STURGIS, S.D. – As voters head to the polls April 12th, a lawsuit alleging the current city manager form of government in Sturgis is moot awaits the city.
It was filed by three candidates running for office. They are Tammy Bohn, running for mayor, Justin Bohn running for Ward 4 council and Brenda Vasknetz running for Ward 1 council.
The lawsuit follows a judge’s ruling in February that a petition spearheaded by the three asking for an election to eliminate the city manager position was declared invalid.
Judge Kevin Krull in his ruling said SDCL states there are two forms of government – an aldermanic and form of commissioners. He says a city manager can serve under each form of government and the petition was asking for something that couldn’t be done – and that was to get rid of the city manager.
So now, the group has filed a suit that seeks to declare the 2007 election that formed the city manager form of government invalid.
Incumbent council candidates, however, reiterated their belief at a Tuesday night forum, that the lawsuit is politically motivated and targets current city manager Daniel Ainslie.
The Bohn’s and Vasknetz deny that, although part of the lawsuit targets Ainslie, and asks a court to order him to pay back his salary dating back to when he was hired in 2011. In a press release today, the city of Sturgis says it does not include David Boone, who was the city’s first city manager.
The Bohn’s and Vasknetz at last night’s forum stated their want for a city administrator form of government rather than a city manager. Their belief is that the city manager has too much power.
However, the majority of those running for city government favor the city manager form of government because it distributes power among the council and mayor. A city administrator form of government gives the mayor all the power.
The current city council has set up a committee to look into the powers the current city manager has and could make recommendations down the road in hopes of improving the office.
Furthermore, the city today, in their press release, say the “action threatens to damage the City’s relationship with employees, creditors, and Rally sponsors.”
They plan to “vigorously resist the lawsuit and defend the best interests of the citizens of Sturgis.”
You can read the city’s response to the lawsuit here: https://www.sturgis-sd.gov/news/post/14658/
