Sturgis Kitchen Table

In this episode, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Davis give a broad historical overview of how Sturgis hired its first city manager and came to operate under the city manager form of government in 2007. Then, we jump forward many years to discuss the petitions submitted in December 2021 seeking to call an election for the voters to reconsider their 2007 action and the associated pending lawsuits over those petitions. Then, we have a broad-level discussion about the two different forms of government being proposed for Sturgis and the pros and cons of the city manager form of government and the aldermanic form of government without a city manager and which might be right for Sturgis in 2023. Finally, we’ll update you on the petitions that are out circulating in the Sturgis community seeking to submit this issue to a vote of the citizens of Sturgis and how you can sign and circulate those petitions.

Below are links to documents or files referenced in today's episode:

• View, download, and print a copy of the referendum petition
• View, download, and print a copy of the initiative petition
• Review information from the SD Secretary of State's Office on how to circulate a municipal petition
• View the press release

The petitions necessary to refer the decision of Sturgis City Council to hire a new city manager and continue under the city manager form of government to a vote of the people are circulating around the community. To call this election, we need to gather at least 300 valid signatures in about 3 weeks. In this episode, we will talk about what the petitions call for, how you can add your name to the petition, and how you can circulate a petition to collect the signatures of your family, friends, and neighbors.

Below are links to documents or files referenced in today's episode:

• View, download, and print a copy of the referendum petition
• View, download, and print a copy of the initiative petition
• Review information from the SD Secretary of State's Office on how to circulate a municipal petition
• View the press release

Welcome back to Season 3 of the the Sturgis Kitchen Table! On February 21, 2023, the Sturgis City Council passed a  resolution purporting to authorize the City to hire a new city manager following the resignation of long-time City Manager Daniel Ainslie. Over a year ago, a valid petition bearing the signatures of nearly 900 registered voters was submitted to call an election on whether Sturgis should keep the city manager form of government the voters created in 2007, or go back to the aldermanic form of government without a city manager. The City refused to hold the election called by that petition, and the petition circulators filed a lawsuit to force the City's hand. That lawsuit is currently pending before the South Dakota Supreme Court and an election may still be ordered. On February 22nd, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Davis announced the circulation of a referendum petition to prevent the City from hiring a new city manager until the voters have their say. Follow Season 3 of the Sturgis Kitchen Table for all the details.

Below are links to documents or files referenced in today's episode:

• View, download, and print a copy of the referendum petition
• View, download, and print a copy of the initiative petition
• Review information from the SD Secretary of State's Office on how to circulate a municipal petition
• View the press release

The candidate elections have been decided, but the lawsuit attempting to force the Sturgis City Council to hold an election on the city manager form of government continues. In this episode we call on the Sturgis mayor and council members to drop  the City's defense in this lawsuit and agree to hold an election on the question of whether Sturgis should keep the city manager form of government or go back to the strong-mayor form of government.  This issue needs to get out of the courtroom and onto a ballot.

If we at the Sturgis Kitchen Table can persuade the city to hold let its citizens vote, then Season Two of this podcast is going to be very short.  However, if the City refuses to let the people vote on this issue, then we'll follow the lawsuit and try to explain the concepts, and arguments, and the status in layman terms for the benefit of any of our friends and neighbors who want to listen.

Welcome to Season Two of the Sturgis Kitchen Table. We hope you find it informative.

Download or listen to our theme song, "In the Loop" composed by Philippe Meunier.

In the final episode of the Sturgis Kitchen Table, we get you up-to-speed on the City's purchase of the Richards' property as the location to construct a $12.6 million Lakeside Adventure Project. In addition, we'll update you on a follow-up lawsuit just filed concerning the city manager form of government and whether the voters have the ability to eliminate the office of city manager.

In the second episode of the Sturgis Kitchen Table, we dive head-first into a shallow lake by studying all the publicly available information we can find about the proposed $12 million Sturgis Lakeside Adventure Park. What do we know about this proposed project? What don't we know? Strap on your life vest, because we're jumping in the deep end.

Want to learn more?

• LAKESIDE ADVENTURE PARK AQUATICS COMMITTEE PROPOSAL March 24, 2021
• LAKESIDE ADVENTURE PARK AQUATICS COMMITTEE FINAL REPORT AND
  RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL May 3, 2021
• Lakeside Aquatic landing page on City of Sturgis website

In this first episode of the Sturgis Kitchen Table, we give a brief overview of the aldermanic form of government, explain how the office of City Manager was created in Sturgis, break down the recent effort to eliminate the office of City Manager by public vote, and the go through the details of the resulting lawsuit.

Learn more:

• Overview of Municipal Government in South Dakota (South Dakota Municipal League publication)
• 2021 Elected Officials’ Orientation Packet - Aldermanic with City Manager Form (South Dakota Municipal League publication)