By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – With one meeting still left, Minnehaha County held a “farewell reception” for retiring county commissioners Jeff Barth and Cindy Heiberger was held after the regular Minnehaha County Commission meeting this week.
Barth ended the meeting reminding people that the county is the “service station” for government.
He said while a city might rebuild pools, etc., when people want to do business with the government, they go to the county.
Whether it involves renewing license plates, paying taxes, getting married, being born, or dying, citizens use sources provided by county offices.
Barth’s point seemed to be that the county takes care of its people.
In an interview on Monday, Barth looked at Sioux Falls as a government run by real estate developers, while the county is run by the people.
As he prepares to end his 16-year commission tenure, Barth talked about accomplishments and regrets during that time.
“I always learned we should leave things better off when than we found them.”
And while he was hesitant to say how he is leaving the commission better off, that became apparent when he looked at commissioners serving when he took over for the retiring Jim Zweep in 2007.
The other commissioners at that time were Carol Twedt, Anne Hajek, Bob Kolbe and Jim Pekas.
Like many governing bodies around the state, there seemed to be a lot of animosity on the county commission at that time.
He explained how some commissioners would “roll their eyes,” as others spoke, but he added that has greatly changed with the current commission.
“We are a family,” he said of the current commissioners.
And that statement was evident during a program at the reception when the three remaining commissioners spoke.
Commissioner Gerald Beninga said, “Cindy…I’ve never worked with someone more committed or dedicated in what she does.
“We will miss you, and we love you a bunch!”
Although he didn’t tell Barth, “we love you,” the affection and admiration Beninga had for a colleague came across loudly.
“I sat next to him for the last four years, and I had to learn to keep my mic off.”
He said there were things Barth whispered to him that the general public probably shouldn’t hear.
“His entertainment factor was beyond belief!”
Beninga also complemented Barth on his ability to be heard.
“Even if you didn’t agree with him, he was always respectful, and Jeff, I’ve enjoyed working with you for the past 12 years.
“Thank you for making sure we were heard.”
Barth was instrumental in getting extensive coverage for commission business from all of the independently owned county newspapers back in 2017.
He is also well known for letting his opinions be known at the weekly commission meetings, as Commissioner Jean Bender said, but she also qualified that statement.
“He (Barth) knows how to get his point across with humor, which is the best way to communicate.”
She also spoke of the entire current commission when she added, “We trust one another, and we are the envy of others.”
Commissioner Dean Karskey said to the retirees, “You are leaving at the top of your game. Both of you have made a difference.”
Heiberger, who served four terms as chairperson of the Minnehaha County Commission since she was first elected in 2010, was very moved at the reception, but her first thought upon leaving was thinking back over the journey.
“This has been so fun,” she said. “(During my time in office I have) traveled and worked with some amazing people, and I’m not just talking about the other commissioners, the staff here is incredible.”
Heiberger said she was going to take some time off to return to “normal ‘mom’ life,” but that she is planning to continue to work for her passion, which is juvenile justice reform.
She said that her one regret was that she wouldn’t be around for the final conversations on building the new juvenile justice center, as that was being left to the new commission in 2023.
At that meeting on Jan. 3, newly elected commissioners Jenn Blyenberg and Joe Kippley will be taking over on the county board.
However, Heiberger and Barth have one more meeting next week, Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 9 a.m. in the third-floor commission meeting room of the Minnehaha County Administration Building in Sioux Falls.
