SECOG helps drive revenue to county coffers

By: 
Dave Baumeister, County correspondent
Newly appointed Minnehaha State’s Attorney Crystal Johnson thanks county commissioners during the Jan. 21 meeting. Johnson was originally named as interim state’s attorney to replace Aaron McGowan in December, and commissioners made that appointment permanent until the next election in November. Dave Baumeister/BV Journal

SIOUX FALLS – One of the better returns on taxpayer dollars invested by Minnehaha County comes from its association with the Southeastern Council of Governments.
According to a presentation by Lynn Keller Forbes of SECOG, in 2019, the county received over $70 million in grants and loans through the work of her organization for the $152,000 it paid in dues to belong.
Overall, Forbes said, the average return to local governing bodies is $294.92 for every $1 spent.
The SECOG website says its mission is to serve over 40 municipalities in Clay, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Turner and Union counties.
Every year, to help with budget preparations, organizations receiving money from the county make presentations on what their groups are accomplishing.
Forbes gave her SECOG briefing at the Tuesday, Jan. 21, Minnehaha County Commission meeting.
Through a variety of slides, she showed how SECOG helps entities with grants, loans and planning for water projects, transportation, planning and zoning, among other things.
One of the more recent projects that has been in the news, which SECOG is providing assistance to, is the Maple/Park Street corridor between Brandon and Sioux Falls.
Another function of SECOG that Forbes told commissioners about is their work in selling the “Governor’s Houses” made by inmates at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield.
Another small piece of business at the meeting, which also tied into the county’s legislative agenda, was the approval of a contract with Testpoint Paramedical LLC to conduct on-call blood draws.
These draws are connected to alcohol abuse and related offenses, and that is why the county is closely watching – and lobbying – for a hopeful bill from District 9 State Senator Wayne Steinhauer to allow counties to implement a “bed, board and booze,” or entertainment, tax.
In a letter from County Administrative Assistant Craig Dewey, he wrote that as the registered lobbyist for Minnehaha County, he was in Pierre on Jan. 21 working with Steinhauer helping to gather co-sponsors for the legislation.
Commissioner Jeff Barth said there is a need for the county to be able to tax alcohol to raise revenue for alcohol-related expenses, such as the aforementioned blood draws.
Although announced prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioners made the appointment of Crystal Johnson as Minnehaha County State’s Attorney official, replacing Aaron McGowan after he resigned in December.
Johnson, who has had a role in that office since 2005, was named as McGowan’s interim replacement by Second Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge Robin Houwman.
As the “permanent replacement,” she will serve as state’s attorney until the next election, which is this coming November.
On Friday, Jan. 10, several candidates for the position of state’s attorney were interviewed, but at that time, commissioners opted to stay with Johnson.
Following her unanimous appointment, Johnson spoke briefly on the work being done by the state’s attorney’s office.
“I look forward to moving that office forward,” she said. “Last week we got convictions at a homicide trial and a violation of a protection order trial. We continue to work hard, and I thank you for the opportunity of leading that office.”
The Minnehaha Commission has its regular meetings each Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at Sixth and Minnesota in Sioux Falls. These meetings are open to the all, and public comment is always encouraged.

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