by Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
In this year’s general election, county voters are being asked to choose among three people to fill two seats on the Minnehaha County Commission.
Incumbent Dean Karsky (Republican) is facing two challengers, Anny Libengood (Independent) and Cole Heisey (Republican), in that General Election.
In this week’s Gazette, we are giving each candidate the opportunity to look at what they felt were the three most important issues facing the county, and how they would address them.
While Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, absentee voting is happening now on the third floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
Name: Anny Libengood.
Address (city): Sioux Falls.
Occupation: Operations Specialist in the Financial Technology Industry.
Education/experience: BA from SDSU. Social Worker. I worked for Minnehaha County in the Human Services department for almost 18 years.
What do you see as the three most important issues facing Minnehaha County currently and/or in the next few years, and how could these be best addressed by you as a county commissioner?
1. Property taxes. At this point in my campaign, I have spoken to almost every Minnehaha County Department head. Each of them has called out the state in one way or another. State law mandates the county to pay for many, many things, yet provides the county with one flawed mechanism for funding.
Commissioners choose opt outs (raising property taxes) instead of putting in the time and effort to create meaningful change. Minnehaha County Commissioners have tools at their disposal including a lobbyist, attorneys and membership in the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners (SDACC). Our own commission chair was the president of the SDACC beginning in 2021. I will put in the work and get it done.
Property taxpayers have had enough. During the Sept. 24 Minnehaha County Commission meeting, the commission chair stated they (the commissioners) were all taxpayers, too, so they do approach the budget process with prudence.
The commission also boasted that the levy is the lowest it has been in a dozen years, yet that won’t keep taxes from going up. These statements fall flat.
Every single dollar matters to our taxpayers, especially to those of very low to middle income earners. Those taxpayers are the people I cared for while working for Human Services, and those are the people who need a voice (followed by action) on the Minnehaha County Commission.
2. Home Rule. Current commissioners will bring this concept of government reform back.
When the Home Rule Charter was haphazardly proposed in July, no commissioner involved had a conversation with the three elected officials nor the staff it would affect. And they still haven’t. The voters were insulted, and employees were humiliated and devalued. No one deserves that.
The real problem as I see it is the county has grown so much that a part-time commission no longer makes sense. I know I want the commission I elect to do the job intended. I don’t want the commission hiring someone else to do their job. I will work with staff, voters, and experts in government long range planning to create and implement a solid strategic plan.
The plan should promote smaller government, cost effectiveness, and transparency. As one department head told me, too much is being done in executive sessions and behind the scenes.
As an employee, I witnessed inefficiencies and waste as a result of uninformed commission decision making. As a Commissioner, I will do my research and gather information from multiple avenues and sources to make informed decisions. In addition, taxpayers outside of Sioux Falls will not be forgotten and lines of communication between the county, cities, and townships will be strengthened.
3. Employee hiring and retention. When my husband and I worked for Equalization and Human Services, respectively, we understood the value of our county’s public servants as well as the integral services they provide.
Human Resources presented early this year that 41% of employees were new, working for the county less than four years. This is an expensive statistic. If our county employees don’t have the tools or culture in place in order to be successful, everyone suffers.
I will work closely with Human Resources and Department Heads to bolster hiring, onboarding, and retention programming and processes.
Name: Dean Karsky
Address (city): Sioux Falls.
Occupation: Insurance and Financial Services Agent.
Education/experience: Business owner for 36 years, United States Air Force active duty 1983 -1989, Bachelor of Science Troy State University (AL), Associates Degree from Community College of the Air Force, numerous other professional designations.
What do you see as the three most important issues facing Minnehaha County currently and/or in the next few years, and how could these be best addressed by you as a county commissioner?
1. Property taxes. We must continue to weigh the population growth of the county with the increased need of public services and how to best deliver those services within our means. 57% of our budget revenues come from property tax levies, and over 97% of our budget expenditures are statutorily mandated, so we have a very small margin to work with once we pay all the bills that are required to be paid.
Employee wages are the greatest share of the budget and almost all the growth of that expense has been in public safety and criminal justice.
My 13 years of budget experience as a Sioux Falls City Councilor and Minnehaha County Commissioner allow me to understand the process and implications of proper decisions.
2. The cost of public safety. Seven years ago, we spent less than 50 percent of our budget on public safety related expenses, in 2025 it will be nearly 70 percent.
A great effort is made to utilize federal, state, and private grant money to help keep the budget in check. We need to continue to collaborate with other counties and government bodies to share expenses, especially in jails, juvenile justice issues, and courthouses. As a commissioner, I am most focused on issues of public safety; whether it is law enforcement, fire protection, ambulance services, judicial and courts, we must budget to keep citizens safe.
3. Facilities. A 2017 USD master plan and a 2019 citizen involved Facilities Task Force identified similar issues for us to address by 2032, at which time we will be out of space and have facilities that are beyond reasonable repair.
We are initiating a plan that will give us a vision for what the county facilities could look like to best deliver services to the citizens.
It will be up to the commission board to work with department heads, other elected officials, and the community to make decisions that will have an impact for decades to come.
Name: Cole Heisey
Address (city): Sioux Falls.
Occupation: Insurance Agent.
Education/experience: O’Gorman High School; USD, Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science (minor in Philosophy); member of Young Professionals Network; Board of SD Young Republicans; Board of Sioux Falls Area Right to Life.
What do you see as the three most important issues facing Minnehaha County currently and/or in the next few years, and how could these be best addressed by you as a county commissioner?
1. I’m determined to tackle the persistent rise in property taxes head-on. With our community growing rapidly, balancing economic and population growth with our needs and values, while also preserving its unique character, is a top priority for me.
The government’s role is to responsibly manage community resources, ensuring that every taxpayer dollar enhances residents’ lives and is spent wisely. This includes overseeing and funding essential county services, such as law enforcement and first responders, as well as the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure—all with a focus on prudent oversight and long-term planning.
2. Managing and overseeing countywide economic growth will likely be the most demanding aspect of my day-to-day responsibilities.
Ensuring responsible growth without overburdening public resources will require constant balance. As a commissioner, I will prioritize both immediate needs and long-term goals in every decision.
It’s essential to honor the residents who have called this place home for generations, while also being responsive and forward-thinking for those who now call our county home.
3. Maintaining a transparent and responsive government which respects and works with all citizens is crucial to upholding public trust and accountability. I am committed to fostering a thriving county where citizens’ rights are protected, and their voices are heard.
Upholding local control is a key part of this. Keeping decision-making as local as possible – closest to our residents, where all voices can be heard, whether right, left, or center – is an issue close to my heart.
When citizens have questions or issues, I will prioritize addressing their concerns and providing effective constituent services.
