PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — More than 160 municipal officials have signed a letter requesting Governor Noem to declare a public health emergency.
The South Dakota Municipal League says they believe the declaration would allow more options for the Governor and city governments who are dealing with the coronavirus.
In the letter, they say the 1939 law that city governments are dealing with is untested and cumbersome.
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and City Councilor Christine Erickson were two of the local government leaders who also signed the letter.
Below is the letter to Gov. Noem.
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The Honorable Kristi Noem Office of the Governor 500 East Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501
Dear Governor Noem:
Thank you for your efforts to lead the State of South Dakota in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a difficult time for our leaders and all South Dakotans as they try to make the best decisions possible in the interest of the public health. We know you and your team are working diligently to keep us safe.
The authority currently available to municipalities, which dates back to 1939, is untested in this type of crisis. What little authority counties possess, which is also untested in these circumstances, is cumbersome at best. In these difficult times, local governments need to know with certainty they are able to adequately address the COVID-19 emergency and that all levels of government are working cooperatively. To accomplish this, it is imperative for you to encourage the Secretary of Health to declare a Public Health Emergency in South Dakota with your consent and exercise your authority under South Dakota Codified Law 34-22-43.
COVID-19 certainly meets the definition under SDCL 34-22-41 as an “imminent threat of an illness, health condition, or widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the affected population.” Numerous states in the nation have also taken the additional step of declaring a Public Health Emergency. The attached draft declaration and consecutive executive order would allow our local governments to carry out the provisions of Executive Order 2020-08.
Furthermore, a declaration of a public health emergency at the state or local level may be necessary for South Dakota to receive federal funding. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, that became effective April 1, provides funds to states for the public health emergency created by COVID-19. This act requires a state to issue an emergency declaration to access funds for South Dakota households under its SNAP provision for emergency allotments to address temporary food needs. In addition, the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act creates a coronavirus relief fund that will grant South Dakota $1,250,000,000 to use towards expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency. A declaration of a public health emergency would give South Dakota access to these, and potentially others, much needed funds.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in nearly half of South Dakota’s counties, and community spread numbers are rising every day. In a situation like this, time is of the essence and swift action on this declaration is necessary to prepare and limit impact as much as possible.
Thank you, Governor Noem, for your consideration of this matter.
Nathan Johnson, Mayor, Yankton
John Lawler, Mayor, Tea
Curtis Hofer, Mayor, Scotland
Roger Twamley, Trustee, Oacoma
Donald M. Arens, Mayor, Howard
Victor Olson, Mayor, Tripp
Dave Ruth, Jr., Mayor, Deadwood
Slade Roseland, Mayor, Faulkton
Dawn Murphy, Finance Officer, Tea
Marty Huether, Mayor, Wall
Clyde Fredrickson, Mayor, Britton
John J. Staller, Mayor, Plankinton
Carol Goble, Finance Officer, Ortley
Nathan Anderson, Mayor, Beresford
Andy Wienk, Mayor, Lake Preston
Paul TenHaken, Mayor, Sioux Falls
Craig Schroeder, Mayor, Doland
Chad Mutziger, Mayor, Chamberlain
Kathy Skorzewski, Mayor, Hill City
Steve Christensen, Mayor, Platte
Vivian Witlock, Mayor, Selby
Robert McGillvrey, Mayor, Wolsey
Gary Weismantel, Mayor, Herried
Steve Allender , Mayor, Rapid City
Christina Wiemer, Mayor, Elkton
Cherie Hoffman, Town Board President, Utica
Neal Pinnow, Mayor, Lemmon
John S. Pollock, Mayor, Clark
Ryan Frederick, Mayor, Lake Andes
Jeff Jeno, Mayor, Marion
Dana Boke, Mayor, Spearfish
Julie Burke-VanLuvanee, Mayor, Harrisburg
Jack Sieben, Board President, Mission Hill
Scott J. Grunewaldt, Mayor, Baltic
Kevin Jens, Mayor, Waubay
Steve Harding, Mayor, Pierre
Donovan Renner, President of the Board, Central City
Larry McManus, Chairman, Pukwana
Richard Brink, Mayor, Corsica
Terry Wright, Mayor, White
Brad Hill, Mayor, Colome
Harry Weller, Mayor, Kadoka
Daniel Severson, Board President, Chancellor
Hope Block, Finance Officer, Groton
Becky Brunsing, Finance Officer, Wagner
Rick Boschee, Mayor, Bowdle
Ken Wetz, Mayor, Newell
Terry Jaspers, Mayor, Sisseton
Rick Lehman, Mayor, Colton
Renae Phinney, Town Board President, Ree Heights
Ron Everett, Mayor, Lead
Dennis Decker , President, Yale
Allen Grimes, Mayor, Interior
Marshall Dennert, Mayor, Madison
Ilene Helmer, President of the Board, Andover
Robert Hotchkiss, President of the Board of Trustees, Delmont
Mike Grosek, Mayor, Webster
Keith Corbett, Mayor, Brookings
Cindy Broyhill, President of the Board of Trustees, Pickstown
George Kotti, Mayor, Hot Springs
Sam Sorensen, Mayor, Freeman
Brian Carmody, Mayor, Alexandria
Carolynn Anderson, Finance Officer, Wall
Mary Dunn, Mayor, Eden
Christine Erickson, Councilmember, Sioux Falls
Gary L. Rayhill, Mayor, Martin
Don Hosek, Mayor, Wagner
Gary Dominiack, President of the Board, Oacoma
Carl Gjefle, Board President, Pollock
David Vavruska, Mayor, Tyndall
Brian Ries, Mayor, Castlewood
Scott Anshutz, Mayor, Gregory
Benny Joe Schell, Mayor, McIntosh
Bradley Hazuka, Mayor, Worthing
F. Butch Oseby, Mayor, Crooks
Tom Hermes, Board of Trustees President, Timber Lake
Mark Carstensen, Mayor, Sturgis
Donna Ruden, President, Spencer
Lyle D. Carl, Mayor, Claire City
Glen Haines, Mayor, Faith
Audrey Johnson, President of the Board, Pierpont
Randy Santema, Mayor, Volga
John Powell, Mayor, Vermillion
Dennis Wieser , Mayor, Rosholt
Linda Nelson, Mayor, Hurley
Sandra Lundstrom, Mayor, Canton
Tom Lee, Mayor, Roslyn
Justin Engbarth, Mayor, Canistota
Bryce Lutz, Mayor, Summerset
Jay Osterloh, Mayor, Hecla
Todd Longville, Chairman, Kennebec
Jennifer Eimers, Finance Officer, Madison
Tracy West, Mayor, Lennox
Dave Hoffman, Mayor, Parkston
Del Bratland, Mayor, Willow Lake
Tom Glover, Mayor, Burke
Jim Veit, Mayor, Dupree
Harvey Carlisle, President of Board, Cottonwood
Clayton Blachford, President, Northville
Patrick S. Callan, President of the Board, Florence
Bob Everson, Mayor, Mitchell
Vikki M. Day, Mayor, Highmore
Scott Hanlon, Mayor, Groton
Nancy Andresen, Finance Officer, Wakonda
Gene Buechler , President of the Board, Java
Paul Knispel, Mayor, White River
Jameson Berreth, City Administrator, Volga
Wayne Tupper, Mayor, Kimball
Mike Vetter, Mayor, Philip
Leland Treichel, Mayor, Roscoe
Lisa Hjellum, Council President, Ethan
Jack Trullinger, Mayor, New Underwood
Deb McCreary, Mayor, Elk Point
Larry Larson, Mayor, Box Elder
Jerry Dibble, Mayor, Edgemont
Michael Lee, Mayor, Springfield
Amiel Redfish , Mayor, Arlington
David M. Geisler, Mayor, Murdo
Laurie Woodward, Finance Officer, Custer
Tom Earley, Mayor, Dell Rapids
Todd Sell, President of the Board, Langford
Greg Anderson, Mayor, Brandt
Frederick Weekes, Mayor, Aurora
Arnold Schott, Mayor, McLaughlin
Travis Sparks, Mayor, Armour
Kathy Voorhees, Mayor, Wessington Springs
Pat Raffety, Mayor, Milbank
Melissa Sayler, Finance Officer, Olivet
LeRoy Kilber, Mayor, Ipswich
Steve Wickre, Chairman of the Board, Hudson
James McRoberts, President of the Board, Lebanon
Darrell Mehlhaf, Mayor, Menno
Carl Moss, Mayor, Valley Springs
Gary Wolkow, Mayor, De Smet
Bryce Chambers, Mayor, Blunt
Corbin Herman, Mayor, Custer
Sarah Caron, Mayor, Watertown
Greg Beaner, Mayor, Garretson
Ron Nelson, Mayor, Parker
Clyde Hirsch, Commissioner, Summerset
Ronald Blachford, Mayor, Miller
Shawn Claussen, President of the Board, Herrick
Robert Braun, Board President, Lake City
Rick Brandfas, President of the Board, Keystone
Adam Lund, President of Board, Humboldt
Jeff Engesser, Mayor, Gary
Mitchell U. Harmon, Mayor, Whitewood
Kay Miller, Mayor, Fulton
Bill Wuttke, Mayor, Gettysburg
Debbra Houseman, Finance Officer, Lake Andes
Thomas Glas, Mayor, Alcester
Paul Aylward, Mayor, Huron
Lloyd LaCroix, Pennington County Commissioner
Rolf Kraft, Bennett County Commissioner
Ron Rossknecht, Pennington County Commissioner
Lori Waldron, Jones County Commissioner
Dan Klimisch, Yankton County Commissioner
Gary Drewes, Pennington County Commissioner
Deb Hadcock, Pennington County Commissioner
Jim Schmidt, Lincoln County Commissioner
Robert Shadwell, Campbell County Commissioner
Clint Farlee, Ziebach County Commissioner
Travis Mockler, Clay County Commissioner
Mark DiSanto, Pennington County Commissioner
