South Dakota Municipalities – March 2026 by South Dakota Municipal League

SOUTH DAKOTA

MUNICIPALITIES

MARCH 2026

FEATURES

COLUMNS

STAY INFORMED

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

SARA RANKIN | SDML EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

March always feels like a reset to me. The days stretch a little longer, the sun sticks around a little later, and we finally start trading heavy coats for lighter layers. And at the League, March also means one of my favorite seasons of the year: district meeting season.

If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time. Head to the League website and click on “Calendar” for all the details. I truly hope to see you there.

Over the years, I’ve been reminded again and again that while the League provides advocacy, resources, and support, our real strength comes from you, our members. The SDML works because our cities and towns are willing to show up, share ideas, and tackle challenges together. That collaboration is what makes us effective, both locally and at the Capitol.

District meetings are more than just updates and agendas. They are opportunities to connect with peers who understand the realities of municipal service. Whether you’re navigating tight budgets, public safety concerns, infrastructure needs, or economic development pressures, chances are someone else in the room has faced something similar. A small town might benefit from a larger city’s experience launching a new initiative. A larger community might gain fresh perspective from rural innovation and resourcefulness. Those exchanges matter.

SDML

SNAPSHOTS

(LEFT) - Approximately 250 municipal officials, state legislators, and legislative staff attended the South Dakota Municipal League’s Rib Dinner Feb. 3 in Fort Pierre.

(RIGHT) - Brandon City Councilor and District 2 Legislator Dave Kull plays the bag pipes on the House floor Feb. 6.

And when members engage and share what’s happening in their communities, it strengthens our advocacy. A unified voice carries weight. The more connected and involved you are, the more effectively we can represent municipal interests at the state level. Your insight directly shapes our priorities and our message.

Local government can sometimes feel isolating— but it doesn’t have to be. Through the League, you have a built-in network of colleagues who are willing to offer advice, share best practices, and serve as sounding boards. Those relationships often turn into long-term partnerships that make the work easier and more rewarding.

When municipalities collaborate, great things happen. Communities can share resources, coordinate regionally, and develop creative solutions that save both time and money. That spirit of cooperation is what makes South Dakota’s municipal family so strong.

From district meetings to affiliate trainings, the Elected Officials Workshop, and our Annual Conference, there are countless ways to stay connected. Every opportunity to gather is a chance to strengthen our collective impact.

At the end of the day, the League is only as strong as its members. Your involvement truly does make the difference and I’m grateful for each of you. ■

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Leland Treichel, President of the Board, Roscoe

1st VICE PRESIDENT

Michelle DeNeui, Finance Officer, Spearfish

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

Dawn Murphy, Finance Officer, Tea TRUSTEES

Rick Boschee, Mayor, Bowdle

Leah Braun, Chief of Staff, Rapid City

Paullyn Carey, Finance Director, Huron

Richard Thomason, Councilmember, Sioux Falls

Laurie Woodward, City Administrator/Finance Officer, Custer

PAST PRESIDENT

Carolynn Anderson, Finance Officer, Wall

Sara Rankin

Dist. 1 | Mike Grosek, Mayor, Webster

Dist. 2 | Jameson Berreth, City Administrator, Madison

Dist. 3 | Derick Wenck, Mayor, Harrisburg

Dist. 4 | Shauna Meyerink, Finance Officer, Platte

Dist. 5 | Kristi Honeywell, City Administrator, Pierre

Dist. 6 | Frank Schwartz, Mayor, Redfield

Dist. 7 | Gary Weismantel, Mayor, Herreid

Dist. 8 | Brittany Smith, City Administrator, Philip

Dist. 9 | Misty Summers-Walton, Finance Officer, Hot Springs

Dist. 10 | Gina Carpenter, Human Resources Officer, Belle Fourche

LEAGUE STAFF

Executive Director

Lori Butler Deputy Director

Jessica Carr Director of Member Engagement

Emilie Miller Director of Marketing and Communications

Lisa Nold Director of Risk Sharing Services

Kristi Osterkamp Senior Accountant

Krista Kerns Member Accounts Manager Vacant Director of Municipal Electric Services

SD Public Assurance Alliance

Lynn Bren

Executive Director

Kristina Peterson Deputy Director

Becky Brunsing Member Services Representative

Hampton Iverson Member Services Representative

Paytra Nichols Underwriter

sdmunicipalleague.org | 1.800.658.3633 | Fax: 605.224.8655

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Hard to believe the legislative session is almost over. It seems like this year has been flying by. I don’t know if it’s the nicer weather lately or if it’s true that the older you get the faster time moves, but the days definitely go by in a hurry. A shout out to Sara, Yvonne, Eric, Sam, Larry, and Drake for their lobbying abilities and keeping on top of the Capitol happenings. You can still sign up to for the Capitol Connection weekly email or join a weekly City Action Call. Visit www.sdmunicipalleague.org/Advocacy to take advantage of these and other advocacy resources.

A bigger shout out to all of you who have stepped up and come to Pierre to testify at committee hearings and voiced your concerns on certain bills which brought new perspective to legislators and made a difference in how they looked at those bills. You are the ones who really made a difference as to whether or not some of those bills even made it out of committee or if they changed just a bit. Your insight on how they affect our communities is appreciated.

The new election laws that were passed last year got cleaned up a little which should make it easier for finance officers and school business managers after this year. A thank you to those finance officers that asked for and suggested those changes.

With Spring coming, along with district meetings and State Bs, we can almost be assured that the moisture we desperately need will be coming. Spring is a time for renewal of everything—from our environment, to life, to sometimes our attitudes—all very necessary things. My wife and I should be back in Roscoe the night of March 14, so it can happen any time after that, but I would prefer when the moisture happens it is clear and not white and the temperatures stay well above 32. Yes, I shoot for the stars. Crutches don’t work well on ice and snow and while I really dislike using a walker now, I would revert back for safety purposes.

Get your registrations in for your district meetings. They are a good time to get together with others that we don’t see very often and just connect to see what’s happened during the session that affects us and what we all need to prepare for. Hope to see you soon!

BEFORE REWRITING SD'S PROPERTY TAX CODE, START WITH THE TRUTH

YVONNE TAYLOR | SDML ADVOCACY TEAM

Early on this legislative session, we are already seeing multiple property tax measures — and more are surely coming.

If we are going to have a serious tax policy discussion in South Dakota, we need to start with a truthful premise. Many of the loudest voices disparaging our property tax system do not start with that honest base.

The truth is, South Dakotans are not overtaxed. According to the 2026 report by the Tax Foundation, South Dakota

is second most competitive in overall taxes, and eighth most competitive in property taxes.

We are 49th lowest in the United States in state taxes per capita, and 50th lowest in state taxes as a percent of personal income.

Similarly, our government budgets are not bloated or frivolous. As Gov. Larry Rhoden put it in his State of the State address, almost all funds are spent on public safety, helping people stay fed and healthy, and educating our kids.

Where do you want to cut?

We have the 10th lowest total state expenditures per capita in the entire U.S., and the lowest total state expenditures per capita among our neighboring states. Budget cuts in South Dakota cut meat, not fat.

Local budgets go to the programs the local people want — police and fire protection, streets, water, sewer, parks, and all types of quality-of-life facilities that keep our cities growing because people want to live, work, and raise

families in them. We need to keep that local control over local budgets in place. It is the most direct form of government for the citizens.

Just because the loud ones keep saying the same things does not make them true. A legislative property tax study committee traveled the state this summer, practically begging people to attend and give their take on the property tax system that exists now. If you consider there are around 690,000 adults in South Dakota, and one way or the other, they are almost all paying property taxes through either property ownership or rent, you have an idea of the number of people who have an interest in the property tax system. Now, let’s look at the number of people who attended and testified at the property tax meetings this summer.

The vast majority of people testifying at these meetings were not private citizens speaking to the committee — they represented a group or entity impacted by property tax changes. Of the purely private citizens speaking, there were a total of 20 people speaking on their own behalf. Four of those were “frequent flyers” who appeared at two or more of the four meetings. There were two night meetings, where a total of 12 people represented themselves, but we have no idea what they said because those meetings were not publicly recorded.

Of the 20 speaking on their own behalf, several seemed to have a pretty specific issue — one didn’t like exemptions for nonprofits; one thought schools should only pay for reading, writing and math, not arts or sports; one lost every level of appeal, including losing a Supreme Court case by a unanimous vote, but is still mad. Several people were only interested in tax increment financing districts.

Six of the 20 were there to advocate for the complete elimination of the property tax, with some of those advocating for a “transaction tax.” Two supported a corporate income tax.

One person complained about her tax assessments increasing by a large percentage — but public records show she failed to mention she was measuring the increase between when she had bare land, and when she had built a house and garage on it. Facts matter.

So, of the approximately 690,000 South Dakotans paying into the property tax system, only 20 appeared on their own behalf to discuss a wide variety of issues — and very few of those presented a fair representation of the typical taxpayer.

It is always good to have a statewide discussion on the merits of our tax system and ways to make it better — but an honest discussion has to start with honest facts. Let’s hope the legislature can start with the truth when beginning these discussions. ■

Yvonne Taylor is a former executive director of the South Dakota Municipal League with more than 35 years of advocacy experience around the state Legislature.

REVIEW FLSA, SEASONAL/TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AND CHILD LABOR LAWS BEFORE YOU HIRE

It is important to regularly review Fair Labor Standards and Child Labor regulations PRIOR to seasonal hiring. Often, we become complacent and continue to do things the way we have always done them. Reminders like this give us an opportunity to verify that we are adhering to the law. In this economy, none of us can afford to make mistakes that cost our communities back wages for overtime.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) allows for specific exemptions from minimum wage and overtime including administrative, executive, and professional exemptions. For purposes of this article, we will assume that most employees hired for seasonal and temporary positions are non-exempt from minimum wage and overtime provisions. This means that these employees will be eligible to receive minimum wage at $11.85 per hour. Seasonal and temporary employees are eligible to receive 1.5 times the hourly wage for all hours worked over 40 in any given workweek as required by FLSA.

Section 13(a)(3) provides an exemption from the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the FLSA for "any employee employed by an establishment which is an amusement or recreational establishment, if (A) it does not operate for

more than seven months in any calendar year, or (B) during the preceding calendar year, its average receipts for any six months of such year were not more than 33-1/3 per centum of its average receipts for the other six months of such year."

It would seem apparent that a swimming pool or other facility that is open only for the summer months would qualify for this exemption from overtime and minimum wage provisions of the FLSA. But please note, if seasonal employees who qualify for this exemption perform other jobs for the city, this exemption from overtime may not apply.

Also please review the “FLSA Child Labor Regulations Refresher” article on the next page. It is important to consider the duties that employees under age 18 are permitted to perform. With limited resources and limited staff, it becomes essential to understand the law.

The majority of the questions that the Municipal League receives are regarding “children” under eighteen years of age (16-17) and if they are allowed to run lawn mowers. The League discourages cities from doing so but we will leave that to you and your city attorney to work out. It would also be prudent to review the Child Labor Violation Penalties which is in a later article as well.

These laws can be complicated and difficult to sort out. If there are questions, employers are required to follow the law that provides the greatest benefit to the employee.

SD Codified law can be found online at sdlegislature.gov/ Statutes under Title 60 Labor and Employment. The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) staff is also a great resource. You also have access to the knowledgeable SDML staff (800-658-3633) and the SD Governmental Human Resource Association. ■

FLSA CHILD LABOR REGULATIONS REFRESHER

Reprinted from the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division website. The information in this article is a snapshot of what is provided via the DOL website. For more details, visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/childlabor101.pdf.

With summer just around the corner, it may be a good time to have a little refresher course on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regarding child labor regulations. Employers may employ youth only under certain conditions and child labor regulations vary significantly depending on the age of the youth.

FEDERAL CHILD LABOR PROVISIONS

The FLSA child labor provisions are designed to protect the educational opportunities of minors and prohibit their employment in jobs and under conditions detrimental to their health or well-being. The provisions include restrictions on hours of work for minors under 16 and lists of hazardous occupations orders for both farm and non-farm jobs declared by the Secretary of Labor to be too dangerous for minors to perform. Further information on prohibited occupations is available from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ whd/youthrules.

OTHER LAWS THAT IMPACT CHILD LABOR

Other federal and state laws may have higher standards. When these apply, the more stringent standard must be observed. All states have child labor provisions, compulsory school attendance laws, and establish the minimum ages and conditions under which youths may operate motor vehicles.

Unless otherwise exempt, a covered minor employee is entitled to receive the same minimum wage, overtime, safety and health, and nondiscrimination protections as adult workers.

MINIMUM AGE STANDARDS FOR NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT

14 Young persons 14 and 15 years of age may be employed outside school hours in a variety of nonmanufacturing and non-hazardous jobs for limited periods of time and under specified conditions.

16 Basic minimum age for employment. 16- and 17-yearolds may be employed for unlimited hours in any occupation other than those declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor.

18 Once a youth reaches 18 years of age, he or she is no longer subject to the Federal youth employment provisions.

OCCUPATION STANDARDS FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS

The following list, which is not exhaustive, are jobs that 14and 15-year-olds may not be employed in:

• They are prohibited from working in any of the Hazardous

Orders or in most occupations involving transportation, construction, warehousing, communications, and public utilities.

• They may not work in processing, mining, in any workroom or workplace where goods are manufactured or processed, in freezers, or in meat coolers.

• They may not operate or tend any power-driven machinery, except office machines.

• They may not perform any baking operations.

• They may not be employed in youth peddling, sign waving, or door-to-door sales activities.

• They may not work from ladders, scaffolds, or their substitutes.

• They may not be employed to catch or coop poultry.

The following is the list of jobs the Secretary of Labor has determined will not interfere with the schooling, health, and well-being of 14- and 15-year-olds and therefore MAY BE performed by such youth. Any job not specifically permitted, is prohibited.

• They may work in most office jobs and retail and food service establishments.

• They may be employed in occupations such as bagging groceries, office work, stocking shelves, and cashiering.

• They may work in intellectual or artistically creative occupations such as teacher, musician, artist, and performer.

• They may perform limited kitchen work involving the preparation of food and beverages.

• They may perform only limited cooking duties (see Fact Sheet #58). They may cook over electric or gas grills that do not involve cooking over an open flame and they may cook with deep fryers that are equipped with and utilize a device that automatically lowers the baskets into the hot oil or grease and automatically raised the baskets from the hot oil or grease.

• They may clean cooking equipment and surfaces (not

otherwise prohibited), and filter, transport, and dispose of grease as long as the temperature of the surfaces, containers, and grease do not exceed 100°F.

• Properly certified 15-year-olds may work as lifeguards and swimming instructors at traditional swimming pools and water amusement parks.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS FOR 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS IN NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT

The Hazardous Occupations Orders (HOs) for Nonagricultural Employment

These Orders are published in Subpart E of Part 570 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The FLSA provides a minimum age of 18 years for any nonagricultural occupations which the Secretary of Labor “shall find and by order declare” to be particularly hazardous for 16- and 17-year-old persons, or detrimental to their health or well-being. In addition, Child Labor Regulation No. 3 also bans 14- and 15-year-olds from performing any work proscribed by the HOs. This minimum age applies even when the minor is employed by the parent or person standing in place of the parent. The seventeen HOs apply either on an industry basis, specifying the occupations in

the industry that are not permitted, or an occupational basis irrespective of the industry in which found. Some of the HOs contain limited exceptions.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE FEDERAL CHILD LABOR PROVISIONS

The Wage and Hour Division, which is part of the Department of Labor, administers and enforces the child labor, minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Wage and Hour Division also has enforcement responsibility for programs covering such things as prevailing wages for government contracts, the payment of special minimum wages, farm labor, family and medical leave, immigration and polygraph testing. Wage and Hour Division Investigators, who are stationed across the United States, are authorized to conduct investigations and gather data on wages, hours of work, and compliance with all the provisions of the FLSA, including the child labor provisions.

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION Civil Money Penalties

An employer that violates the youth employment provisions may be subject to civil money penalties (CMPs). The amount of the CMP assessment, which may not exceed a cap set

by statute, depends upon the application of statutory and regulatory factors to the specific circumstances of the case.

• As a general matter, child labor CMP assessments will be higher if the violation contributed to the injury or death of the youth involved in the violation. The severity of any such injury will be taken into account in determining the amount of a CMP.

• CMP assessments may be decreased based on the size of the business.

• CMP assessments will reflect the gravity of the violation and may be doubled if the violation is determined to be willful or repeated.

A CMP assessment for a violation that causes the death or serious injury of a minor is subject to a higher statutory cap.

• An injury qualifies as a “serious injury” for this purpose if it involves permanent or substantial harm. Both the significance of the injury and the duration of recovery are relevant in determining whether an injury is serious.

• If more than one violation caused a single death or serious injury, more than one CMP may be assessed.

• CMP assessments based on the death or serious injury of a minor may be doubled up to a higher statutory cap if the violation is determined to be willful or repeated.

For current maximum CMP amounts, please visit https:// www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For information about the federal child labor requirements, visit the YouthRules! at http://www.youthrules.dol.gov.

For additional information, visit the Wage and Hour Division website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd or call the toll-free information and helpline, available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone, 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). ■

APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL CHILD LABOR PROVISIONS TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF LIFEGUARDS

Fact Sheet # 60: Application of the Federal Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to the Employment of Lifeguards. Revised July 2010.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), administered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), requires that most employees be paid at least the applicable federal minimum wage and overtime pay for all hours worked at time and one-half the regular rate of pay after 40 hours in a workweek. The FLSA also includes child labor and recordkeeping provisions. While some seasonal and recreational establishments such as outdoor swimming pools may be exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA if they meet certain tests, this exemption does not apply to the child labor or record keeping provisions of the FLSA.

CHILD LABOR PROVISIONS OF THE FLSA

The federal child labor provisions were enacted to protect the educational opportunities of minors and prohibit their employment in jobs and under conditions detrimental to their health or well-being.

18 years of age

Once a minor reaches 18 years of age, the federal child labor provisions no longer apply to their employment.

16 and 17 years of age

Sixteen and 17-year-olds employed as lifeguards may perform any nonhazardous job, for unlimited hours. The Secretary of Labor has declared 17 Hazardous Occupations Orders (HOs) which restrict the types of jobs and/or industries in which youth under 18 years of age may be employed. Although not exhaustive, the following list represents some common tasks which occur at establishments that employ lifeguards. Under the federal child labor provisions, workers under 18 years of age generally may not:

• Operate or assist to operate, clean, oil, set up, adjust, or repair certain power-driven woodworking, metalworking, bakery, meat processing, and paper products machinery - including meat slicers, compactors, balers, mixers, and saws.

• Drive or serve as an outside-helper on a motor vehicle on a public road; but 17-year- olds who meet certain specific requirements may drive automobiles and trucks that do not exceed 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight for limited amounts of time during daylight hours as part of their job. (see Fact Sheet #34.)

• Operate power-driven hoists such as elevators, cranes, derricks, and high-lift trucks. However, 16- and 17-yearolds may operate and assist in the operation of most water amusement park and recreation establishment rides.

• Load, operate, or unload power-driven balers and compactors used in the disposal of waste. A limited exemption exists that permits the loading, but not the operating or unloading, of certain scrap paper balers and paper box compactors under certain specific conditions (see Fact Sheet #57).

14 and 15 years of age

Fifteen-year-olds, but not youth less than 15 years of age, may be employed as lifeguards at traditional swimming pools and most facilities of water amusement parks. Such employment must meet the following conditions:

• The 15-year-old must be trained and certified by the American Red Cross, or a similar certifying organization, in aquatics and water safety; and

• The 15-year-old must be employed in compliance with all the other applicable provisions of the federal child labor rules contained in Child Labor Regulations No. 3 (see Subpart C of 29 CFR Part 570), , including the restrictions on the hours and times of day that 15-yearolds may be employed as discussed below; and

• The federal child labor rules require that 15-yearolds who are employed to teach or assist in teaching others how to swim must also be certified as swimming instructors by the American Red Cross or some other similar certifying agency.

The occupation of lifeguard, as per 29 C.F.R. § 570.34(l), encompasses the duties of rescuing swimmers in danger of drowning, the monitoring of activities at a swimming pool to prevent accidents, the teaching of water safety, and providing assistance to patrons. Lifeguards may also help to maintain order and cleanliness in the pool and pool areas, conduct or officiate at swimming meets, and administer first aid. Additional ancillary lifeguard duties may include checking

in and out such items as towels, rings, watches and apparel. Properly certified 15-year-old lifeguards are also permitted to use a ladder to access and descend from the lifeguard chair; use hand tools to clean the pool and pool area; and test and record water quality for temperature and/or pH levels, using all of the tools of the testing process including adding chemicals to the test water sample. Such youth would, however, be prohibited from entering or working in any chemical storage areas, including any areas where the filtration and chlorinating systems are housed.

As mentioned, a core and defining duty of a lifeguard is the rescuing of swimmers in danger of drowning, often by entering the water and physically bringing the swimmer to safety. Under 29 C.F.R. § 570.34(l), any employee under the age of 16 whose duties include this core duty-such as a "junior lifeguard" or a "swim-teacher aide"-or whose employment could place him or her in a situation where the employer would reasonably expect him or her to perform such rescue duties, would be performing the duties of a lifeguard while working in such a position. For such employment to comply with these child labor provisions, the employee would have to be at least 15 years of age and possess the proper certification.

A traditional swimming pool means a water tight structure of concrete, masonry, or other approved materials located either indoors or outdoors, used for bathing or swimming and filled with a filtered and disinfected water supply, together with buildings, appurtenances and equipment used in connection therewith. A water amusement park means a facility that not only encompasses the features of a traditional swimming pool, but also includes such additional attractions as wave pools, lazy rivers, activities areas and elevated water slides.

Properly certified 15-year-olds may be employed as lifeguards at water amusement park wave pools, lazy rivers, and activities areas, but not at the top of elevated water slides. Generally, all youth under 16 years of age are prohibited from operating or tending power-driven equipment and may not assist the public as they enter, "ride," and leave waterpark or amusement-park-type rides. Thus, minors under 16, even if properly certified as lifeguards, may not be employed as dispatchers, attendants, or slide monitors at the top of elevated water slides. Fifteen-year-olds who are properly certified may be employed as lifeguards stationed at the splashdown pools located at the bottom of elevated water slides.

Youth under 16 years of age may not be employed as lifeguards at natural environment facilities such as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, quarries, reservoirs, wharfs, piers, or ocean-side beaches.

HOURS LIMITATIONS

The employment of 14- and 15-year-olds, including those 15-year-olds employed as lifeguards, is generally limited to:

• Outside of school hours;

• 3 hours on a school day, including Fridays;

• 8 hours on a non-school day;

• 18 hours in a week that school is in session;

• 40 hours in a week that school is not in session.

Also, such youth may not work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (except from June 1 through Labor Day when the evening limit is extended to 9 p.m.).

OCCUPATIONS LIMITATIONS

Fourteen- and 15-year-olds, including properly certified 15-year-olds who are employed as lifeguards, may not be employed in the following occupations that are often found at establishments that have traditional swimming pools:

• Work involving the operation or tending of any power-driven machinery and hoists (except office

machinery). This prohibition includes work involving most amusement park and recreation establishment rides - including dispatchers on elevated water slidesand power-driven lawn mowers and trimmers.

• All baking and most cooking. These minors may perform cooking with electric and gas grilles that does not involve cooking with open flames. They may also cook with deep fryers that are equipped with and utilize devices that automatically lower and raise the fryer baskets into and out of the hot oil or grease. They may not operate NEICO broilers, pressure cookers, ovens or rotisseries.

• The cleaning of cooking equipment and the filtering, transporting, and disposing of hot oil and grease when the surfaces or hot oil or grease exceed 100° F.

• All work in construction, including demolition and repair.

• All work involving the use of ladders or scaffolding, except properly certified 15-year- old lifeguards may use a ladder to access and descend from the lifeguard chair.

• All work in freezers, but they may enter freezers equipped with safety latches, for brief periods of time, to retrieve items.

13 years of age and younger

Youth under 14 years of age are generally not allowed to work in nonagricultural occupations. However, the FLSA

does allow a parent who is the sole-owner of a business to employ his or her child in any occupations other than mining, manufacturing or those declared to be hazardous by the Secretary of Labor.

WHERE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information, visit our Wage and Hour Division Website: http://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd and/or call our toll-free information and helpline, available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone, 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243).

This publication is for general information and is not to be considered in the same light as official statements of position contained in the regulations.

The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. ■

FEATURED PARTNER

MUNICIPAL SALES TAX & MUNICIPAL GROSS RECEIPTS TAX

Submitting Municipal Boundary Changes and Changes to Streets and Addresses

South Dakota sales tax, including municipal sales tax, is collected based on the delivery address for all taxable sales. This includes products and services.

Retailers and service providers can verify the applicable sales tax rate for a South Dakota address using the Department of Revenue’s (DOR) tax rate lookup database provided on the department’s website. Retailers and service providers rely on the database to provide accurate tax rate information. The Department of Revenue relies on each municipality imposing a municipal sales or gross receipts tax to provide the most up to date address information to keep the database as accurate as possible.

To ensure your city’s municipal tax revenue is being collected accurately, it is vital that the State Department of Revenue has the most current city boundaries and all addresses within those boundaries. When a city has a boundary change, a street or address change, or additional addresses created, the city must notify the Department of Revenue.

Notices of annexations and address changes or additions are submitted through the Department’s “Notice of Annexation” webpage, https://sddor.seamlessdocs.com/f/2043 and “Notice of New or Updated Addresses” webpage at https:// sddor.seamlessdocs.com/f/5028. These pages provide the form to complete and allow you to upload all necessary documents regarding boundary changes and address updates.

CITY BOUNDARY CHANGES

When submitting a boundary change you will need to include (preferably PDF or Excel formats):

• Copy of the resolution or amendment

• Updated city boundary map (aerial map is preferred)

• List of addresses within the annexed area

ADDRESS UPDATES

When submitting address updates, you will need to include (preferably PDF or Excel Formats):

• List of the addresses - indicate if these are new, corrected or updated addresses

• Map of address locations (aerial map is preferred)

Once the notice is submitted you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the form.

The Department of Revenue wants to ensure your city is receiving the city tax you are due. This can only happen with your continuous assistance to ensure the department’s information is accurate.

If you would like to verify the addresses the department currently has for your city, please email DOR.TechHelp@ state.sd.us for directions and assistance.

Find information regarding municipal sales tax online at https://dor.sd.gov/businesses/taxes/municipal-tax, or by calling the Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-800-829-9188. ■

SD FIT NEWS

SHEILA COSS | SD FIT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

A Seasonal Reset for Public Funds

As winter fades and daylight savings time reminds us to spring forward, many municipalities use this season to reassess priorities—cleaning out storage rooms, updating policies, and planning for the year ahead. Spring is also an ideal time to review investment strategies and make sure public funds are positioned appropriately for both near-term needs and long-term obligations.

Just as spring cleaning helps separate what’s needed now from what can be stored away, municipal investment planning requires distinguishing between short-term operating cash and funds that can be invested longer term. Through SD FIT, local governments have access to both daily liquidity options and fixed-rate investments, allowing them to align cash management decisions with upcoming obligations, market conditions, and policy requirements.

Local governments must balance safety, liquidity, and yield when investing public funds. The South Dakota Public Funds Investment Trust (SD FIT) is a specialized investment pool designed exclusively for municipalities, counties, school districts, and other local entities. It offers a spectrum of cash-management and investment options that help public finance officers make informed choices between short-term flexibility and long-term yield potential.

WHAT SD FIT OFFERS

SD FIT functions as a cash management and investment service tailored for local government portfolios. The trust manages pooled funds to provide competitive returns, professional investment oversight, and a range of options from daily liquidity to fixed-rate investments.

Core offerings include:

• Daily liquidity investment accounts that provide immediate access to funds with market return.

• Fixed-rate investments (via institutional CDs, U.S. Treasuries, and other high-quality fixed income) that allow locking in a known rate for a set term.

CURRENT SD FIT RATE

(as of Feb. 2, 2026)

Daily (short-term) rate: ~3.35% annualized, based on the most recent daily yield annualized figure. This reflects shortterm market conditions where yields on liquid instruments like T-bills and money-market holdings tend to dominate.

(Note: Rates vary with market conditions and may change frequently — municipalities should verify current yields directly with SD FIT before investing.)

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS: STRENGTHS & USE CASES

Definition: Short-term here refers to investments with high liquidity and frequent access (daily or weekly), such as the SD FIT money market-style account that credits returns based on recent income generation.

Pros

• Liquidity: Funds can be accessed quickly to cover payroll, payables, or emergency expenses without notice.

• Stability: Principal is preserved with minimal market value fluctuation.

• Cash flow alignment: Useful for operational funds and short-cycle cash flow planning.

Cons

• Lower yield: The trade-off for liquidity is typically lower return than locking funds into a longer-term fixed rate.

• Rate sensitivity: Daily yields can fluctuate with market interest rates.

Typical Use Cases for Municipalities

• Operating funds

• Reserve accounts for near-term obligations

• Funds awaiting allocation to longer-term projects

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS: STRENGTHS & USE CASES

Definition: Long-term investments through SD FIT involve fixed-rate instruments such as institutional certificates of deposit, U.S. government obligations, or bank CDs with maturities beyond the short-term horizon. These are procured through SD FIT’s bidding process, which works with banks to secure competitive rates.

Pros

• Higher yield potential: By extending maturity beyond overnight or weekly liquidity, municipalities often realize better interest rates — especially in higher-rate environments.

• Predictability: Fixed rates help in budgeting, as returns are known at purchase.

• Locking in yield: Protects returns if market rates fall after investment.

Cons

• Reduced liquidity: Funds are tied up until maturity. Accessing them early may incur penalties or opportunity costs.

• Interest rate risk: Long-term rates can be less favorable if the yield curve changes (e.g., steepening curve).

Typical Use Cases for Municipalities

• Debt service reserve funds

• Capital project funding committed over years

• Endowments and dedicated long-term reserves

COMPARING SHORT & LONG TERM: YIELD & STRATEGY

Short-Term Long-Term

Liquidity Very High Lower

Return Potential Moderate Higher (usually)

Risk Exposure Low Market Risk Interest Rate Risk

Use Case Cash Flow Needs Future Obligations, Capital Projects

Typical Rate (SD FIT)

~3.35% (as of 2/2/26)

Often above short run, varies with term and market

Municipal treasurers often use a laddered approach — maintaining a core of liquid assets for operations while staggering longer-term investments to capture higher yields without sacrificing all liquidity. This strategy helps balance safety, cash needs, and income.

REGULATORY & RISK CONSIDERATIONS

• SD FIT investments aren’t FDIC-insured; they rely on prudent portfolio management and high-quality securities to preserve principal.

• Local investment policy and state law (SDCL 4-5-6 and others) determine allowable investments. Municipalities should ensure alignment with GASB reporting and internal policies.

• While long-term rates may be higher, municipalities must weigh opportunity cost of liquidity when locking funds away.

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR MUNICIPAL FINANCE OFFICERS

1. Define the fund’s purpose before choosing term length — operational funds need liquidity more than yield.

2. Monitor rate trends — short-term SD FIT yields can shift with interest rate cycles.

3. Consider a laddered investment strategy to balance liquidity and yield.

4. Review policy & compliance to ensure investment choices meet statutory and accounting obligations.

SPRING FORWARD WITH A BALANCED STRATEGY

Spring is about renewal, clarity, and making thoughtful adjustments—and municipal investing is no different. By taking time now to review cash balances and investment timelines, municipalities can ensure funds are neither sitting idle nor locked away unnecessarily. SD FIT’s combination of short-term liquidity and longer-term fixed-rate options allows local governments to remain nimble while still capturing competitive yields.

As daylight stretches longer and budgets come into clearer focus, a balanced approach—maintaining liquidity for today while investing strategically for tomorrow—helps municipalities move forward with confidence. A seasonal investment review can be a simple but powerful step toward stronger cash management and better outcomes for taxpayers throughout the year. ■

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE

Registration is now open for the 2026 Police Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Conference, which will be held April 14-16 at the Lodge at Deadwood.

The annual conference gathers police chiefs, sheriffs, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies as an opportunity to engage in training and professional development opportunities.

“This conference brings together South Dakota’s law enforcement professionals for an unparalleled networking and advanced training, ensuring our agencies leaders remain prepared and connected,” says Chief Jason Foote, President of the South Dakota Police Chiefs Association.

This year’s agenda features speakers whose sessions will focus on topics such as leadership, leading at-risk employees, personal development and team building, critical incident response and lessons learned, as well as kratom and emerging substances currently sold throughout the state.

The conference will also include a presentation of awards for Medal of Honor, Citizen’s Award of Merit, Sheriffs’ Service Award, Chief Deputy Ken Prorok Safety Officer of the Year, and SDPCA/SDSA Officer of the Year. The awards will be presented during the banquet on the evening of Wednesday, April 15.

Full conference registration with banquet ticket is just $135 through March 30. One-day and guest options are also available. Learn more and register at www.sdmunicipalleague.org/events. ■

MARCH 12-15

MARCH 13-14

YANKTON IGNITES COMMUNITY SPIRIT

FOR AMERICA’S 250TH CELEBRATION

AMERICA 250TH SOUTH DAKOTA COMMISSION

As communities across South Dakota prepare for the nation’s 250th anniversary in July, Yankton is showing how a hometown can turn a national milestone into a meaningful, community-wide celebration.

As the first capital of Dakota Territory, Yankton has long embraced its historic identity. Now, through a city-led task force, it is planning a week of events and a legacy project designed to honor the past while bringing residents together in new and engaging ways. Branded “Yankton, SD, Celebrates America’s 250th,” the initiative blends history, recreation, arts, and civic pride, creating opportunities for participation well beyond a single day of fireworks.

“At its heart, this celebration is about community,” said Todd Larson, Director of Yankton Parks, Recreation and City Events. “We want people of all ages to find a way to participate, whether that’s planting a tree, walking the Meridian Bridge, visiting one of our museums, or gathering in Riverside Park on July 4. The 250th is a chance to reflect on where we’ve been and celebrate where we’re going together.”

A centerpiece of Yankton’s effort is the refurbishment of the Dakota Territorial

Capitol Replica Building in Riverside Park. Originally constructed by the Yankton Sertoma Club and dedicated in 1989, the replica honors the city’s territorial roots. The task force has set a goal of raising $100,000 to restore and preserve the building, ensuring the celebration leaves behind something tangible for future generations.

By forming a task force, identifying a legacy project, and inviting partnerships across civic groups,

schools, businesses, and cultural organizations, Yankton demonstrates that meaningful participation doesn’t require a large population, just strong local commitment.

The America 250th South Dakota Commission invites every South Dakota town, large or small, to become an official partner in the statewide 250th commemoration. Register your community via the America 250th website at americas250th.sd.gov. ■

Fireworks explode over Yankton's historic double-deck MERIDAN BRIDGE.

Yankton’s 250th Celebration

Yankton’s plans span several days around Independence Day and include a blend of outdoor activities, heritage experiences, and community gatherings:

• Dakota Territorial Capitol Building Renovation – A yearlong fundraising effort to restore this historic Riverside Park landmark, originally completed in 1989. The task force aims to raise $100,000 with community support and matching city funds.

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR OUTDOOR REC

PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) recently announced that the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and Recreation Trails Program (RTP) grant applications for 2026 are now open.

Recreational Trails Program

• 250 Trees for 250 Years – A community challenge encouraging individuals, schools, and organizations to plant and document 250 or more trees throughout the city in 2026.

• Meridian Bridge 250 Challenge – Participants can walk, run, and track 250 laps in honor of 250 years of independence, earning commemorative prizes along the way.

• New exhibit at the Mead Museum – Opening in July, A Dakota Story 1870–1970. The museum, housed in a historic 1909 Sioux Quartzite building, chronicles the region’s history from 1870 to 1970.

• Historic and Cultural Events – Cemetery tours, special presentations like America’s Story, and a time capsule burial at Mead Heritage Park that will be opened in 2076.

• Family Activities & Entertainment – Kayak excursions with stewardship elements, summer concerts, murals, youth programming, and a full slate of July 4 outdoor festivities in Riverside Park, featuring live music, patriotic presentations, and fireworks.

Follow these pages to take part in this historic celebration.

• https://www.yanktonsd.com/americas-250th

• https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=61583204428014

The Recreational Trails Program is a federal aid assistance program to help states and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and non-motorized use. The program provides up to 80 percent reimbursement funds for all kinds of recreational trail uses.

The RTP encourages all kinds of trail enthusiasts to work together to provide a variety of recreational trails opportunities. RTP funds come to the state through the Federal Highway Administration and are apportioned to states by congress to fund both motorized and nonmotorized public recreation trail projects.

The application deadline is April 10, 2026.

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federal program that supports the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. This grant helps state and local governments enhance parks, trails, and natural spaces, ensuring equitable access to outdoor recreation while conserving critical lands for future generations.

It provides up to 50 percent reimbursement for approved outdoor recreation projects that seek at least $10,000 in grant assistance. Emphasis will be given to project applications that address the priority needs identified in the 2023 South Dakota Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

Priorities identified by the public include, but are not limited to, unpaved trails, swim beaches, fishing areas, canoe and kayak water trails, nature areas/open spaces, playgrounds, dog parks, and picnic areas.

The application deadline is April 30, 2026.

Application information for both grants are available on the Partnerships page of the Game, Fish, and Parks website. Refer to the application manuals for detailed instructions.

For more information, contact Grants Coordinator Kerri Richards at 605.773.5490 or by email at Kerri.Richards@ state.sd.us. ■

SDPAA NEWS

LYNN BREN | SDPAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Honoring 250 Years of the United States: An Opportunity

for

Local Governments to Strengthen Community, Celebrate

History, and Plan Safely for the

This year, our nation marks its 250th anniversary — a milestone that invites reflection, celebration, and renewed commitment to the communities we serve. While national commemorations will draw headlines, the most meaningful observances will happen at the local level. You are uniquely positioned to turn this anniversary into something more than a date on the calendar. You have the opportunity to turn this historical event into an opportunity to emphasize community pride, historical storytelling, tourism, and even improved safety practices.

Long before statehood, before county lines were drawn, and before many of our communities had names, people gathered to solve problems, share resources, and build a future together. That spirit — neighbor helping neighbor — is as alive today in South Dakota as it was in 1776. We witness this collaboration every time we step into a training session, conference, or convention.

The 250th anniversary offers a chance to highlight that continuity. It’s an opportunity to remind residents that the work happening in city halls, county courthouses, public works shops, and volunteer fire stations is part of a long, proud tradition of local self-governance.

Every community, large or small, can tailor the anniversary to fit its character. Incorporating the anniversary into your own local community events can help draw new visitors to your area, while staying engaged with the citizens to reinforce the love and devotion to your community. A few ideas that blend celebration with engagement:

Future

Local History Spotlights

• Create walking tours or interpretive signs highlighting historic buildings, early settlers, or key community milestones.

• Partner with schools to have students research and present local stories from the past 250 years. Having a contest with a small prize always draws more attention and attendance!

• Invite long time residents to share oral histories at libraries or community centers. People love learning from other people.

Involving your citizens in the celebration of your communities, even if it’s not a milestone year for you, will help strengthen the community identity and give residents a sense of belonging — something especially valuable in a time of rapid change.

Community Events That Bring People Together

• Host a “250th Community Day” with food, music, and local vendors, or incorporate this theme into your already scheduled annual celebration.

• Incorporate the 250th anniversary theme into your already scheduled parades, fireworks displays, street dances etc.

• Encourage neighborhoods to hold block parties or volunteer clean up days.

Your annual celebration events help to strengthen social ties, which in turn support public safety and resilience.

Tourism Opportunities for Rural and Urban Communities Alike

South Dakota travelers love a good story, and they love to share those stories with their friends… friends at the diner as well as friends on social media! Communities can use the anniversary to:

• Promote heritage tourism through brochures, maps, or social media campaigns.

• Highlight unique local landmarks or lesser-known historical sites.

• Partner with regional tourism groups or other communities to create multi community “250th Trails” or weekend itineraries.

No matter how large or small, communities with creative opportunities for celebrating can attract visitors when they frame their history in a compelling way. Every community has something that is unique to them, use the anniversary to boast about what you have accomplished and have to offer.

Celebrations bring people together, but they also bring increased activity, foot traffic, and event related risks. This is where thoughtful planning pays off, and this article wouldn’t be useful if we didn’t offer up some loss control tips to consider when planning your upcoming celebrations!

Use this year to take some meaningful steps to review your event safety and emergency response plans.

Event Safety

• Review emergency action plans for parades, fireworks, and large gatherings.

• Ensure proper barricades, signage, and traffic control devices are available and in good condition.

• Coordinate early with law enforcement, EMS, and volunteer fire departments.

• Ensure that all vendors and vendor contracts include appropriate coverage requirements as well as hold harmless and indemnification language (local counsel should review all any contracts or agreements before they are executed)

Facility and Infrastructure Readiness

• Inspect parks, sidewalks, playgrounds, and public buildings before hosting events.

• Address trip hazards, lighting issues, and accessibility concerns.

• Confirm that electrical systems used for temporary stages or vendors meet safety standards.

Documentation and Training

• Refresh staff and volunteer training on crowd management, incident reporting, and equipment use. Ensure that all staff is aware of who and how to document and report incidents to facilitate an efficient investigation should a claim arise.

• Document pre event inspections and post event reviews to support continuous improvement. Be prepared to review any incidents which occur during your event and consider how your response plans were effective and where they may need adjustments.

These steps don’t dampen the celebration — they ensure it’s memorable for the right reasons.

The 250th anniversary is more than a commemoration. It’s a reminder that local governments are the stewards of both history and possibility. By embracing this milestone, South Dakota communities can honor not only the nation’s founding, but the enduring role of local leadership in shaping the American story. ■

STUDIES REVEAL AI ADOPTION AND ATTITUDES

MICAH GAUDET | DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, CITY OF MARICOPA, AZ

Recently, several notable studies examined how we use and view AI. Taken together, these studies offer a clearer picture of AI adoption and use. AI is surging, with 98 percent of US adults saying they have seen or heard something about AI in the last year, according to a recent Gallup survey. One in ten people use ChatGPT at least weekly, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research paper, and message volume is doubling every eight months.

USAGE

While people are aware of and using AI regularly, its core use is

somewhat mundane. It is used to gather information, make decisions and document work, which appears consistent across professions and largely occupation-agnostic. Even in prompts involving writing, the overwhelming majority are related to editing, revising and polishing usercreated text.

Anthropic’s Economic Index adds additional texture to this picture and highlights where AI is used, and not used, in existing work streams by profession. Policing, for instance, shows variation in AI use by role. Detectives use Large Language Models (LLMs)

like Claude to prepare charges or responses to charges, and information for court. Officers are using Claude to assist motorists by providing road information. While core usage appears consistent across occupations, some professions may move faster than others.

In the U.S., AI usage is primarily focused on everyday tasks like nutrition, career documentation and personal advice. Usage patterns vary by state and economy. Users in high per-capita states are somewhat more likely to use AI for collaborative, augmentation-style work, while lower per-capita economies

lean toward delegating full tasks to the model. The Economic Index shows variation by state. Texas users prioritize work-related tasks such as resumes, workflow optimization and K-12 educational materials. South Carolina has a very different mix, with elevated interest in legal drafting, gaming and personal relationship advice. In Arizona, which ranks 26th in per-capita use, the top uses of Claude include editing (5 percent of conversations), debugging (3 percent), tutoring (3 percent) and healthcare (3 percent). This suggests that state-level economics may determine what problems AI is being applied to and how AI is expected to work.

PUBLIC TRUST

While adoption surges, public trust is not keeping pace. According to Pew Research, most Americans remain wary about the growing role of AI. Half of adults are more concerned than excited

about AI, up sharply from 37 percent in 2021. Most adults under 30 believe AI will make people worse at creativity and will erode human relationships. Forty percent of adults over 65 share those concerns.

While views on AI’s impact are relatively negative, Pew Research shows that most Americans are open to using AI in specific cases. Strong majorities support using AI to detect financial crimes (70 percent) and identify fraud in government benefits (70 percent). Surprisingly, 61 percent support using AI to identify crime suspects. In their daily lives, 73 percent of American adults would allow AI to assist them a little with daily activities, although only 13 percent expressed willingness to let AI play a major role. Most interestingly, the strongest support for AI policy (72 percent) is expanding workforce training and AI education to help people learn how to develop or use AI. People are

AI TOOLKIT FOR MUNICIPALITIES

Explore the benefits as well as the potential risks of artificial intelligence in NLC’s AI Toolkit for Municipalities.

not rejecting AI outright. They are asking for education and training.

Across these studies, one theme is consistent: AI adoption is accelerating. Governments could consider deploying AI to automate tasks versus strengthening human judgment and whether AI governance includes appropriate and timely training to prepare the workforce to thrive alongside the new technology. The research suggests that the answers to those questions will matter more than adoption rates alone. ■

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR FINANCE OFFICER AWARD

The South Dakota Governmental Finance Officers’ Association is seeking nominations for their prestigious Finance Officer of the Year award. The award recognizes a member of the association who has made significant contributions to their municipality as a finance officer and to their community as a citizen.

“Finance officers serve a crucial role within South Dakota municipalities and are well known for going above and beyond in serving their organizations,” said Association President Michelle DeNeui of Spearfish. “Finance officers are also known for serving their communities through participation in community groups and activities.”

The award will be presented during the association’s annual Finance Officers’ School, held June 10-12 in Oacoma, SD.

Nominations can be submitted online at sdmunicipalleague. org/FinanceOfficers. Nominations are due May 1. ■

C ITY MANAGERS TO HOST INAUGURAL CONFERENCE

The South Dakota City Management Association will hold its first ever conference in Harrisburg on March 18-20.

Registration is now open to city managers and administrators, chiefs of staff, assistant/deputies, and department heads.

Chad Wright, founder of Forward Partners, will work with participants in a day-long session focused on leadership development and values development. The second half of the conference will focus on the theme and mapping for SDCMA in 2026-27. Participants will also have networking opportunities both Wednesday evening prior to the conference start, as well as Thursday at the conference location.

For the full conference details and registration, visit www. sdmunicipalleague.org/events. ■

Monday, April 6 Pre-Conference

3-4 p.m. Royal River Casino Tour (Optional) Member and Vendor Social Meal on your own

Tuesday, April 7

10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Registration Lunch on your own

12-4 p.m. Presentations

• Value of Public Power

• Policy & Leadership Round Table

• Impacts of Large Loads

• Dry Ice Cleaning

4-6 p.m. Vendor Show and Expo 6:30 p.m. Prime Rib Dinner

Wednesday, April 8

7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast

9-12 a.m. Presentations

• GIS & Field Operations

• Data Centers

• Industry Updates

12 p.m. Lunch Provided

Registration Fees

SDMEA Member Municipality | $250

Non-member | $600

Guest (Prime Rib Dinner) | $60

RISK-SHARING NEWS

BRAD WILSON | SDML WORKERS' COMPENSATION FUND

SDML Work Comp Fund and SDPAA to Continue Mental Health Benefit for First Responders and Families

The SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund Board of Trustees is happy to continue the partnership with the SDPAA Board of Directors to provide this benefit for all of our first responders, their spouses, and their dependents in 2026. First responders include over 13,000 law enforcement officers, firefighters, ambulance personnel, 911 dispatchers, correctional officers, emergency management and members of search and rescue teams and their dependents.

We understand the challenges and stress that can be placed on employees/volunteers and the families of first responders. The First Responder Assistance Program provided by Connections EAP, Inc. of Rock Valley, Iowa is an important benefit available to first responders and their families. You do not have to sign up for this benefit. As long as your department is a member of the SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund or the SDPAA, you are automatically eligible for this benefit.

This program was created in response to the growing recognition that stress and trauma experienced by first responders places an emotional and mental health cost on them and at times, family members. One of the unique benefits is the Critical Incident Stress Debriefings coordinated by Connections EAP. Trained peer support first responders and credentialed mental health professionals will conduct Critical Incident Stress Debriefings in response to tragic events at your request.

There are many more personal benefits available as well including:

FREE and CONFIDENTIAL access to information and professional assistance for first responders and dependents* includes three sessions “in person” or via telehealth assessment and solution planning with a local credentialed professional counselor at no out-ofpocket cost to the first responder. First responders and dependents can also

talk to experts, browse for information, and access services for:

• Emotional problems

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Post-traumatic stress

• Marital or family conflict

• Drug or alcohol issues

• Grief

• Caregiving responsibilities

• Legal or financial problems

These services are CONFIDENTIAL and you are entitled to 3 FREE sessions: per incident, per year. You may use this benefit for incidents that occurred in the past, both related or unrelated to your experience as a first responder.

Additionally, first responder employees, volunteers and dependents* can access the following experts through a variety of communication modes. Phone, email, web, and some in-person support include:

• 24/7 Phone Access – Toll-Free

Hotline

• Local Credentialed Counseling Professionals – Nationwide Network

• Local Credentialed Addiction Counselors

• Elder or Adult Consult and Care/ Find in 50 states

• Child Consult and Care/Find

• Special Needs Child Consult

• Pre-Natal support

• Summer Care Consult/Find

• Access to Attorneys for Legal Help

• Consumer Credit Counseling

• Family Budget Planning

• Adoption Information and Support Services

• Access to web-based self-help information and assessments

• Webinars, & Additional Work-life Information

• AND MORE!

Connections EAP counselors may recommend various services or treatments beyond the three sessions of assessment/solution planning. Costs for treatments beyond those provided by Connections are the first responder’s responsibility but may be covered in part by a regular health insurance benefit or another EAP program.

The service is CONFIDENTIAL –Connections Inc. EAP reports only the number of people who use services. NO ONE from the SDML Work Comp Fund, the employer or department will

be informed of your call or visit unless you specify in writing that an EAP professional contact us.

Different locations for in-person assessment and solution planning are available in your area. Connections EAP, Inc. will authorize your sessions at a location near you, and you can arrange an appointment at a date and time that is convenient and comfortable for you.

The toll-free phone is personally answered by trained professionals 24/7.

Research clearly shows that people are at their best when they are confident that they are doing something positive to resolve personal and family stressors. If you are a first responder and have considered using consultation, counseling or related support services, but cost or other unknowns have discouraged you, please take advantage of this FREE and CONFIDENTIAL resource available to first responders, their spouses, and their dependents* that are members of the SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund.

Personal and family stress is treated most effectively when you do not wait to make the call. Connections EAP, Inc. would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Simply call 800-779-6125 or go to their website at www.connectionseap.com or visit www.sdmlwcfund.com for a link to their website. If you are a first responder member of the SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund or the SDPAA, Connections EAP, Inc. will provide you with a user name and password for full access to their web resources. There is also a 12-minute video available that explains the program in detail. You can watch the video in the privacy of your own home or play it at a department meeting. Find the FRAP Video Presentation on YouTube by searching @sdmlworkcompfund7723.

Feel free to contact us with any questions. ■

*Dependent defined as per Federal IRS standards.

SDML WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND

Telephone: 800-233-9073

info@sdmlwcfund.com www.sdmlwcfund.com

Brad Wilson, Administrator, CIC, AIC, SDWCS brad@sdmlwcfund.com

Doug Kirkus, Marketing Rep doug@sdmlwcfund.com

Gary Drewes, Marketing Rep gary@sdmlwcfund.com

Kim Currey, CSR kim@sdmlwefund.com

SDPAA

Telephone: 800.658.3633 Option 2 sdpaa@sdmunicipalleague.org www.sdpaaonline.org

Lynn Bren, Executive Director lbren@sdmunicipalleague.org

Becky Brunsing, Member Services Rep bbrunsing.sdpaa@sdmunicipalleague.org

Hampton Iverson, Member Services Rep hiverson.sdpaa@sdmunicipalleague.org

CONNECTIONS EAP, INC.

Matt Visser, CEO matt@connectionseap.com

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

Awards

Code Enforcement Officer of the Year

Due: March 15

Recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to their municipality as a code enforcement officer and their community as citizen. Award presented at the association’s spring meeting. Learn more/submit nominations: sdmunicipalleague.org/ CodeEnforcement

Governor's Awards for History, SD State Historical Society

Due: March 20

Recognizes achievements in three categories: individual (professional and non-professional), history organizations, and the history teacher of the year. Nominations are also open for the prestigious Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award given to a person who has a lifetime of dedicated and distinguished service to the preservation of the history of South Dakota. Individuals and organizations are eligible. Learn more/nominate: https://history.sd.gov/aboutus/ eventsanded.aspx

Finance Officer of the Year

Due: May 1

Recognizes a member of the SD Governmental Finance Officers' Association who has made significant contributions to their municipality as a finance officer and to their community as citizen. Award presented at the association’s annual Finance Officers’ School. Learn more/apply: sdmunicipalleague.org/FinanceOfficers

Grants

Homeland Security Grant, SD Dept. of Public Safety

Due: March 20

Funding awarded for projects that have a connection to Homeland Security by providing protection against terrorism threats. Paid on a reimbursement basis. Learn more/apply: https://www.sd.gov/dps or call 605-773-3450

Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant, SD Game, Fish and Parks

Due: April 10

Provides partial reimbursement for approved trail projects including the construction of new public trails, rehabilitation of existing public trails, development of trail-related facilities, and educational programs that relate to recreational trails.

Learn more/apply: www.gfp.sd.gov/partnerships; Grants Coordinator at Kerri.Richards@state.sd.us or 605.773.5490.

Agri-Business Grant, SD Dept. of Transportation

Due: April 15, July 15, and Oct. 15

Open to any local unit of government for the development of new or expanded agri-business industries. Provides 80% of the construction costs. Grant size is limited to $600,000.

Learn more/apply: https://dot.sd.gov

Industrial Park Grant, SD Dept. of Transportation

Due: April 15, July 15, and Oct. 15

Open to any local unit of government for the development of new or expanded access for new industry located within industrial parks. Provides 80% of the construction costs. Grant size is limited to $500,000.

Learn more/apply: https://dot.sd.gov

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant, Game, Fish and Parks

Due: April 30

The federal aid assistance program provides up to 50 percent reimbursement funds for acquisition and development of outdoor recreation projects. Eligible projects may include playgrounds, ballfields, sport and play fields, picnic facilities, pools, ice rinks, golf courses, amphitheaters, winter sports facilities, visitor information facilities, and land acquisitions.

Learn more/apply: www.gfp.sd.gov/partnerships; Grants Coordinator at Kerri.Richards@state.sd.us or 605.773.5490.

Small Community Planning Grant Program, SD Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Due: Ongoing, awarded at any time on a first-come, first-served basis

Provides 80% of the funds to hire an engineering consultant to develop a project specific engineering report. Open to systems serving a population of 2,500 or fewer. A community may receive up to $8,000 for a water engineering study and up to $10,000 for a wastewater related study. Learn more/apply: https://danr.sd.gov

Scholarships

Code Enforcement Training Scholarship

Due: April 1

Provides funds for an association member to attend a training of their choice to enhance their performance of duties as a code enforcement officer.

Learn more/apply: sdmunicipalleague.org/ CodeEnforcement

Finance Officers' Training Scholarship

Due: April 1

Provides funds for continuing education for an association member. Applicants may apply for a scholarship to attend Finance Officers' School (FO School) in June or another professional development class/college course of their choosing.

Learn more/apply: sdmunicipalleague.org/ FinanceOfficers

Human Resource Training Scholarship

Due: April 1

Provides funds for an association member from a second- or third-class municipality to attend the SD Governmental Human Resource School (HR School) in June.

Learn more/apply: sdmunicipalleague.org/ HumanResource

Police Chiefs' IACP Scholarship

Due: April 1

Provides funds for an association member to attend the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Exposition in October. Learn more/apply: sdmunicipalleague.org/PoliceChiefs

Trainings

City Management Conference

March 18-20, Harrisburg

Registration: $125 SDCMA members

Brings together city managers, deputies and assistants, and department heads from across the state to share ideas, build connections, and shape the future of municipal leadership in South Dakota. The featured speaker is Chad Wright of Forward Partners who will present Embracing Healthy Leadership and Creating a Thriving Organization.