Dave Baumeister | County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – The Minnehaha County Commission was short-handed this week with both Commissioners Gerald Beninga and Cindy Heiberger being absent.
But there weren’t any contentious issues at the meeting, and most of the agenda items dealt with receiving money, and not spending it.
The One Sioux Falls Fund, which presented the county with $300,000 a few weeks ago to help with COVID-related expenses, this week gave them another $100,000 to help with those same expenses.
Commissioners also approved the work of the multi-cultural center to apply for a $15,000 grant to upgrade the sprinkler system at the Sioux Falls Coliseum, where they hold many of their programs.
A third item called for commission approval to allowing application for a $700,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation.
Erin Srtska, Director of Programs for the Sanford School of Medicine at USD explained that if the grant is received the money would come over a two-year period, and it would be used for The Link (the new triage center) and other community-related projects.
Fairless 4-H
One of the Minnehaha County 4-H advisers, Nathan Skadsen, was present through Zoom video conferencing to talk about the current situation with the county 4-H programs.
While the big event the 4-H kids, ages 5 to 19, work for each year, Achievement Days, usually takes place during the Sioux Empire Fair, this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, that event had to be held separately.
But Skadsen told commissioners Achievement Days still took place on Aug. 15-17, a week after the fair closed.
Some of the events like special foods, fashion review, public presentations and consumer decision making were held as “virtual” contests.
The livestock events were still held “in person,” although attendance was limited to just family, and animals were shown from their trailers and not put up in stalls, Skadsen said.
He also talked about other 4-H programs, as well as what would be happening this fall, since many of the regular 4-H events would still be virtual.
Regular club meetings will be starting up again, but Skadsen explained they will have very strict guidelines about social distancing and wearing face coverings.
Be prepared!
Emergency Management Director Jason Gearman reminded commissioners that September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, and in looking at their slogan, “Disasters don’t wait, make plans today,” he reminded people at the meeting of some of the disasters the county has seen in just the past 18 months: floods, unseasonal tornadoes and a pandemic.
Gearman also explained the priorities of his office are “to preserve life, preserve property and to maintain communication between the county and other local authorities.”
Next Tuesday commissioners will be voting on the final budget for the 2021 fiscal year.
Meetings are held every Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
Public comment is always encouraged, but people attending are reminded that social distancing guidelines limit how many people are allowed in the meeting room at one time.