, Mr. Rod Gall of the Mitchell Region Office of the South Dakota Department of Transportation and Mr. Dustin DeBoer special Attorney General of the South Dakota Department of Transportation.  I had asked for change orders issued for the substantial grade change, addition of culverts to discharge water build up on the upstream side of the earthen dam the grade change created.  I addressed the unintended (?) consequences of an earthen dam which created a downstream water/flooding issue, the entrapment of standing water which created a breeding surface for insects, the attractive hazard created by a ramp in which children with bicycles were already Evel Knieviling over the new sidewalk with the added prospect of motorcycles, scooters and snow mobiles doing their own version of Dukes of Hazard maneuvers in the park, additional charges for increase thickness of concrete to allow for car and truck traffic implementation of the sidewalk through the park but the sharp grade increase would cause a regular car or truck to bottom out making it useless.  In addition of grading changes in the construction of this project, the north/south alley on the west edge of the Alcester Park was constructively abandoned without public hearings , proper notification to affected residents and notification of abandonment and proper legal steps.  I advised the council of the liability of the ramp, flooding situation and the loss of backyard access could cause lawsuits against the city and city council, jointly and severally. 

        The second part of the booklet of documents dealt with my Freedom of Information request of the City.  These documents were a collection of FOIA requests and Alcester Finance Officer Pat Jurrens response which simply put was going to cost me $40 per hour for eight (8) hours research time in addition to copying costs.  This maneuver by Mayor Glas and Finance Officer Jurrens has the effect of deliberately closing public records (00:06:13) and creates a violation of Federal and State open records statutes.

        I finished up my public input with notification to the council that someone appeared to have vandalized the curb on Anderson Drive across the street from Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson’s home.  The upper part of the curb had been hacked away from the horizontal plane of the gutter which would allow water to collect and possibly wash away support compactions under the street creating a voids and street collapse.

        Also presenting public input were Terry and Jessica Christiansen, owners of the former depot building.  Due to the creation of the earthen dam related to the Safe Routes to School Sidewalk changes has caused flooding in their home and continues to create flooding with each rain event.  It is the Christiansen’s understanding they will have to foot the bill of the poor engineering of the sidewalk which caused damage to their home.  Please note Mayor Half-Glas’d “I (Mayor Glas) was in construction” comments on a cure for the Christiansens. (00:11:25) 

 Agenda Item #6 – Planning and Zoning  This was the second reading of  the Planning and Zoning Ordinance.

 Agenda Item #7 – Street Updates Items of interest is the maintenance of the gravel on West Clark Street, that portion of street running north of the Fairgrounds parking lot.  The grain hauling trucks are complaining the concrete has broken away and have sharp edges.

         A one-time burn permit was approved on the 6th street property, I believe this is the future site for the community building and city offices (?)  But as we the tax-payers have received very little information on the proposed community building, design, funding and our input-wise we are as usual in the financial dark.

 Agenda Item #10 – Police Department Updates.  Chief Christie brought the council up to speed on new locks, evidence lockers and storage and announced the new hire Kendra was  no longer a part-time officer with the Alcester Police Department, she has accepted the open deputy position with the Union County Sheriff’s office created with the departure of Jeff Christie to take the position of Alcester Police Chief.

        The council went into Executive session to discuss personnel at 7:10 p.m. pondered and pondered and pondered until they declared themselves out of Executive session at 8:33 p.m. just shy of an hour and a half. Sheesh!  Either one is fit to be a police officer or not, and it really shouldn’t have taken one and half hours to make that determination.

        A curious thing though Chief Christie and OfficerSchuller came out after about 20 minutes or so after the start of executive session.  They were followed a couple of minutes later by Finance Office Jurrens, who remained in her office another 15-20 minutes or so until she was called back into the Executive session meeting.  This finance officer exit was unusual, ’cause unless Finance Officer Pat comes out to retrieve documents, she simply does not come out of executive sessions until they declared out of executive session or…?

Agenda Item #11-Golf Course  Councilman David Larsen gave a brief report via Skype.  He announced the golf course had a health inspection and received a 98 out of 100. 

        There was an irrigation control issue and has been repaired. However there was an issue where duplicate control boards were purchased.  One control board was purchased independently from the repair guy at $250 and the repair guy brought a second control board and charged the city for it but took a control board away with him.  To be resolved in the future

 Agenda Item #12 – Finance Office Update 

        Warrants were approved with the payment for the diving board was withheld by Finance Officer Pat due to funding.

        Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Project sign off and payment of $20K was delayed due to the questions on, specifically who is financially responsible for the apparent omissions and errors.

        CDBG Loans-Years ago the city of Alcester received a grant from the state of South Dakota secured by Alcester businessman/ South Dakota legislator Roger McKellips to finance the expansion of Alcester Meats.  Alcester Meats repaid the loan with interest to the City of Alcester which was placed into a special account which the city could extend secondary loans to a primary bank loan by businesses relocating to Alcester or expanding into Alcester, to grow Alcester business district.  These loans were to be repaid with interest to keep the fund alive to encourage new business.  These loans should never have been guaranteed with perishable inventories such as alcohol or disposable commodities.  Finance Officer Pat announced two businesses Alcester Tire and Alcester Steakhouse recipients of outstanding CDBG loans have closed their doors but at this time both extinct businesses are current in their loan payments.

        Parking at Alcester City Park included a discussion on the properties immediately North of the Earthen Dam Sidewalk and their loss of access to the rear boundary of their properties.  In other words, the failure of the city to comply with abandonment procedures set by statute.

        Personnel Policy Manual-Committee members set as Councilman David Larsen and Councilwoman Melissa Kay with additional committee members to be comprised of employees.  What About City residents input on Personnel Manual?

        Consensus for the city to take over the Chamber Website and cause the new website to be the Official Alcester City Website with all the bells and whistles of a genuine city website including, agendas, minutes and city codes on line for residents.

        Just before Agenda Item #10, Executive session was called AGAIN to discuss personnel which does not show up on the agenda.  H-m-m!  The council moved into Executive session at 9:15 p.m. and declared out of Executive session at 9:27 p.m.

        NOTE:  Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson never did show up for the meeting.  The late Ward III Councilman just couldn’t seem to come to the meeting to represent his ward.

Agenda Item #17-Adjournment

        After motions and vote, Mayor Glas declared the regular meeting of the July 10, 2018, Alcester City Council meeting adjourned       

          

 

 

03/20/2018 A Voice From the Gallery

On Monday, March 19, 2018, Mayor Glas waited until Councilman Lance Johnson wandered back into the council room, jumped up and announced the pledge.  Really again?  Alcester City Council members present and quorum; Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilman David Larsen, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, and Councilman Lance Johnson.  Absent Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Julia Sundstrom-Lyle and city attorney representative. Action taken during any meeting that is not properly opened or has not been properly noticed could, if challenged, be declared null and void.  It could even result in personal liability for members of the governing body involved, depending upon the action taken.  It appears Mayor Glas does need cue cards!

Agenda Item #3 was called and with no corrections Councilman David Larsen moved to approve the agenda as presented with the second coming from Councilman Lance Johnson, no discussion and unanimous vote times 4 approved the agenda.

Agenda Item #4 has no appointments for review of valuations within the city limits of Alcester had been received or documented.  It was noted Beresford would be going through a full evaluation in 2019, but it was unknown when Alcester would be going through a city-wide re-assessment.  It was also noted the assessment logs were not in a logical order, making it difficult to locate certain properties.  In addition it was noted  certain properties with tax exempt status or there was a question of tax exempt status.

Agenda Item #5 Public Input.  I asked the council if they were familiar with Beacon-Schneider which could provide property information by rolling over the city map.  In addition, to the questions of tax exempt status can be obtained by review the entity name via the South Dakota Secretary of State website.

Agenda Item #6 Executive session  Again another executive session for personnel.  This is ONLY to discuss SPECIFIC employees, not whether the finance office needs another $10K spending money for yoga ball chairs.  Executive session began at 6:07 p.m. and lasted until 6:27 p.m.  Really 20 minutes to discuss what batteries to use in the Police department tasers?

NOTE:  I must apologise here, a technical glitch (me not properly activating a button, ya’ll would think I would know how to push buttons by now).  Immediately after entering the council room, placing the camera back onto the tripod and hitting the record button, I was engaged in entering the 6:27 p.m. time back in session and didn’t realise the camera was not activated.  The council was called back into session, I just didn’t get the last two minutes of the meeting on video.

Agenda Item #7 was called with updates the Landfill would be Open Monday April 2, 2018, and Spring clean-u[ would commence on April 13, 2018 and run through April 29, 2018.

Agenda Item #8 Adjournment was called with a motion to adjourn coming from Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson and the second from Alcester Councilwoman Melissa Kay, no discussion and a unanimous times 4 vote of aye.  Alcester Equalization meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m.

NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS APRIL 2, 2018, AT 6:00 p.m.

 

12/31/2017 A Voice From the Gallery

Mayor Tom Glas called the December 29, 2017, special meeting of the Alcester City Council to order at 7:00 a.m. with Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Julia Sundstrom-Lyle, Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilman Lance Johnson present and Councilman David Larsen via telephone and Vickie Larsen in the gallery after which the group recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  City Attorney Chuck Haugland was not present.

This meeting was necessitated because Mayor Glas and Finance Officer Jurrens did not know the difference between a Resolution and an Ordinance and obdurately neglected to seek a definition from the city legal counsel, Chuck Haugland.  Over the past year or two Mayor Glas and Finance Officer Jurrens apparently feel the city is paying out too much for legal advice.  It has been Mayor Glas’ practice to excuse Mr. Haugland from city council meetings about an hour into the meeting while he (the mayor) wings the rest of the meeting on his and Finance Officer Jurrens’ own legal acumen, blithely allowing the council to make legally malinformed decisions.

Come to a meeting and see Mayor Glas clock-watch while Mr. Haugland is in the meeting. (maybe I can get it on tape)  Sadly the council accepts whatever Finance Officer Jurrens tells them regarding any agenda item, whether it lay within her scope of finance officer duties or not.  Many times when City Attorney Haugland is not present, the council gets an ‘explanation’ from Finance Officer Jurrens who has ‘talked’ to Mr. Haugland.  Now there is a theory in law called best evidence or best evidence rule which Black’s Dictionary describes as,

          “…Primary evidence, as distinguished from secondary;  original, as distinguished  from substitutionary…The original of a written instrument is itself always regarded as the primary or best possible evidence…a copy or the recollection of a witness, would be secondary evidence…”[1]

In other words Alcester City Attorney Chuck Haugland’s opinion  in person is the best evidence, not the recollections or translations of his and FO Pat’s conversations  presented to the council by Finance Officer Jurrens in Mr. Haugland’s absence.

The council ratified the motion to approve the agenda made by Councilwoman Darla Reppe, seconded by Councilman Dan Haeder, with no discussion and with a unanimous vote of five yeas.

The council went on to the second reading of the Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance 2017-12, with no changes or further discussion.  Upon Councilman David Larsen’s motion to approve, Councilman Lance Johnson’s second, the Alcester City Council ratified Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance 2017-12 with a five yea unanimous vote.

At this point Councilman Dan Haeder moved to forego the council and mayor’s meeting pay, Councilwoman Darla Reppe seconded the motion, and with the council’s unanimous vote the council agreed to forego pay for the December 29, 2017, special meeting.

Last item on the agenda was Executive Session.  Imagine that!  Immediately Councilman Lance Johnson piped up to say, “I want to discuss what I found out about equipment in executive session…”  I sat quietly watching Mayor Glas look toward Finance Officer Jurrens a couple of times before Finance Officer Jurrens told Councilman Lance well she needed know more information.  Then FO Pat with a couple other chiming voices responded we cannot go into executive session for equipment eliciting an immediate response from Councilman Lance Johnson, “…well then I move to go into executive session to discussion personnel.” (really transparent move there, Councilman Lance!)  At which point FO Pat provided him with the appropriated South Dakota Statute for personnel.   Councilwoman Darla Reppe seconded the motion, with no discussion the council with a unanimous vote of five yeas approved the move to closed session at 7:03 a.m.  As I exited the room, I stopped to point out to the council they could only discuss specific personnel and they could not discuss equipment or anything else.  I was called back into the council room.   As I entered the room, Mayor Tom Glas called the meeting out of executive session at 7:07 a.m.  Upon the Mayor’s declaration, Councilman Dan Haeder commented they would discuss the contract stuff in the January meeting.  The January regular Alcester city council meeting is scheduled for January 8*, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.

At this juncture Councilman Dan Haeder moved to adjourn, Councilwoman Julia Sundstrom-Lyle seconded the motion to adjourn, with no discussion the group voted five unanimous yeas to adjourn.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:08 a.m.

*Waiting for confirmation.  Confirmation received today, meeting is January 8, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.

[1] Henry , Campbell Black, Joseph Nolan and Jacqueline Nolan-Haley. “Best Evidence.” Black’s Law Dictionary with Pronunciations. Abridged Sixth Edition, Centennial Edition (1891-1991). St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company, 1991. 110. Print.