Members approve transfer of exploration notice No. 437 (EX9437) for site west of Custer At a state board meeting streamed on SDPB, members approved transferring exploration notice of intent No. 437 from Mark Hughes to Harvey Bland for EX9437, about 8 miles west of Custer, S.D.; the board also authorized release of a surety bond and accepted a replacement CD, each for $4,469.

Exciting developments in South Dakota as members approve the transfer of exploration notice No. 437, paving the way for new opportunities just west of Custer!

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#SD #CivicParticipation #CitizenPortal #NaturalResources #SouthDakotaExploration #PublicMeetings

Lenox committees weigh using DOC funds to extend utilities for proposed industrial park City economic development and DOC funds committees discussed using about $10.5 million in DOC proceeds to extend water and sewer to land owned by the Cooper family, heard concerns about project cost and timing, and agreed to pursue a broker valuation and land option before committing funds.

Lenox officials are contemplating a $10.5 million investment to enhance utilities, potentially transforming rural land into a hub for industrial growth—but concerns over costs and community impact loom large.

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#LennoxLincolnCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #EconomicGrowth

Mitchell staff reports Play Easy metrics, urges hotels to sign up for event microsites Aaron, a Mitchell Sports and Events Authority staff member, presented Play Easy platform results — including hundreds of leads and thousands of page views — and said staff will send hotel-specific outreach so lodging properties can add event promotions and hotel specials to event microsites.

The Play Easy platform is transforming how Mitchell attracts events, generating hundreds of leads and thousands of views, but local hotels need to step up to maximize these opportunities!

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#MitchellDavisonCounty #SD #CommunityBenefits #CitizenPortal #LeadGeneration #MitchellHotels

Commission recommends TIF for 28‑unit Summit of Van Epps affordable housing project The planning commission recommended a tax‑increment financing district to support a 28‑unit affordable housing project adjacent to ICAP services; developers said rents will range roughly from $540 for studios to about $1,245 for three‑bed units and that construction could begin mid‑to‑late July.

Madison's Planning Commission has just green-lighted an affordable housing project that could transform the community with 28 new units and vital support services for seniors!

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#MadisonLakeCounty #SD #HousingInitiatives #SeniorNutrition #CitizenPortal #MadisonAffordableHousing

Brookings board backs letter of intent for rural-health grant to create short-term alternative placement The Brookings School District approved a letter of intent supporting a rural-health grant proposal to create a short-term, community-based alternative placement for students with behavioral or crisis needs; partners include Brookings Behavioral Health, a behavioral-health practitioner (Heather Asmussen), Boys & Girls Club (facility), and Landrieu School District.

The Brookings School District is taking a groundbreaking step to support students in crisis by proposing a community-based alternative placement that prioritizes local partnerships and family involvement.

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#SD #BehavioralHealth #CitizenPortal #BrookingsSchools

Students and retired teacher urge Brookings board to preserve middle-school art as superintendent defends schedule changes A retired art teacher and a seventh-grade student urged the Brookings School District board to retain middle-school art access; Superintendent Dr. Schultz said art is not being eliminated but that schedule and boundary audits require staffing reassignments to meet budget and class-size targets.

A retired teacher and a passionate seventh-grader are rallying to save middle-school art programs, emphasizing the life-changing impact of creativity on student confidence and engagement.

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#SD #CitizenPortal #BrookingsSchools #StudentEngagement #ArtsEducation

Madison board tables Giga Energy data‑center conditional‑use and variance after hours of noise, rate and decommissioning concerns After extended public comment on noise, visual impact, utility rates and decommissioning, the Madison Board of Adjustment voted to table both the conditional‑use permit and the variance for a proposed 10‑megawatt, air‑cooled modular data facility from Giga Energy, asking staff for independent sound analysis and enforceable conditions.

The Madison Board of Adjustment has hit pause on Giga Energy's ambitious data facility plans amid rising community concerns over noise and environmental impact.

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#MadisonLakeCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #MadisonDataCenters #EnvironmentalImpact #PublicSafety #CommunityInput

Meeting approves final designs for 2027 Corn Palace ‘Safari’ murals Participants approved nine final, colorized mural renditions (selected from 54 submissions) for the 2027 Corn Palace ‘Safari’ theme, agreed on several small design changes for corn installation, and authorized staff to release the images to the public ahead of tourist season.

The final designs for the 2027 Corn Palace murals have been approved, featuring stunning colorized renditions that are set to capture the essence of a 'Safari' theme just in time for tourist season!

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#MitchellDavisonCounty #SD #CommunityInvolvement #CitizenPortal #PublicArt

District reviews budget, levies and state aid as valuation data remain pending Superintendent Scharnback briefed the board on 1.4% levies, expected state aid changes, staffing vacancies, and draft budget calculations while noting county valuation data were not yet available for final figures.

Superintendent Scharnback reveals crucial budget updates and legislative changes that could reshape the future of Deuel School District's finances, all while awaiting vital county valuation data.

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#SD #StudentEnrollment #CitizenPortal #SouthDakotaSchools #EducationFunding

State commissioner outlines Richmond Lake dam repair timeline; residents press county to clarify upstream control South Dakota Commissioner Brock Greenfield told Brown County officials the Richmond Lake dam repair has firmed up a construction schedule and additional state funding after higher-than-expected bids; residents asked the county to research who controls upstream gates and water rights before lake drawdowns. (Short)

Major repairs to the Richmond Lake dam are underway, but residents are demanding urgent clarity on water rights and upstream control before the critical lake drawdown begins.

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#BrownCounty #SD #CommunityTransparency #EnvironmentalEcology #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

Aberdeen council approves TIF 45 for Roosevelt Business Park after heated debate over changing numbers After days of packet revisions and a tied first vote, the Aberdeen City Council voted to establish Tax Increment Financing District 45 and set an aggregate reimbursement amount intended to support infrastructure at the Roosevelt Business Park. Debate centered on shifting project-plan figures, interest inclusion, and how grants and future funds are applied.

After a contentious debate and a tie-breaking vote, the Aberdeen City Council has approved TIF District 45, setting the stage for significant infrastructure development at the Roosevelt Business Park.

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#SD #PublicFinancing #CitizenPortal #EconomicGrowth #InfrastructureDevelopment

Pennington County directs state’s attorney to draft ordinance for Senate Bill 96 sales-tax option to lower owner-occupied property taxes Commissioners asked the county attorney to draft a local ordinance to implement Senate Bill 96 — a half‑cent sales‑tax option counties may use to offset owner-occupied property taxes — and agreed to public vetting. The board discussed timing, implementation, tax-shifting effects and directed preparatory work for possible adoption in late 2026.

Pennington County is taking a bold step to potentially lower property taxes by exploring a new sales tax ordinance that could reshape financial burdens for homeowners.

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#PenningtonCounty #SD #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #PenningtonCountyPropertyTaxes #TaxReform

Neighbors oppose Palmer Gulch developer’s plan to exceed 40 homes; commission grants continuance A proposed variance that would allow more than 40 dwellings on a dead-end road in the Palmer Gulch area prompted hours of testimony. Developer Russell Johnson offered to create and maintain an emergency egress corridor; neighbors and the state’s attorney raised legal and safety concerns. The board continued the matter to May 19 to allow the applicant to pursue a recorded easement and other mitigations.

Developer Russell Johnson's ambitious plan to exceed 40 homes in Palmer Gulch faces fierce opposition from neighbors concerned about safety and access.

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#PenningtonCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #EmergencyAccess #PublicSafety

Commission continues alternative-energy ordinance after public concerns about battery storage and firefighter safety After public testimony about a recent solar-site fire and unanswered questions about battery-storage risks and first-responder training, the Pennington County Commission continued proposed amendments to Section 3-17 (alternative energy systems) to May 19 to allow staff to add battery-storage rules and emergency-response provisions.

Pennington County is taking a hard look at solar safety after a recent fire raised urgent questions about battery storage and firefighter training.

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#PenningtonCounty #SD #PenningtonCountyEnergy #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #EnergyRegulations #FirefighterTraining

Neighbors press concerns as county weighs variance to allow more units, emergency egress at Palmer Gulch Road A large public hearing over developer Russell Johnson's request to exceed the county's '40-unit' limit on a dead-end road and to record an emergency egress easement produced strong neighborhood opposition, legal questions about private easements and a continuation to May 19 for more negotiation and drafting.

A heated debate unfolds in Pennington County as developer Russell Johnson seeks to exceed the 40-unit cap on a dead-end road, facing fierce opposition from neighbors over safety and access concerns.

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#PenningtonCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #PenningtonCountyHousing

Commissioners decline West Street annexation authorization; special meeting set to revisit project Lincoln County commissioners declined to authorize an annexation and road/utility agreement with the city of Canton for West Street after debate over costs, contractor timing and public notice; the county scheduled a special meeting for April 8 to reconsider the matter.

Lincoln County commissioners hit pause on a crucial annexation agreement with Canton, sparking debates over costs and contractor schedules—what's the next move?

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#LincolnCounty #SD #CommunityEngagement #PublicNotice #CitizenPortal #LincolnCountyUtilities

Sioux Falls district presents package of class‑size moves, a higher staff‑pay recommendation and a smaller opt‑out levy At a board work session, Dr. Knowles presented budget options that would add elementary teachers (some paid with Title I and some from the general fund), recommend a 2.54% staff pay increase (0.59 points above the negotiated 1.95%), and lower the proposed opt‑out levy to $11,000,000; the board will consider a tentative budget on the 13th.

Sioux Falls School District is proposing a budget plan that aims to reduce elementary class sizes, boost staff pay by 2.54%, and cut the local opt-out levy to $11 million—find out how these changes could impact education in your community!

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#SD #ClassSizeReduction

City communications director outlines timeline, costs and risks for ADA web accessibility Communications Director Savannah Uhlinger told the commission the city is implementing web- and communications-accessibility measures after a 2024 DOJ ruling, using remediation software and plain-language standards, and planning captioning and PDF remediation ahead of an April 2027 deadline for smaller municipalities.

Madison is on a mission to transform its web accessibility by 2027, tackling challenges with innovative solutions and strict legal requirements to ensure everyone can engage with city communications.

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#MadisonLakeCounty #SD #CivicAccountability #DisabilityRights #CitizenPortal

Staff briefs Madison commission on 2026 bills affecting local taxes, TIFs and permitting City staff summarized multiple 2026 state laws that give local options on sales-tax funding for property-tax relief, change TIF oversight and permit updates — measures the commission may need to consider for Madison's budget, codes and project approvals.

Madison City Commission is gearing up for significant changes as new legislation offers local options for tax relief and project funding—could this reshape the future of our community?

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#MadisonLakeCounty #SD #CommunityTransparency #CitizenPortal #MadisonLocalGovernment

Sen. Glenn Vilhauer briefs Codington County on property-tax relief, rural infrastructure funding Sen. Glenn Vilhauer told Codington County commissioners that the Legislature passed bills creating a $5 million rural access infrastructure fund and options for county sales-tax–funded property-tax relief, and warned of administration and distribution issues to watch.

Sen. Glenn Vilhauer has unveiled new funding measures that could reduce property taxes by up to 22% and provide $5 million for rural infrastructure—are you ready to see how this impacts your wallet?

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#CodingtonCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #PropertyTaxRelief #InfrastructureFunding

Senate approves $8.2 million for Richmond Lake Dam replacement, 28–2; bill headed to governor The South Dakota Senate adopted the conference committee report on Senate Bill 121 D on March 30, 2026, approving an $8.2 million appropriation from the unclaimed-property fund to replace Richmond Lake Dam and its spillway and declaring an emergency so work can begin immediately.

The South Dakota Senate has just approved a critical $8.2 million plan to replace the leaking Richmond Lake Dam, declaring an emergency to ensure immediate action for public safety.

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#SD #CitizenPortal #CommunityResilience #SouthDakotaPublicSafety #EmergencyFunding

SERC hears hazmat team update, Tier II reporting numbers and plans for April–May exercises Commissioners heard updates on regional hazmat team activity, were told 1,749 facilities filed Tier II hazardous‑substances reports for 2026, learned HMEP grant applications remain low so far, and received invitations to chemical‑incident exercises in April and a cross‑regional tabletop in Yankton on May 27.

South Dakota's hazmat teams are gearing up for critical spring exercises and reporting record numbers of hazardous materials facilities—are we ready for a chemical incident?

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#SD #SouthDakotaHazmat #HazardousMaterials #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #EmergencyManagement

SERC roundup: staff summarizes 2026 session bills affecting wildfire mitigation, water projects, EMS funding and volunteer firefighter PPE SERC received a legislative briefing summarizing signed 2026 bills of interest, including a law enabling utility wildfire mitigation plans with possible liability limits, appropriations for water and PFAS cleanup, a task force on EMS funding, and a $5 million PPE grant appropriation for volunteer fire departments.

Major changes are coming to South Dakota's emergency planning with new bills addressing wildfire mitigation, water cleanup, and funding for volunteer firefighters!

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#SD #EmergencyMedicalServices #WaterCleanup #WildfireMitigation #CitizenPortal #SouthDakotaEmergencyServices

SERC approves redistribution of LEPC grant funds after county split; defers three rosters and appoints representatives for inactive counties The South Dakota State Emergency Response Commission approved redistributing LEPC grant money after the Hughes–Stanley district split, approved most submitted LEPC rosters with several abstentions, deferred action on three counties to June, and voted to appoint county officials to fill seats in largely inactive LEPCs.

South Dakota's Emergency Response Commission has approved a major redistribution of LEPC grant funds following the split of the Hughes-Stanley district, ensuring support for local emergency planning efforts continues.

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#SD #SouthDakotaLEPC #CitizenPortal #EmergencyResponse

Brown County awards $2.52 million contract for landfill cell seal after low bidder withdraws After the low bidder withdrew its submission, the Brown County Commission approved awarding Landfill Seal No. 5 to Midland Contracting (SD) for $2,524,525.07 and authorized contract execution and signature.

Brown County has awarded a $2.52 million landfill sealing contract to Midland Contracting after the initial low bidder withdrew, paving the way for crucial leachate-pond improvements!

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#BrownCounty #SD #EnvironmentalSustainability #CitizenPortal #InfrastructureDevelopment

County secures $294,500 bridge grant and approves multiple road‑maintenance contracts Pennington County received a $294,500 state bridge rehabilitation grant for Thunderhead Falls and approved a slate of annual road maintenance contracts including micro‑surface and aggregate awards; commissioners said the awards will help address accident-prone corridors.

Pennington County just secured a $294,500 grant to revitalize the Thunderhead Falls bridge, paving the way for safer roads and improved infrastructure!

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#PenningtonCounty #SD #InfrastructureImprovement #CitizenPortal #RoadSafety #GrantFunding #PenningtonCountyHighways

Commissioners back MOU with Rapid City to simplify three-mile platting and approve twice-yearly ordinance cycle Pennington County staff will draft a memorandum of understanding with Rapid City to designate a single jurisdiction for plats bisected by the three-mile boundary; commissioners also supported moving to two ordinance-amendment cycles per year and several zoning clarifications.

Pennington County commissioners are taking action to simplify the planning process for developers by drafting a memorandum of understanding with Rapid City that could streamline platting requirements.

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#PenningtonCounty #SD #StakeholderOutreach #ZoningReform #CitizenPortal

Pennington County votes to actively enforce vacation-home rental ordinance, staff to consider compliance software After staff reported roughly 125 registered vacation rentals and an estimated 350'400 total listings, commissioners voted to direct staff to actively enforce the county's vacation-home rental ordinance and discussed buying data-mining software (roughly $13,000) to identify unregistered properties.

Pennington County commissioners are taking action to enforce vacation-home rental laws, revealing a shocking gap in registrations—are your neighbors operating illegally?

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#PenningtonCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #LocalGovernance #RegulatoryCompliance

Minnehaha County Commission approves $4.66 million in bills, declares multiple properties nuisances and rescinds tax payment plan At its Oct. 19 meeting the Minnehaha County Commission approved payment of $4,664,587.14 in county bills, approved personnel actions, declared three properties public nuisances and rescinded a prior tax-payment plan for a delinquent parcel, authorizing the treasurer to pursue the tax deed process.

The Minnehaha County Commission just approved over $4.6 million in bills and declared multiple properties nuisances, sparking significant discussions about community standards and tax compliance.

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#MinnehahaCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #PublicNuisance #TaxResolution #CountyServices

Minnehaha County Commission approves $1.28 million in bills, multiple personnel actions and extends COVID sick leave At its Dec. 7 meeting the Minnehaha County Commission approved $1,277,826.53 in vouchers, authorized numerous hires, promotions and step increases, continued extended COVID‑related sick leave through May 31, 2022, and recommended a 5% salary increase for several elected officials.

The Minnehaha County Commission just approved over $1.27 million in bills and a series of significant personnel changes, all while extending COVID-related sick leave through May 2022!

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#MinnehahaCounty #SD #CitizenPortal #PersonnelManagement #PublicFinance #COVIDRelief