Tag: Linda Talbott Alcester SD

11/06/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.”

Elvis Presley

 …and neither am I…

Vickie

 Mayor Glas called the November 4, 2019, regular city council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with Council members Melissa Kay, Linda Talbott, David Larsen, Dan Haeder and Darla Reppe present. Also present was Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson, Chief Jeff Christie and Alcester Police Officer Austin Schuller. Absent again this month was Council member Lance Johnson.The council approved the agenda without change and the October 2nd meeting minutes without change.

video was to be inserted here but due to human error and foul up the memory card was compromised.  My profound apologies.

Dwight Berglin presented the 2018 audit which was after a question posed by Councilman David Larsen concerning a rumored $60K shortage was approved as presented.

Mark DeRaney AMKO Advisors representative presented an option to change from the outstanding USDA Loans on the waste treatment and water tower to bonds. Mr. DeRaney needed signature approve by the mayor to move the process forward. The Mayor’s signature did not commit the city to anything more than a forward movement on the process. The council voted to allow the mayor to sign the agreement. Judging from the mayor’s expression, now they just have to ‘splain it to him.

Agenda Item #7-Public Input-

  1. I gave my opinion of the City Office proposed move to the Golf Course/Community building if it is built.
  2. Gordon Richard of the Alcester Union-Hudsonite Newspaper asked the question, what progress was being made on the ballot box complaint and investigation. Alcester City Attorney paused, then answered, “…no comment…”.
  3. Councilman Dan Haeder said he had been approached about a city dog park. Discussion ensued concerning where such a facility would be located the former ice skating rink in the park, maybe the ball field, who would pick up the poop–honor system (?) etc.

Agenda Item #8-Legal updates

  •  Cemetery transfer 01/01/20
  •  Sewer discharge/lines update-easement needed
  •  On-sale liquor-Hillbillies not renewing their liquor license

Agenda Item #9-Community Clean Up

  •  Possible condemnation of two properties

Agenda Item #10- Street Update

  •   Street Update-sump pump discharge into street. No discharge in winter
  •   Street sweeper-two broken sprockets and chain. Unknown fix-it charge.

 Agenda Item #11- Police Dept.  Up-dates

  •  Meth resurgence
  •   Suicide alerts
  •   School sign battery issues
  •  Advisory board make-up: Police Department, Fire Department, Alcester EMS and council members Haeder and Kay.

Agenda Item #13-Update given by Councilman David Larsen

Agenda Item #14-Tiny House

  •   Contact Patrick from Secog for zoning change
  •   Add R-4 to Residential district

Agenda Item #15-Finance Office

  •   Approve Warrants.
  •   City Letterhead change-FO Pat did not like the green.
  •   2020 Resolution for Fees.
  •   Community Building-according to FO Pat they must develope a menu to design the kitchen. Ya’all cannot afford the building let alone hire a chef that requires a speshal menu to design a commercial kitchen.
  •  Approve $2500 appraisal fee on the auditorium. Mayor failed to ask for discussion during the motion process.  Council voted to approve.
  •  Approve operating agreements with local bars.  With the community building bar set-up (no pun intended), the city will be a full-blown competitor with the private bars in the city.
  •   Resolution of fees 2019-08 Waste water discharge-a 5% raise in fees with a specific   minimum.
  •   Water Deposits levied.
  •   Flag Burning-Legion-Council approved.
  •   Special Meeting set in December approved for December 30th at 6:00 p.m.
  •   Reminders and updates.
  •   Wanda brought up the need for extra funding for meals for kids.  Councilman Dan Haeder made the comment, “…Prisoners eat free…”*  

*Funds received for the inmate, from any approved source, while the inmate is in custody of the Department of Corrections will be deposited into the inmate’s account.

Inmates may use the funds in their bank account to purchase items such as writing supplies, hygiene items and snacks. Court ordered financial obligations, special program financial obligations and costs incurred while in custody of the DOC are automatically withdrawn from an inmate’s account.

Each inmate has a bank account set up in their name. There are a number of subaccounts that can be utilized depending on DOC policy. 

https://doc.sd.gov/about/faq/finances

Agenda Item #16- HRC Update

  • Rents to increase $25 per month

Agenda Item#17-Community Flyer

  • Finance Office worked hard on getting the community flyer out-who paid for this? The labor and postage?

Agenda Item #18-Volunteer roster-nothing

Agenda Item#19 Executive Session-Contracts SDCL #1-25-2-4*

*1-25-2.   Executive or closed meetings–Purposes–Authorization–Violation as misdemeanor. Executive or closed meetings may be held for the sole purposes of:

 (4)   Preparing for contract negotiations or negotiating with employees or employee representatives;

                *https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx? Type=Statute&Statute=1-25-2

Agenda Item #19-Council went into Executive Session at 8:12 p.m. ostensibly to discuss contracts with the mayor, the council, FO Pat Jurrens and Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson.

FO Pat Jurrens exited the executive session at 8:36 p.m. and remained in the atrium pacing back and forth until the Council was declared out of executive session at 9:09 p.m. Take my word for it, this never happens unless the council is discussing FO Pat. Please note the agenda notations for Agenda Item #19, obviously there was some sort of decision to occur. What happened?

Agenda Item #20-Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel. SDCL 1-25-2-1*

*1-25-2.   Executive or closed meetings–Purposes–Authorization–Violation as                         misdemeanor. Executive or closed meetings may be held for the sole purposes of:

(1)  Discussing the qualifications, competence, performance, character or fitness of any public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. The term, employee, does not include any  independent contractor;

*https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=1-25-2

It is to be noted here the police department appeared to have been instructed to be available for Agenda Item#20 to be declared. Was there maybe some idea to interview about the Indictment?

Agenda item #20 did not happen.

Agenda Item #21-Adjourn

      Council adjourned at 9:11 p.m.

11/05/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

Not only does Mayor Glas not know what’s going on, he wouldn’t know what to do about it if he did unless the fish line attached to his head ‘n’ held tightly in FO Pat’s upper hand was yanked so he could see FO Pat’s look-at-me nod!

 

I would like to touch on my input during last evening’s city council meeting. Once again I voiced my opinion that the city offices DO NOT belong in the community building.

 

I spoke of the insult to the merchants on main street. Finance Officer Pat Jurrens once was the president of the local chamber of commerce, yet she wants to abandon downtown Alcester in favor of ‘classier digs’ as Mayor Glas described the proposed community center at the golf course. As Mayor Glas and Finance Officer Pat Jurrens prated on that current golf course personnel could not handle scheduling for events.   REALLY? And FO Pat can? Then tell me Mayor Magoo why did you violate Alcester City Ordinance to keep the city offices open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The stated excuse—that Pat and Wanda just couldn’t get their city work done does NOT ring true!

Mayor Glas prattled people do not come into Alcester to go to city hall, they come to shop. H-m-m, seems to me Mark DeRaney of AMKO Advisers came to city hall, representatives from Congressman Dusty Johnson came to talk to the council (who didn’t show up) at city hall, or people looking for city information come to downtown Alcester. Finance Office is too small for Finance Officer Pat?–get rid of the clutter—-you know that over-sized ear imprint wallpaper does take up room. Maybe move the police department to the old high school for convenience and privacy from the finance office wallpaper.

Oh ‘n’ of course the allure of the at-FO’s-fingertips ‘cordial atmosphere’. Well maybe residents would be inclined to attend city council meetings regularly. But imagine the executive session lengths, so maybe not!

As to the recognition, that only lasts until the new finance officer has a garage sale Pinterest find. Remember the donation plaque for the Auditorium? Not so much? It is no longer hanging in the atrium, so where did FO Pinterest consign that RECOGNITION? Your family named upon that plaque? ASK FO Pat!  Peter and I donated a ball washer to the golf course, within weeks it was vandalized, destroyed and when the ball washer was replaced (I assume by insurance funds)—-Lo and Behold the ball washer had a new donor name. Thank you!   Or when Peter and I donated Christmas lights, the lights stopped at the railroad tracks. Thank you! So my answer to the donate brochure Pat and Wanda spent city time assembling and mailing with the fond hope of ruling over the golf course community building —NO THANKS, as long as the plan is to move Alcester City Offices to the golf course community building—-ABSOULTELY NO !

 

FOLKS IF YOU FEEL THE SAME TELL THE CITY COUNCIL HOW YOU FEEL, IF THEY IGNORE US—-RECALL, WE CAN REPEAL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10/24/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

So–Fo Pat

I hear tell ya think yer doin’ well.

An’ good things are comin’ to you.

I wish I had yer confidence ma’am an’

you had to do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do.!

 

I see yer runnin’ free,

An yer work days in yer office been few.

I wanna recall yer good luck Tom an’

give you some do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do.

I see you truckin’ down the street with yer travelin crew

ya got a Johnson in the front and a Glas in the back tailgatin’ you

Yeah, an way back ya got my money in yer sack,

with yer key in the ballot box and yer ears pinned back

root-doot-doot-doot-doot-do-wah!

 

I hear tell ya think yer doin’ well,

An’ good things are comin’ to you.

I wish I had yer confidence ma’am an’

you had a do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do*

(*inspiration Roger Miller’s 1965 song (and You Had A) Do-Wacka-Do “Do-Wacka-Do Lyrics.” Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2019. Web. 25 Oct. 2019. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/598190/Roger+Miller>.)

 

 

I hear tell FO Pat is running around trying to get support for Councilman Lance Johnson’s Fifth Wheel Fiasco.

Councilman Johnson has violated the CCR’s that run with the land at 518A Anderson Street. Unfortunately the CCR’s allow for a change after twenty-five years which appear to be imminent for Lots One (1) through Eleven (11) of Block Seven (7), Lots One (1) through Three (3) and Lot Seven (7) of Block Eight (8), Lots One (1) through Four (4) of Block Nine (9) and Lots One (1), Two (2) and Seven (7) though Ten (10) of Block (10) of Numsen Addition, being a part of Tract Three (3) in the Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (NE1/4NW1/4) and in the Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter (NW1/4NE1/4) of Section Twenty-Seven (27), Township Ninety-five (95) North, Range Forty-Nine (49), West of the 5th P.M., City of Alcester, Union County, South Dakota according to the recorded plat thereof.

 

 

Specifically note #items 1, #4, #5, #14, and #15 listed in the covenants. Read for yourselves.

To the folks living in the above mentioned Blocks, unless you want some boxcar type dwelling or storage garage next to your $200K home, vote against the change in CCR. It must be a public vote of A MAJORITY OF THOSE NEIGHBORS AND LAND OWNERS affected. It is not a vote of the council.

Tell FO Pat NO, tell Councilman Lance Johnson NO, A covenant change can mess with the value of your home and property investment—check it out for yourselves. It is your right!

 

Just tell FO Pat to take her DO AND WACKA-IT DOWN THE STREET!

10/17/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

NOTE:  Significant beneficiary of this change Of Planning & Zoning is Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson who by his admission in the March meeting wanted to build a garage on North Anderson Street to house his fifth wheel trailer.  First Lance Johnson has already violated “regulations, agreements and conditions running with land” on the parcel ID 01.11.10.1035.  #1. “… No structure shall be erected on any of said lots except for residential purposes…”Residential purposes shall be defined as a single family or duplex residences…”   #4. “No residential lot shall be re-subdivided…”

Folks we have a councilman who has seems to adhere to the theory of self-entitlement Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson during the April Mayoral Election allegedly destroyed campaign signs put up by Mayoral candidate Mike Bucholz, a witnessed event.

Then Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson got all Roosterie, a squawkin’, flappin’ his wings, puffin’ his chest out and struttin’ all stiff legged down to the Police Department alleging I trespassed on “his prop purty” and threatened to arrest me for criminal trespass.

What did I do? I asked the work crew where the building permit was, standing in the middle of Anderson Street. An’ ol’ Alcester Councilman Johnson got all bent out of shape. Imagine what he would have done if I had torn down his campaign posters?

Folks the definition of criminal trespass is below:

SDCL 22-35-6.   Entering or refusing to leave property after notice–Misdemeanor. Any person who, knowing that he or she is not privileged to do so, enters or remains in any place where notice against trespass is given by:

  1. Actual communication to the person who subsequently commits the trespass;             
  2. Posting in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of trespassers; 
  3. Fencing or other enclosure which a reasonable person would recognize as being designed to exclude trespassers; is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.  However, if such trespasser defies an order to leave, personally communicated to him or her by the owner of the premises or by any other authorized person, the trespasser is guilty of criminal trespass, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor.  (Source: SL 1976, ch 158, § 35-2; SL 1977, ch 189, § 71; SL 2005, ch 120, § 290.) 

 But Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson seems to think it is okay for him to rip down a campaign poster and signs—–stealing campaign signs violates the law.

So Councilman Lance Johnson it is okay for you to rip down and destroy campaign signs during an election but you threaten me for asking where your building permit is while standing in the middle of a public street?

Let’s talk about the building permit. FO Pat Jurrens says there is no requirement when the permit should be posted—

WRONG, LOOK AT THE PERMIT

LOOK AT THE APPLICATION—THIS IS RESIDENTIAL LAND NOT AG LAND—ALCESTER CITY COUNCILMAN LANCE JOHNSON FALSIFIED THE APPLICATION.

                                              THERE IS STILL NO PERMIT ON THE PROP-PURTY

 

ALL BUILDING MUST STOP UNTIL ALL VIOLATIONS ARE CURED!

10/09/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

 

As most of you have heard by now, Finance Officer Patrica Jurrens was arrested for lying to law enforcement.

The article in the October 9, 2019, page 4 of The Akron Hometowner explains most of the action. The legal document stands as verification.

I have heard that Alcester City Council President Dan Haeder is pro tem mayor in Mayor Glas’ absence. I am troubled that Finance Officer Jurrens has not been placed on restricted duty or even relieved of her duties until a hearing has convened.

My rationale is if a grand jury found enough evidence to indict, issued an indictment, and an arrest warrant, how can the Alcester City Council have any confidence they are being told the truth especially in the light the Alcester City Council was encouraged by Finance Officer Jurrens to open the ballot box during the election canvass of April 9, 2019, when she knew better.

How can the council members trust a Finance Officer who according to the indictment lied to law enforcement not once but twice?  What else don’t we know?  What don’t we know about the interaction between Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens and Code Enforcement Officer Geoff Fillingsness and his affidavit to gain an administrative warrant of inspection?

10/04/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

“Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.”
Atifete Jahjaga

The October 2, 2019, regular meeting of the Alcester City Council convened at the Alcester Golf Course Clubhouse at 6:00 pm with Mayor Glas, Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilman David Larsen, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, Councilwoman Linda Talbott and Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson present. Absent was Ward III Councilman Lance Johnson. Also present were Jon Serck, Alcester EMS; Geoff Fillingsness, Alcester Code Enforcement Officer, Alcester Chief of Police Jeff Christie, Police Officer Austin Schuller and Former Finance Officer Michael Kezar and other interested folks.

I want to start with the fact the meeting was opened at the Alcester city shop for a tour from 5:30pm to 5:45pm. I did not attend that meeting so whether the meeting was in fact opened, the meeting was adjourned or whether any city business was conducted I have no first-hand knowledge.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, the agenda was approved with a unanimous five (5) aye vote and the minutes of the September 4, 2019, and September 16, 2019, meeting were approved with no changes with a unanimous five (5) aye vote.

Agenda Item #5 Public Input    I,  had public input. My topic was the city charging Alcester EMS for sewer and garbage, see the demand letter from the city of Alcester. Also please note the Alcester City Finance Officer’s response to my question and the response from Alcester EMS Jon Serck. (00:08:52)

I also spoke on the topic of Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens refusal to hand over FOIA, specifically dealing with the Property Maintenance Violations list. Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson’s position these are not public records, I argued the City of Sioux Falls has their Property Maintenance violation citations on their website so this sets a precedence for Alcester to provide these public records and in 2016 the city provided me the property maintenance code violations with an argument but I got them. I handed Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson a copy of those SF violation records from September 2019 as proof.   I EXPECT THOSE RECORDS TO BE PROVIDED TO ME!

Code Officer Geoff Fillingsness stuck his nose into the discussion (00:13:25) Code Officer Fillingsness stated, “I am the president of the South Dakota Association of Code Enforcement!” O-h-o-o-o-o! Really? Mr. President of the SD Association of Code Enforcement states, “…we (the code association respect the privacy… we do not release names of violations…” Really? When asked the question why he (Code Officer Fillingsness) was no longer the Beresford Code Enforcement Officer, Code Officer Geoff said (00:16:39), “I was fired…you want to know why I was fired?” Listen to why he says he was fired. Do you ‘spose’ the new mayor of Beresford would agree with that assessment? I doubt it!

LOOK AT THE PURPOSE OF THE SD ASSOCIATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT set forth on the SDML website (www.sdmunicipalleague.org/codeenforcement) South Dakota Municipal League South Dakota, October 6, 2019, South Dakota Association of Code Enforcement)

  • “To operate, without profit to the Association, or its members, as a state association to advance, educate and improve efforts of state, county, city and other political subdivision employees who are actively involved with and responsible for the enforcement of housing, municipal, county, state or federal codes without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, or sex.

  • To encourage professionalism with regard to the standardization of enforcement of environmental, and housing codes.

  • To supply and advance the science and practice of code enforcement through certification and to provide training workshops, seminars and conferences facilitating and advancing the administration of the various codes with which the Association is concerned.

  • To exchange information relating to the code enforcement profession.

  • To promote policies that will facilitate and improve code enforcement procedures”

Mr. Code Officer Fillingsness please explain bullet point #2, “…to encourage professionalism with regard to the standardization of enforcement of environment and housing codes…” I mean just how does that work in YOUR world? I mean when ya’ll don’t know if the judge is a he or a she. If ya’ll left your paperwork in your car? Really. Oh an’ yeah, who was the affiant who attested to alleged conditions? You do know lying to a judge or making a false statement is as illegal as making a false police report just ask Pat.

Folks you need look and listen to Pat at (00:16:39) during the discussion on my FOIA request. FO Pat asked the question, “…Why do you want this information…?” Councilman Melissa Kay hushed FO Pat, ’cause FO Pat cannot legally ask that question! Amazing!

With regard to my FOIA request, Mayor Glas announced (00:21:47) he was going to follow Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson’s advice. Mr. Mayor, YOU were not so willing with the previous city attorney! Really Mayor, you just declared you were going to refuse me access to public records? You might want to check the penalty on that one!

Agenda Item#6 Mike Kezar’s appeal of the Property Maintenance Violation Citation. You really have to hand it to President Code Officer Geoff Fillingsness, he cited lack of smoke alarms, flower pots without flowers, vermin and having a kitchen in the basement. Really? How many of you folks have smoke alarms in every bedroom, how many of you folks have mousetraps in your homes, how many of you folks have a kitchen in a lower level part of your home and how many of you have an empty flower pot or two. I do, in fact I have pot-people sitting in the front of my home.

In addition, I have filed two property maintenance violation complaints and President Code Officer Fillingsness has ignored them. I do believe that is called selective administration of Code and I do believe that is failing to do his duty.  It is called non-feasance or in this case I believe President Code Officer Fillingsness is guilty of malfeasance.

President Code Officer Fillingsness gave his opinion on Mr. Kezar’s garage, I wonder how much President Code Office Fillingsness will pad his bill for unsolicited advice?

Agenda Item #16 Tiny House- Folks unless you want Tiny Homes next to your home, do not allow these portable potty trains into your neighborhood. There is no real estate tax benefit to these playhouses for the community.

Agenda Item #17-Fiance Office Update-Councilwoman Melissa Kay question FO Pat about the city website AGAIN. FO Pat responded I will be working on it. That is like the Fat Lady in the Circus working on her diet while she is munching on a fresh fried donut dunked in glaze.

Agenda Item #23 Executive Session-Contracts- The council moved into Executive session at 7:58 PM and I was ushered out into the cold, dark misting night and all by my lonesome. I huddled near the windows of the clubhouse, watching the council ‘disgust’ contracts. I wonder what they would say if I told them I could read lips or I was videotaping them?* At 8:16 PM the door was opened and I was allowed to come in from the cold.

The council adjourned at 8:17 PM.

Note: I understand there was a recent happening. It is my understanding there was a false report? If that information is accurate, the Alcester FO must be relieved of her duties until the situation is resolved through the courts. The Alcester FO is in charge of Alcester’s monies and with the quality of over-sight of Mayor Magoo Glas, that has the feel of the Fox taking inventory of the hen house egg production!  More to come!

*By the way, I cannot read lips and the camera was shut down!

09/24/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

 

To use the catch-phrase of Joan Rivers,

“Can we talk?”

 

Folks we have a problem!

We have a Ward III Councilman who thinks the law does not apply to him but will waste law enforcement time to deliver a bully-sheet to coerce and intimidate a citizen who is asking uncomfortable questions.  A councilman who has few ethics when it comes to election signs and posters.

We have a Finance Officer who LIES!  When I asked for a copy of the city letter demanding the ambulance pay for water usage and sewer, I was told I (FO Jurrens) do not have a copy.  I exclaimed, “You did not keep a copy of the demand letter you issued to the Alcester Ambulance?”  FO Jurrens reiterated, “No, I did not.”  Yet when I issued a formal FOIA for the demand letter and courtesy copied in a council person, it was confirmed FO Pat did indeed have a copy and the council-person assured me, I would be sent a copy.  To date I still have not received the demand letter NOR the reply to the demand letter.

WHY NOT?

I asked for a copy of the Building Permit for 518 Anderson Street.  Still do not have that one, either.  FO Pat stated to the permit did not have to be displayed.  LIE!  Au Contraire Madame FO, YOU and your ‘familiar’ Geoff Fillingnsess have harassed people who do not tail-gate your bum, insisting they HAVE a building permit, they MUST post it or they will receive a CEASE and DESIST notice.  YOU, YOURSELF issued the building permit below!

(SEE BELOW)  WHAT DOES THAT SAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE?H-M-M-M-M?

  • Building permit is not displayed on the WASS building site, so by your own words they must CEASE and DESIST until it is displayed properly.
  • Building permit is still not displayed on Alcester Councilman Lance Johnson‘s illegal building project.
  • So Councilman Lance Johnson and the PIES GUYS must CEASE and DESIST until it complies with permit display!

518 ANDERSON STREET STILL NO PERMIT DISPLAYED

09-23-2019 NO PERMIT POSTED LANCE JOHNSON-III.JPG09-23-2019 NO PERMIT POSTED LANCE JOHNSON-II.JPG09-23-2019 NO PERMIT POSTED LANCE JOHNSON-I.JPG

 

“NOTICE   THIS CARD MUST BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE, FACING THE STREET, ON THE PREMISES ON WHICH THE WORK IS TO BE DONE,  AND MUST BE MAINTAINED THERE UNTIL COMPLETION OF SUCH WORK.

 NOT IN A WINDOW IN THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR OR ACROSS THE STREET!

NOT FACING AWAY FROM THE STREET! 

…AND…

NOT FACING THE INSIDE OF COUNCILMAN LANCE JOHNSON’S DRAWERS! 

09/16/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

Please note the placement of the wire basket of folders on the council table. It certainly is convenient for Mayor Glas and Councilman Lance Johnson to hide behind. Just so ya’ll know Pat, I can always crank my tripod up but the good folks in the gallery cannot clearly see the faces of Mayor Glas and Councilman Lance Johnson or hear the Mayor and Councilman Johnson as they mumble their way through a meeting. Co-incidental, nah I don’t think so!

Mayor Tom Glas called the September 16, 2019, meeting of the Alcester City Council to order at 6:00 pm with Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilman Lance Johnson, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, Councilwoman Linda Talbott, and Councilwoman Darla Reppe. Councilman David Larsen was absent as was Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson.

Agenda Item #3-The council approved the agenda with one correction to the Executive Session. The Executive Session was for 1-25-2.3 NOT 1-25-2 what-evah!

1-25-2.   Executive or closed meetings–Purposes–Authorization–Violation as                             misdemeanor. Executive or closed meetings may be held for the sole                              purposes of:

(3)  Consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from                                     legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual                                  matters;

The agenda change was approved with the change. Why is it that FO Pat cannot seem to get executive session correct? However Councilman Johnson. “so move” just does not cut it. Ya’ll got to STATE the motion. For all we know when ya’ll say “so move” Councilman Lance Johnson, you could be a tellin’ ol’ Mayor Glas to move his little ol’ self over, ’cause he’s a crowdin’ yer space.

The agenda did not address the minutes from the September 4, 2019, meeting so neither did the council. So the September 4, 2019, minutes are left in the fridge just like left-over pasta till the council can ‘get-to-them’.

Agenda Item#4 Input-

  • I raised the issue that the Alcester Food Pantry DOES NOT have a CBDG Loan, it is the Alcester Health Services Foundation. I pointed out FO Pat’s error and suggested she take better care in the naming CBDG Loan recipients accurately within city documents.
  • I went on to remind the group of a FOIA regarding the listing of folks receiving notices from the Pat and Geoff Property Maintenance Protection Squadron (Snoopy staffen).
  • Lastly I addressed Councilman Lance Johnson, handing out a copy of his letter of intimidation to the council members. I warned him about bullying and intimidation and I would not tolerate his behavior. I was never on any property belonging to the Johnson Family Trust, I was just looking for a genuine building permit which as of last night STILL is not posted IF it exits.

Next up during Input was Jon Serck from the Alcester Ambulance who started out with an apology to the council for a letter sent in response to a letter to the ambulance from the city dunning the ambulance for water and sewer usage.

Folks for almost 16 years I volunteered with the Alcester Ambulance as an EMT and treasurer/bookkeeper. In fact I was one of a group of volunteers who worked very hard to re-vive the defunct ambulance with donations arising out of fundraisers, residual funds from the previous ambulance and a lot of hard work. The former ambulance vehicle was given away, the ambulance garage building had been combined with the police department and there was no equipment left. So we started with nothing and we had to prove ourselves (rightly so) to the former crew. We had an uphill struggle. We scheduled certification classes, Beresford ambulance graciously allowed us use of some of their equipment with which to practice our skills for testing and we sat for the national certification tests, practicals and written. In 1996 we passed our testing and we were nationally certified EMT’s.

But we still needed an ambulance vehicle, medical supplies and a place to store our rig. We purchased a used ambulance for $15K, bought sheets blankets, medical supplies, radios, pagers and so on with the donated moneys. Alcester Fire Department graciously allowed us to store our ambulance in their garage. Union County came through with annual funding of around $10K and Alcester City eventually footed our cell phone, back up to our radio. In the entire time I spent volunteering with the Alcester Ambulance and handling the accounts the only monetary support from the city of Alcester was one cell phone and a place on the volunteer insurance roster.

We managed to save our money to purchase a new reliable ambulance, upgrade our equipment, build our own building, upgrade radios, upgrade AED and add a computer with the capability to connect with the hospitals.

NOW I find out in last night’s meeting that FO Pat has been charging the VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE for sewer and God only know what else. Now folks the way the sewer is charged, it is inextricably tied to water usage. Therefore NO WATER CHARGE-NO SEWER CHARGE! It is my understanding the Fire Department is exempt from these charges. FO Pat continually rationalizes the Ambulance can bill. Stryker cot $10K-$20K, 12 lead AED $3K-$10K, New Ambulance $250K, required continuing education, upgrades in training and etc. The ambulance cannot slap a special assessment like FO Pat does (for now) and raise real estate taxes.

Agenda Item #5 2020 Budget second reading with a change separating the community building from the golf course.

Agenda Item #6 once again tabled to the October 2, 2019, meeting at the golf-course due to a new player in the auction field.

Agenda Item #7-destruction of water and sewer records with a snide shot from Pat about the Former Finance Officer saving records longer that she thinks he should have. Amazing, this coming from a woman who allegedly tossed a letter dunning the ambulance for water and sewer.

Executive Session Agenda Items #8-With no attorney present the council went into executive session for litigation purposes. So who is giving out legal advice, FO Pat? So for about 20 minutes the council visited about litigation with an occasional burst of laughter. GEE what is funny about litigation?

Agenda Item #9 Meeting was adjourned BUT, BUT Check out the Video. Pat continued to discuss business with a quorum present.

WAY-TO-GO!

09/11/2019 A Voice From the Gallery

Check out the photos from yesterday, September 10, 2019,  Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson STILL has not posted his building permit.

So who gets the blame Pies Construction for not having a building permit displayed BEFORE they broke ground?  Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson for not getting a building permit, displaying a building permit on the premises, or before ground was broken?  Or Alcester planning and zoning for not publishing the planning and zoning code or enforcing planning and zoning or SECOG Patrick Andrews for failing to provide accurate and usual practices to his client the Alcester City Council.  So what version of the International Planning and Zoning codes did he provide and the council approve.

Folks, we can change this!  We can change the city Offices being closed on Tuesdays, too.  We can take the initiative, literally!  We can be resolute and effect change!

Check out the pictures 518 Anderson Street-Lance Johnson 09-10-2019  Oh yes, I took the photographs from the street.  No crony-ism here!LANCE JOHNSON 09-10-2019-IV.JPGLANCE JOHNSON 09-10-2019-III.JPGLANCE JOHNSON 09-10-2019-II.JPGLANCE JOHNSON 09-10-2019-I.JPG

I think we should charge a minimum property tax charge for garage only properties like we are being charged for water.  Oh yeah and make it retro-active!

Call the city office let Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens know (605) 934-2851, Call Mayor Tom Glas (605) 934-2188 let him know or call your city council member as published in the Alcester Union-Hudsonite.  Let them know!

09/05/2019 II A Voice From the Gallery

NEWS FLASH!

UPDATE

Prior to the September 4, 2019, meeting FO Pat told me the funeral home has a building permit posted. 

Yeah, where?  Well folks the building permit for the funeral home is located in the east window of the Quam-Berglin Building ’cause there was no wall to attach the permit to.  REALLY, REALLY  Give ol’ FO Pat a cane ’cause that excuse is so lame even Mayor Magoo could see through it. I told Pat the permit should be on the premises and maybe a simple wood stake would take care of the lack of a wall.  Geez Louise, give that woman a crystal ball with instructions how to use it and she would ask, ” how do I see through my hands?”  Good Gravy FO PAT is still looking for Carmen and Waldo and Mayor Glas is still scratching his head and asking who is Carmen and Waldo?


Mayor Tom Glas called the September 5, 2019, regular meeting of the Alcester City Council to order at 6:00 pm with Councilman Dan Haeder, Councilman Lance Johnson, Councilwoman Melissa Kay, Councilwoman Linda Talbott, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilman David Larsen and standing in for Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson was his father, Larry A. Nelson ’cause Alcester City Attorneys Sam Nelson and Alcester City Attorney Tom Frieberg had homework from the judge in a civil case.

The council approved the agenda with no corrections and approved FO Pat’s version of the minutes for August 5th and August 13th.

Public input was called with no responding input.

Agenda Item #6-Since the meeting was well ahead of the scheduled community center presentation by Gary McKellips and Tom Walsh the council continued on with the ‘business’ of the night.

Agenda Item #7 was legal updates and legal has been very busy indeed. Cemetery obligation is still waiting on Alcester City Attorney Sam’s changes to the agreement between the city and the cemetery board and yet another draft.

Agenda Item #8-clean up nuisance letters by Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson-Oh but he wasn’t there and his father quoted Sgt. Schultz, “I know nothing…” about this. Further discussion included a condemnation and other nuisances.

Agenda Item #9 Street Parking. This agenda item was brought to the council by Councilman David Larsen so council could consider changes to parking restrictions as the merge of all grade levels to the sixth street school location and with added bus stops at all three daycares. The council entertained a motion to draft a parking ordinance involving Iowa and 5th streets in Alcester’s Ward II. Unanimous vote to draft an ordinance.

Agenda Item #10  The man-hole on third street.

Agenda Item #11 Water and Wastewater.  Dale missed the schedule change and was not present. FO Pat winged it, she really should give up flying-by-the-seat of her petti-pants! According to FO Pat’s sharing of test results, we have ‘nothing’ to worry about. Well at least about the wastewater.

Agenda Item #12 Police Department- Chief Jeff Christie presented the department stats, discussed the city owned shot-gun surplus and sale. The motion was made and approved the city declare shot-gun surplus and dispose of them via auction or sealed bid.

At 6:15 pm the Community Center presentation was scheduled to begin so the council and gallery adjourned (not formally mind you) to the auditorium gym. I wondered why did Mayor Glas not introduce Mssrs. McKellips and Walsh, after all he IS the mayor. Why was Finance Officer Jurrens playing hostess-in-charge? Then it was ‘splained that Ol’ mistress Jurrens was the third wheel on the community center bike.

Mr. McKellips made his presentation. He dodged the question of city offices in the community center at first but later in the presentation he conceded the plan included city offices to be re-located to the community building. The city’s share is somewhere north of $500K plus add-ons for the golf club.

The question was asked what happens if the city rejects the current plan, will the money still be available for a re-think plan. There was hemming and hawing with a substantive silence indicating the money might not be available. While I am in favor of a community building, the city offices MUST stay down-town Alcester.

Oh, Oh, I have an idea! Later in the meeting was a discussion on a tiny house development. I HAVE THE SOLUTION TO THE FINANCE OFFICE CONUNDRUM. Put the tiny house development in the North Business Park, set up two tiny houses side-by-side at 202 Broad Street, one for Finance Officer Pat and one for her asst. office girl. Then they can plant petunias, pick the weeds and plant as many painted wood pallets as they can find. Shoot they can even paint they own tiny house bright red it they want.

At 7:13 pm most of the council and all the gallery moved back into the council room, while everyone waited for Councilman Lance Johnson to return. Gee I am sure glad we didn’t have to wait for him ‘to return’ as long as MacArthur took to return to the Philippines. (1942 to 1944)

Council returned to Agenda Item #12 Police Department-Feral cats. Contract was sent but nobody knows when it will return. Sioux Falls Humane Society versus Dr. Johnson Hawarden. Feral Cats issue was tabled to next meeting.

Chief Christie did relate a warning he had received about garage thieves and the information they may be headed south. Lock up your garages and take the keys/fobs out of your cars in the garage.

Agenda Item #13-Golf Course I over-heard a question on why was Finance Officer Jurrens on the committee of three for the community building/golf course club house instead of the Committee Chair David Larsen? Good Question  H-m-m?

Agenda Item #14 Tiny Houses District. Somebody wants to speculate in Tiny Houses. Wants to put three on one lot and possibly four on a double lot like on Beck Drive. Growing up in Spirit Lake I saw the 1950’s version of tiny houses, we called them cabins. They happened in clusters around the lakes. They attracted low income renters/owners and were usually abandoned after a year or two, falling into disrepair or worse they attracted squatters/transients. Should a fire start in a tiny house, even the short distance the fire department would have to travel, they wouldn’t have enough time to roast a decent sized marshmallow with the flame left.

If the speculator wants tiny houses, buy a lot in the North Development Park, declare a tiny house district. Don’t lower OUR home valuations with an outhouse sized house next door.

Agenda Item #15-Finance Office Fairy Tales Approve warrant for Road Guy and Louiseau motion but failed to declare the price tag. Approved! BOO! Approve August warrants–approved.

September special meeting approved for Monday, September 16, 2019, at 6:00 pm. Approved.

October Council meeting scheduled at the golf course on October 2, 2019, at presumably 6:00 pm.

2020 Budget was presented to the council with the Finance Officer interminable verbal twitch of ‘with regard’ at each section of each page of the budget. The only way the council and gallery knew she was moving to a new subject line was the snooze alarm of ‘with regard’.

FO Pat wants radio water meter readers. Looks like Peeping Patty no longer has a job peeping for puppies!

FO Pat also wants new Election Booths. Really? That certainly is not going to solve our election and voting abridgment problems.

BY THE WAY–WHERE IS OUR WEBSITE FOR THE CITY? So we and the city council can read in advance FO Pat’s pretentions. A website so we have a posted agenda, so WE can research items, so WE can access the property maintenance. City Council YOU voted for the website a second time and still we do not have an official city website. Again FO Pat has deemed it not a priority.  Give Finance Officer Patricia Jurrens the ultimatum, get the darned website up and running. Get the agenda, minutes and ordinance ON THE WEBSITE–NOW! We are tired of waiting!

Agenda Item #16-Fairboard Update-Still putting up with grain on city property leased to Union County. Commissioners get over being upset, DO something! City Council DO something. City Council you have the right of refusal on the county leasing this land, TAKE BACK your control!

Agenda Item #17-HRC Now it begins-more monetary upkeep and NO LOTS have been sold and the HRC financial hole is deepening.

Agenda Item#18-Executive session for Legal-My update as to content, speculative only. The mayoral election travesty is still being investigated and according to my information has been placed in the hands of the SD Attorney General and DCI or is it a lawsuit? Maybe Pat’s tiny house will be orange with decorative metal grills on the front.

Agenda Item #19-Executive session for contract-The council voted in open session to allow up to $2500 appraisal fees for the potential sale of the auditorium? This is a long process but IF the auditorium is BID on and it has to be BID.

So tell me where is the police department going go?

Where is the finance office going to go? NOT the community building, no way.

Agenda Item #20-Adjourn at 9:02 pm

*after yesterday a word of advice for Councilman Lance Johnson, I suggest you go back to the school you ‘graduated from’ and ask for your money back!

I would also like to share that I respect the Alcester City Police Department.  I am appalled that Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson’s paranoid temper tantrum has placed them in an untenable position because Alcester City Councilman Lance Johnson has an axe to grind with me.  I admire the Police Department’s ethical adherence to duty—-Vickie A. Larsen