STURGIS, S.D. – Sturgis Council members passed a resolution prepared by Mayor Mark Carstensen at last night’s meeting that not only supports the Office of the City Manager, but also seeks to improve it.
Mayor Carstensen says given the recent petition, it is “important to look back and see where our community has come from and what it has achieved since 2007 and the creation of the City Manager position.”
The council did add to the resolution before passing it – and that was language for the creation of a subcommittee in hopes of making the city manager office more transparent.
Alderman Kevin Forester introduced the amendment.
“It is hereby resolved by the Sturgis Common Council to strongly affirm its support in its use of the office of City Manager within its municipal organizational staff and to establish an office of City Manager subcommittee made up of one councilor from each ward appointed by action of the Sturgis Common Council. The Sturgis City Attorney will provide the office of Sturgis City Manager subcommittee a report that outlines the current general powers and authority given to the office of City Manager through South Dakota Codified Laws and City of Sturgis ordinances.”
The council will also schedule a special meeting to discuss publicly the office of the city manager and his powers.
The subcommittee will be able to provide any consideration to the council any recommended changes to the city ordinances that contain references to the office of city manager position.
Alderman Aaron Jordan says this subcommittee is a way to improve the office of the city manager.
“This subcommittee, really is recognition that status quo is probably not where we want to stay. When it comes particularly too, kind of looking at understanding through law what the authority and powers of the City Manager is, that office, and then also looking at making recommendations to the rest of the council on some of those things we’d rather move from authority of the office of the City Manager over to the city council”
Jordan says then a public hearing would be held to get some public feedback.
The petition that was turned in last month specifically targeted the city manager and sought to change the form of city government.
The city finance officer, however, declined to certify the petition on advice from the City Attorney that the question posed was improper.
The city is awaiting an opinion on the matter from the South Dakota Board of Elections.
A copy of the resolution before the council last night is below:
