A state agency has determined that city of North Sioux City officials have frequently violated requirements concerning South Dakota open meetings law.
The South Dakota Open Meetings Commission met on Monday for the first time in four years, and had six complaints on its agenda in Pierre.
North Sioux City resident Walt Johnson filed a complaint that the North Sioux City Council held meetings without properly giving the public 24 hours notice of what topics would be on the agenda.
The commission determined that violations of not posting an agenda had occurred since 2021. At times, agendas were posted online with less than 24 hours notice.
Sarah Kleber, the city attorney for North Sioux City, told the commissioners the meeting notice errors were “inadvertent,” and that the city employee involved was disciplined, according to KCAU News.
The new practice will be to post council agendas on Fridays before upcoming North Sioux City Council meetings on Mondays.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said the work of the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission is important, because it brings transparency to government proceedings.
*Additionally, federal regulators say the Iowa Department of Natural Resources should add six river segments to the state’s 2024 list of impaired waters.
The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced that nitrate levels in sections of the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa, Raccoon and South Skunk rivers exceeded safe drinking water standards.
States are required to submit a list of impaired waters to the EPA for review every two years. It’s the first step in developing a plan to cut pollution.
Iowa has nearly 600 impaired water segments with the EPA’s additions.The agency is accepting public comments on the six river segments through December 13th.
The Iowa DNR says it's reviewing the EPA's response and declined further comment.
*In other news, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City is more than 20 years old, and is getting some new roofing.
The Sioux City Council in a Monday meeting approved the plans and estimated cost of $1.25 million. A contractor will be picked in the near future, for work to replace some of the membrane roofing by July 2025.
A bid letting for the work is being held on Tuesday.
A leak during the NAIA women’s national basketball tournament in March pointed to the need for the work.
*Additionally, there is a disagreement up in Dickinson County as to how to route an extension of the recreational trail system through the south edge of Milford, Iowa.
Milford city officials for now do not agree with the plans by the Dickinson County Trails Board about how to connect the trail south towards Fostoria and into Clay County.
According to Explore Okoboji News, the bike group wants to take the trail to cross four lanes of U.S. Highway 71 near where the highway speeds move from 45 to 55 mph.
Milford Mayor Steve Anderson said he doubts the Iowa Department of Transportation will allow that.
Anderson said the city currently likes having instead bikers cross Highway 71 on a new trail section more northerly in Milford at an existing stop light.
There is some discussion towards increasing the cost of the trail extension by building an underpass from the east side of the busy highway to the west side.
Dickinson County Trails Director Erin Reed said if the city of Milford builds a trail south to the city limits, then the board is agreeable with connecting to that.
