SCDRC vote keeps current services in area

Stakeholders at Friday’s South Central Dakota Regional Council’s planning meeting voted to keep all the services that are being provided and to add more fee-based services to the nine-county region it serves.

“Today’s session was an opportunity for us to develop ideas to address the needs of our area in dealing with growth,” said SCDRC Committee for Growth Chairman Joe Neis of Edgeley.

The 21 people in attendance unanimously voted to recommend to the SCDRC Board of Directors to develop a public/ private partnership to create an infrastructure funding revolving loan fund.

Carrington Mayor Don Frye suggested the development of a fund that could be used for developing infrastructure in the region and managed by SCDRC.

The fund could be developed with contributions from regional financial institutions, economic development groups and others in the region.

“The goal of the planning session was to consider needs in our nine counties,” said Deb Kantrud, SCDRC executive director. “We want to ensure the Regional Council is providing the services and the staff has the skills required to meet the needs of the nine-county area in the next three to five years.”

Other ideas on the list for consideration were: increased education about and marketing of regional council services, additional resources for grant writing and reporting and the addition of building inspector services.

The results of a survey sent to county commissions, city councils, economic development groups, and state legislators were reviewed as part of the planning process.

The Regional Council’s Committee for Growth committee will consider these ideas and will work with the SCDRC Board of Directors and Executive Board to identify and implement strategies to create funding options for the SCDRC.

The Regional Council Board of Directors next quarterly meeting is March 20, in Jamestown.

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