On my way back from court Wednesday around noon, I ran into my good friend (yes, he actually is) Mitch Krebs, Gov. Rounds’ press secretary, and Paul Kinsman, SD Secretary of Revenue, in front of the County Treasurer’s office in Sioux Falls.

When I had walked through the Minnehaha Administration building at 8:30 a.m. on my way to court, the line for the treasurer stretched from the treasurer’s office almost to the doors to the new courthouse building—about 80 yards.

At noon, the line was down to about ten people.

What had happened?

Apparently Treasurer Pam Nelson had been “convinced” by County Commissioners and Kinsman to open an express lane to help people who only had renewals. That’s a majority of the business.

The second thing was that Kinsman flew—yes, via airplane—a Revenue employee to help the treasurer’s office.

The change in the length of the lines in the intervening three hours was dramatic.

As I have been tough on Gov. Mike Rounds in this deal, I thought it only fair to point out that he did provide at least a partial solution to Minnehaha County’s woes and that things were better for citizens waiting in line.

And in talking to Paul and Mitch, it was clear that this was not a political issue to them but a governmental services issue that they were trying to fix.

There are still problems with the new computer system. But because people lowered their rhetoric, a problem improved and the citizens got better service.

That’s the way government is supposed to run—whether Democrats, Republicans, or independents are in charge.

Technorati Tags: WaitGate, Pam Nelson, Paul Kinsman, Mike Rounds, Mitch Krebs, Minnehaha County, licensing, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I don't know how much this has been reported in the SDMSM or on the blogs, but I stumbled across this 2006 post on the Huffington Post regarding an interesting intersection of money, Presidential politics, South Dakota, and oil.

And from ABC's April 23, 06 story, Gearing Up for '08? McCain Befriends Old Enemies,

Also co-chairing the [John McCain] event are Rob Allyn, a Texas PR man who was paid $46,000 to produce the Wylys' "Republicans for Clean Air" ads, and businessmen Albert Huddleston and Harold Simmons, who gave $100,000 and $3 million respectively to the controversial independent group, "Swift Vets & POWs for Truth." McCain called "dishonest and dishonorable" the "Swift Vets" group's 2004 campaign ads that helped sink the presidential chances of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Just something that makes you want to go "hmmmm."

Technorati Tags: Albert Huddleston, John McCain, John Kerry, Hyperion, South Dakota, Elk Point, Union County, refinery

Karl Krueger of Sioux Falls came to my law office today.

A Teamster driver for Yellow, his time between driving assignments is precious—and regulated by the federal government.

He has no time to waste standing in line to get his car licensed. When Uncle Sam says rest or sleep, he’s supposed to.

But thanks to the State of South Dakota’s “improved” vehicle licensing “system” that’s been in force since July 1, he’s worried about getting his proper rest so he can be safe and do his job—and get his car licensed.

Karl has tried four times since last Wednesday to get his car licensed at the Minnehaha County Treasurer’s office. So far, he’s stood in line for over two hours—with nothing to show for it except a lot of aggravation.

“I can’t spend that much time in line,” he says.

He’s mad and he wants answers—and changes.

Think of all the other people who have not only had to take personal time but time away from their jobs and businesses to monkey around with a system that wasn’t ready for prime time.

Think about the lost productivity to our state. Think about the trouble County Treasurer Pam Nelson, her employees, and other Treasurer’s have had to put up with across the state.

This is a problem not of their making but they bear the financial brunt—and the anger of citizens.

What is it exactly that Gov. Mike Rounds does? He has no “big” ideas for our state. So that should leave lots of time to “administer.”

Once again, our South Dakota State Government has failed us. And as President Harry Truman would say, the buck stops at the top—with Gov. Rounds.

Governor, fix this problem now so good people like Karl Krueger who have jobs and lives and can get on with both. It’s not just good government, it’s good politics.

And one other question: What vendor sold us this POS system? Perhaps the legislature needs to investigate next session.

Technorati Tags: Mike Rounds, government, South Dakota, Minnehaha County, licensing, long lines, ineptitude

Technorati Tags: Clarence Kooistra, Minnehaha County Commission, Democrats, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Garretson, St. Patrick’s Day, parads

The Minnehaha and Lincoln County Commissions in joint meeting in the Lincoln County Courthouse in Canton, March 28, 2006.Last night, the Minnehaha and Lincoln County Commissions met jointly in Canton to approve two historic agreements. 

One sets up a joint powers agreement and joint mental illness board for the two counties in handling mental health commitments.* 

The second agreement provides for Minnehaha County to hire an additional poor relief worker to handle Lincoln County's case load (and also work with Minnehaha County residents).

Minnehaha County Commission Chair Bob Kolbe said he believed this was the first time in history that his commission has met outside of the county.

But was the Argus Leader and other Sioux Falls media there?  No.  Fortunately, the Sioux Valley News of Canton was there and Minnehaha County Commission Democrat candidate Jeff Barth** with his camera.

The Argus has editorialized about the need for more cooperation between the two counties.  Well, here is living proof of that cooperation.  It's a first step but both commission seemed to be very pleased.  Look for more cooperation in the future.

Back in the old days when I was a reporter in the 1970s and 1980s (and even into the '90s), local media always covered all the city and county commission meetings.  Period.  There was a belief that what went on was in the public interest.  It was a journalistic responsibility.  Even if it was boring.
The two commissions pose for a photo after the meeting.

Now, in the world of media conglomerates, that is no longer the case.  Only controversy sells.  Good government does not.  And that's a shame.  Demanding open government is a laudable thing.  But what about covering what already goes on?

So, if the Argus Leader does not attend an event, is it still historic?  In my book, yes.

*I was there because I was being appointed as Lincoln County's alternate attorney/chairman for the mental illness board.

**My candidate in the Minnehaha Commission race is Democrat Barb Himmel-Roberts.  But that doesn't mean Jeff and I can't be nice to each other.  Jeff, thanks for the photos!

 

I read the following excerpt from this morning's Argus Leader and thought to myself, "Wow, if I were still in the local MSM, I would be so happy that Jay Masur again wants to provide ambulance service in Minnehaha County.  We will dine on this for months, maybe even years, on our newscasts and front pages."

For those of you new to the area or too young to remember, Jay and Jill Masur ran a small ambulance company called CareTraum in the late 1980s/early 1990s.  They took on the big hospitals and the big ambulance company and essentially tied up the then Sioux Falls City Commission for several years with heated, late night meetings. 

In my opinion, while the Masurs didn't really get their way, they showed the inherent problems with the commission form of government and help bring about the current council form.  City government meetings since them have not been anywhere as interesting or entertaining.

The local media could always depend on fireworks at the city commission meetings and the Masurs were not afraid to speak their mind about the power structure of Sioux Falls trying to squash the little guy.

The Minnehaha County Commissioners might actually earn their obscene 20% pay increase if Jay comes before them and fights like he did before.

Now, the excerpt from the Argus:

Ambulance asks to serve east Minnehaha County
Oct. 30, 2005
The owner of a Brandon ambulance service is asking Minnehaha County commissioners to change their ordinance and allow him to provide emergency services in the eastern part of the county. Jay Masur, owner of Med-Star Paramedic Ambulance, told commissioners he could fill a gap in ambulance coverage if he were allowed to operate along with the other ambulance services that now hold county licenses. "We've developed an excellent transport service. That's why we can offer you an emergency service," he said. "There's a need for service out in that area. It's an area that's not well covered."

S.D. Watch has learned some additional details in Minnehaha County's attempt to shakedown the City of Sioux Falls to pay for 911 services through Metro Communications.

• High placed city officials appear willing to acquiesce to the County's demand for $90,000 to avoid cuts in maintenance and staffing, but for calendar year 2006 only.  (As if the City is rolling in dough!)
  
• High placed city officials believe that if the County wishes for the City to increase its contribution from 75% to 80% of uncovered equipment and personnel costs, then the City might seriously consider who should actually operate Metro communication.  The implication is that if the City is going to pay more, perhaps it should run Metro.
• The 911 surcharge does not appear to be bringing in enough money to help fund the system adequately.
• There are concerns that 911 surcharge funds are going directly to Lincoln County for services that the City actually provides to the Sioux Falls portion of Lincoln County.

Expect this issue to be a topic of discussion and friction between the City and County over the next year.  S.D. Watch has learned that even some of the Republican members of the City Council (yes, I know they are supposedly "non-partisan" but it is largely a fig leaf distinction) were unhappy with their Republican brothers and sisters across town at the County Commission.

County government in South Dakota is often like the Ottoman Empire--old, creaky, filled with good old boys and girls, and resistant to change.

You expect this in some of South Dakota's less populated counties.  But even high falutin' Minnehaha County suffers from Ottomanitis on a pretty consistent basis. 

The GOP controlled commission can find money to give itself an undeserved 20% raise and can opt out of the tax freeze to fix up an old building.  However, when it comes to sharing vital 911 services through Metro Communications with the City of Sioux Falls, well, money is hard to find.  Go figure.

KELOLAND has the story from yesterday.

Ottoman, er, Minnehaha County Commissioner Anne Hajek, a former city commissioner who ought know better, made the following comment to KELOLAND:

Hajek says, "We don't want to gouge them in any way. We think they are an excellent partner and we love working with them, we are just going and saying, gee, maybe we could look at this agreement a little differently."

Fortunately, Sioux Falls City Councilor Darrin Smith isn't buying the poor, pitiful me County act:

Smith says, "Perhaps we are going to have to look at an alternative to re-negotiating the contract with the county is for the city to take care of its own 911 services."

Um, Anne, maybe you and your GOP buddies on the County Commission ought to respect the agreements you sign and spend money that protects the public and not lines your personal pocketbooks.  You've picked the wrong issue--protecting the public--to play politics with.

Today's Sioux Falls Argus Leader editorial commends Pam Nelson, the Minnehaha County Treasurer, for her Saturday office hours and looking for other ways to make it easier and better to serve the public.

Oh, by the way, Pam is also a Democrat.

Way to go Pam!