By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – One of the better returns on taxpayer dollars spent by Minnehaha County comes from its association with the Southeastern Council of Governments.
According to a presentation by Lynn Keller Forbes of SECOG, in 2019, the county received over $70 million in grants and loans through the work of her organization for the $152,000 it paid in dues to belong.
Overall, Forbes said, the average return to local governing bodies is $294.92 for every $1 spent.
The SECOG website says its mission is to serve over 40 municipalities in Clay, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Turner and Union counties.
Every year, to help in budget preparations, organizations receiving money from the county make presentations on what their groups are accomplishing.
Forbes gave her SECOG briefing at the Tuesday, Jan. 21, Minnehaha County Commission meeting.
Through a variety of slides, she showed how SECOG helps entities with grants, loans and planning for water projects, transportation, planning and zoning, among other things.
One of the more recent projects that has been in the news, which SECOG is helping with, is the Maple/Park Street corridor between Brandon and Sioux Falls.
Another function of SECOG that Forbes told commissioners about is their work in selling the “Governor’s Houses” made by inmates at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield.
Another small piece of business at the meeting, which also tied into the county’s legislative agenda, was the approval of a contract with Testpoint Paramedical LLC to conduct on-call blood draws.
These draws are connected to alcohol abuse and related offenses, and that is why the county is closely watching – and lobbying for – a hopeful bill from State Sen. Wayne Steinhauer of Dist. 9 to allow counties to implement a “bed, board and booze,” or entertainment, tax.
In a letter from County Administrative Assistant Craig Dewey, he wrote that as the registered lobbyist for Minnehaha County, he was in Pierre on Jan. 21 working with Steinhauer helping to gather co-sponsors for the legislation.
Commissioner Jeff Barth mentioned the need for the county to be able to tax alcohol to raise revenue for alcohol-related expenses, such as the aforementioned blood draws.
Although it had been announced earlier, Commissioners made the appointment of Crystal Johnson as Minnehaha County State’s Attorney official, replacing Aaron McGowan, after he resigned in December.
Johnson, who has been part of that office since 2005, was named as McGowan’s interim replacement by 2nd Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge Robin Houwman.
As the “permanent replacement,” she will serve as state’s attorney until the next election, this coming November.
On Friday, Jan. 10, several candidates for the position of state’s attorney were interviewed, but at that time, commissioners decided to stay with Johnson.
After her unanimous appointment, Johnson spoke briefly on the work being done by the state’s attorney’s office.
“I look forward to moving that office forward,” Johnson said. “Last week we got convictions at a homicide trial and a violation of a protection order trial.
“We continue to work hard, and I thank you for the opportunity of leading that office.”
The Minnehaha Commission has its regular meetings each Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
These meetings are open to all, and public comment is always encouraged.
