Governor Dennis Daugaard’s Weekly Column: Preserving A Way Of Life Through Ag Development

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Preserving A Way Of Life Through Ag Development
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

DaugaardIn South Dakota, agriculture is more than just a sector of our economy. It’s a way of life. Whether it’s a small family farm, a sizeable cattle ranch or a dairy operation, all forms of agricultural businesses are important to that way of life.

In 2013, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) began offering counties a service called the County Site Analysis Program. This service helps counties use data to identify sites suitable for agriculture-related development, and to avoid sites which are not suitable.

Ag investments are vital, especially in rural South Dakota, but development must be done responsibly. Because not every new project is a good fit in every location, the program helps county commissioners and landowners determine where projects best fit.

Through the County Site Analysis Program, SDDA looks at local zoning ordinances, locations of roads, utilities and other infrastructure, as well as other local permitting requirements. This information is used to rate property locations on their suitability for things such as manufacturing, commodity processing or livestock-related enterprises.

This program respects local control, because local officials must initiate the process by a formal resolution, requesting SDDA assistance. County commissions, planning and zoning boards, and landowners can use the produced data to make well-informed decisions. Local leaders use the data in their comprehensive planning efforts; landowners have concrete information outlining options for their land; and agribusinesses learn where their investments will be welcomed.

Even though the County Site Analysis Program is fairly new, a majority of counties have already expressed interest in participating. Since the program’s launch, 49 counties have requested a site analysis, and SDDA has completed analyses in 15 counties.

In addition to this program, local governments may soon have another way to pave the road for economic development. There’s a proposal in the Legislature right now that would revise state law on conditional use permits. Conditional use permits are local zoning exceptions which allow property to be used for specific purposes. Cemeteries, churches, golf courses, gravel pits and livestock barns are some examples of projects that might require this kind of permit.

Under current state law, local governments must have a two-thirds majority to approve conditional use permits. House Bill 1201 would allow local governments to change that requirement to a majority vote, if they so choose. Like the County Site Analysis Program, this proposal respects local control. It does not mandate that local governments change the current supermajority requirement. It gives the option. This bill could make it easier to start an agribusiness in South Dakota within our counties and municipalities who invite those opportunities.

Agriculture’s preeminence in our state economy is not something that is inevitable. Local leaders understand this and they know they must be intentional about allowing for opportunities. The County Site Analysis Program and House Bill 1201 seek to broaden those opportunities.

By furthering ag development in our state, we’ll not only be maintaining our number one industry, but we’ll be preserving a way of life.

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Stace Nelson slowly sliding out of exile, setting sights a little lower, and that pesky robocall lawsuit is still lingering.

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This afternoon, I was sitting at my desk configuring my Raspberry Pi 2 for a project I thought could have some potential political applications.  And then my phone pops up with a message:

So, after a note praising Democrats on the now defunct Liberal Democrat website Madville Times, Stace Nelson’s next step as he decides to further venture out of his self-imposed exile is to poke at me on Twitter?  Really?

*Sigh* Why am I not thinking we’re getting back the likeable pre-2014 Stace, but the post 2013 attack-dog Stace who turned people off with a highly negative campaign?    I couldn’t resist just letting it go, so I replied. And received an even odder response:

I bring up Rick Weiland, and he replies with a quote about how he has to “stand with anybody who stands right?”

Yep. 2014 Stace is definitely the one poking his nose out of the burrow.

And that reminded me about the “Draft Stace Nelson for District 19 State Senate” effort that popped up about three weeks ago on facebook, as the second item of Stace Nelson news for the day:

draft_stace_watermarked

Well, if you go visit the page today – there have been some big changes in three weeks:

draft-nelson-for-something

Since we last noted it, the “Draft Stace” page has picked up “19 likes,” bringing it from 20 to 39.   And as opposed to running Stace specifically for State Senate…  Well, the bar is now being set a little lower, and instead of instigating a primary against Senator Bill Van Gerpen, they’re just trying to draft him for District 19 State Legislature in hopes of picking up one of the House seats.

And it must be a Stace Nelson lazy Saturday news day, as completing our troika is another news item that passed my way.

I’m told this afternoon that the South Dakota Supreme Court that the long, long lingering Daniel Willard supreme court appeal of his robocall conviction has officially been dismissed… because he failed to prosecute it.

What does that have to do with our erstwhile US Senate wannabe?  Apparently, resolving the issue of the Willard conviction was something that was needed to allow the Rushmore PAC Civil Court case against Daniel Willard and Stace Nelson to move forward.

So, at the same time he may be drafting for the State legislature…. He may also be answering the long ago charges of playing a major part in organizing robocall attacks against the Republican leadership of the State Legislature…. particularly the one he may be hoping to rejoin.

Dem drinking group moves because of “insensitive advertising.”

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According to Johnathan Ellis, There’s a Democrat group of drinkers who quit their current drinking location because the bar also has a lingerie night:

Drinking Liberally, a Democratic group that often gets together on Fridays for adult beverages and political talk, is moving from Wiley’s to 18th Amendment starting this Friday. The reason for the move is because of “sexual insensitivity” regarding some of the promotional materials at Wiley’s.

Read it here.

So, drinking good, promotions for the businesses they drink in, bad.

They must also abandon libraries whenever the Sports illustrated swimsuit issue comes out. And television whenever it’s not turned to PBS.

Am I the only one doing an eye roll?

AFP S.D. Applauds Legislature On Stopping Penny Sales Tax

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AFP S.D. Applauds Legislature On Stopping Penny Sales Tax

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Today, Americans for Prosperity South Dakota is applauding the State House Affairs Committee on their vote to stop the penny sales tax. Over the past few weeks AFP South Dakota has actively engaged the legislature on the issue, launching a major patch-through phone call campaign and mobilizing its network of in-state activists to contact legislators to stop what could have been the largest tax increase in state history.

AFP South Dakota State Director Ben Lee released the following statement:

“We congratulate the State House Affairs Committee on standing up for South Dakota middle class families everywhere and defeating the penny sales tax. If every city participated, it would have been the largest tax increase in state history. At a time when many South Dakota families are still struggling to make ends meet, a new sales tax just wouldn’t have been fair,” AFP South Dakota State Director Ben Lee said.

Thankfully, today legislators did the right thing for middle class workers across our great state. We thank the many activists who contacted their legislators to be sure South Dakota remains a beacon for freedom both here and around the country,” AFP South Dakota State Director Ben Lee said.

Legislators who voted to stop the bill have the appreciation of the chapter’s thousands of activists, staff and volunteers as well as the appreciation of other organizations speaking out against the measure.

House Bill 189 floor consideration blocked for now. But has nothing to do with SDEA spending. Nope. Nothing at all.

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Senate Bill 189, An act “to provide a tax credit to insurance companies that contribute to an organization providing educational scholarships to certain students and instructional supply grants to certain teachers and parents.” has apparently run in to a roadblock in the House.

It failed in Committee 8-7…

SB 189, House Taxation, Do Pass

Bartling Nay Beal Yea Duvall Nay
Haggar (Don) Yea Killer Nay Kirschman Nay
Latterell Yea May Yea Novstrup (Al) Yea
Rasmussen Nay Russell Yea Wiik Yea
Willadsen Nay Rozum Nay Solum Nay

But was later sent to the floor without recommendation on an 8-7 vote:

SB 189, House Taxation, Report out of committee without recommendation

Bartling Nay Beal Yea Duvall Nay
Haggar (Don) Yea Killer Nay Kirschman Nay
Latterell Yea May Yea Novstrup (Al) Yea
Rasmussen Yea Russell Yea Wiik Yea
Willadsen Nay Rozum Nay Solum Nay

Today, a vote took place to calendar the measure (I’ll have the vote for you in a bit) which failed. Noting who voted for an against it left State Representative Lee Schoenbeck noting in an e-mail to colleagues:

From: Lee Schoenbeck
Date: March 6, 2015 at 2:23:09 PM CST
Subject: Re: SB 189

Wow. Every democrat voted NO. Block voted. Probably a coincidence, unrelated to 94% of SDEA’s cash going to Democrats in an effort to defeat us???? I bet SDEA won’t do that again

(I detect a little sarcasm in Lee’s comment about SDEA not supporting Democrats with 94% of their cash again.)   The House Dems block voted on a non-partisan bill which had Democrats sponsoring it?

So, does that make SDEA the Lobbying group of No?

Rapid City Mayor Sam Kooiker going for 3rd term

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According to reports this morning (This one from the Argus/Associated Press), Rapid City Mayor Sam Kooiker is going for a third term:

Sam Kooiker announced this re-election campaign Thursday.

The 40-year-old Kooiker says if re-elected he plans to improve race relations and resolve long-standing issues the city has faced in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. He says he also will continue his focus on the improving city’s infrastructure.

Read it here.

His second race for the office was a repeat against then Mayor Alan Hanks, with Kooiker coming out victorious. His third race, and second as mayor was against challenger and State Senator Mark Kirkeby.

There’s no word as to whether Kooiker will face a challenger in this years’ contest, which will be decided this June.