South Dakota Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon announced that she will be departing from the Noem Administration to join the private sector. Her last day as Secretary will be January 7, 2022.
“Kim has been a steady hand as our Secretary of Health,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I have appreciated her help and partnership during unprecedented times. We will miss having her on the team, and we wish her all the best.”
Secretary Malsam-Rysdon has been the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) since 2015. She previously served as senior advisor to Governor Daugaard, Secretary of the Department of Social Services, Deputy Secretary of Social Services, and Director of the Divisions of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services. Prior to working for the state of South Dakota, Kim worked to help people with disabilities live and work in their communities.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to lead the Department of Health the last seven years, and for Governor Noem’s leadership, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon. “The employees of the Department of Health are some of the best public servants in the state, and I am grateful for their hard work on behalf of people in South Dakota.”
Joan Adam, current Division Director for Administration at DOH, will serve as the Interim Secretary of Health. Joan has worked for the Department for a combined twenty years. She has served as Division Director for Administration since 2010, where she oversees the SD Public Health Laboratory; Correctional Healthcare Services; the Offices of Vital Records and Health Statistics, and Health Information Technology.
Joan and Karl, her husband of 32 years, live in Pierre, SD, where they have raised their five children. Their family also includes a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and one grandson. You can find a picture of Joan here.
The Winner School board will meet tomorrow night (Monday) at 7:00 pm in room 200 of the Winner High School building located at 431 East 7th Street. Agenda items must be submitted to the Superintendent by the first Wednesday of each month. Public notice shall be according to SDCL 1-25-3.
This week, I outlined my budget recommendations for how we will run our state in the next fiscal year. The past year has brought historic challenges. South Dakota has taken those challenges in stride and has come out stronger.
Our state has the strongest economy in America. I want to make sure that we do not take that for granted, and that we also work to keep that momentum building. We are going to invest in our people and prepare for the future.
South Dakota is ranked in the Top 5 for fiscal stability. That is because for 133 years straight, we have passed balanced budgets and we hedge against potential downturns in the economy. This year, our state has seen tremendous growth in our revenue. That is why I am recommending a historic 14% — about $300 million — for strategic reserves in case the negative indicators in the economy start to make their way into our state.
These include historic investments in workforce housing, to spur new development of single- and multi-family homes. This includes $150 million from the state and $50 million in federal funds. A partnership with local cities and developers will triple the total investment to $600 million for new housing.
Through a partnership with local, state, and federal dollars, we can put $1.5 billion in combined funding to address water projects. These would replace aging infrastructure and help develop new systems for wastewater and sewers.
For those who are already working here, our Department of Social Services will be using $100 million in federal dollars to support existing daycares with one-time costs. These dollars can help expand availability at daycares, and also train more people to work at daycares.
And for those who are looking to switch careers or are getting ready to enter the workforce, I am recommending more than $47 million to expand skilled workforce training capacity at our colleges and universities. These include strengthening programs focused on healthcare, cybersecurity, manufacturing, and farming , and ranching. These programs have the potential to make our schools a top draw for students around the world. They also will attract some of the most competitive companies in a variety of industries.
Of course, we also need to keep our people healthy and strong. That is why I am recommending several key investments in healthcare. In addition to expanding workforce training so we have more qualified nurses, I am recommending we invest in marketing and recruiting for the industries most affected by the pandemic. I am supporting funding to create regional Behavioral Health Centers to help individuals struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues.
To improve access to care in our rural communities, I am recommending a combination of state and federal dollars to improve EMS services. These include funding for new technology to expand telehealth, upgrading life-saving equipment, and regionalizing services to improve response times.
I am recommending that the Department of Tourism use federal dollars to expand our successful marketing of both local and state attractions. South Dakota saw record tourism numbers this past year. We want to help these visitors explore more of our state by working with local cities and Native American tribes on marketing efforts to increase exposure.
I am also continuing my support of law enforcement by recommending several investments to our courts and to the Department of Corrections (DOC). These include targeted pay raises for the DOC to be competitive with other law enforcement agencies.
This week, I revealed that our DOC facility needs currently sit at about $600 million. We will not spend all of that today, but I am recommending the legislature save money for these needs in the future. I am recommending $28 million to build a Community Work Center for Women in Rapid City.
Last, but not least, I am recommending a historic 6% increase in funding for our state employees, educators, and healthcare providers. This increase is the largest in state history, and it is necessary because of dramatic inflation and to keep our salaries competitive.
Of course, this is not the complete budget recommendation. These are some of the highlights of solutions to priority issues facing South Dakota. To view my full budget proposal for the Fiscal Year 2023, go to https://bfm.sd.gov/budget.
Leadership at USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) have responded to a request from National Bison Association to find a new path for relief for bison producers affected by Mycoplasma infection and mortality. In previous years, the FSA considered Mycoplasma to be a secondary infection in bison, which prevented producers from qualifying for reimbursement for death losses under the agency’s Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). FSA is working now to reconsider that decision. At the FSA’s request, the Center of Excellence for Bison Studies (Bison COE) at SDSU is providing aggregated data to inform that decision.
FSA Administrator Zac Ducheneaux said this week that the agency is looking at the program requirements for LIP, and for the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP), in hopes that coverage can be provided for impacted producers. Ducheneaux urged impacted livestock producers to immediately notify their local FSA office (either by email, or by phone followed up with an email) of death losses incurred because of Mycoplasma. That will provide the agency with important evidence documenting the extent of the losses within the bison industry.
“For now, please encourage any of your producers to notify their local FSA office of any and all losses as soon as possible and keep them updated as to further losses they may sustain and ask for an ELAP application,” he said. Also, if there is overlap of Mycoplasma losses with drought, the USDA requests that that be documented as well to assist with ELAP. Drought conditions for your area over the past year can be determined using the comparison Drought Monitor online tool.
The director of research for the Bison COE, Dr. Jeff Martin, stated, “We are excited to assist the bison industry in this way. We look forward to contributing in such a large and positive way that identifies some relief for bison managers while research advances to discover more effective vaccines and treatments.”
Carcass Disposal Assistance Available
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has carcass disposal assistance available under the name “Emergency Animal Morality Management” as part of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and has four practice options:
Eligibility Information for EQIP
Agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forestland and Tribes are eligible to apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, nonindustrial private forestland and other farm or ranch lands. To receive assistance, both an application and approved early start waiver must be filed with the local NRCS field office prior to disposal of animal carcasses. Additionally, producers must have farm records established with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), meet all eligibility requirements, and have application filed at the local NRCS. Prior to payment, a mortality certification is required by a veterinarian or an animal health specialist.
The South Dakota Association of Agricultural Extension Professionals (SDAAEP) announced the 2021 state and regional award winners at their annual meeting on Oct. 26. The association also presented its Friend of SDAAEP award to Dakota Farm Talk’s Pam Geppert.
The SDAAEP is the state chapter of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension staff and faculty are eligible to become members. To be recognized for annual state, regional or national awards, an application must be submitted each spring including materials or programs that were developed or delivered within the previous year. State winners advance to regional review committees for consideration, and then regional winners advance to national review committees. SDAAEP had no national winners this year.
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The NACAA Achievement Award was given to Dr. Adam Varenhorst. One person per year in South Dakota’s membership can be awarded this early career (less than 10 years in the profession) recognition by the national association.
In addition to the awards presented by NACAA, the SDAAEP recognizes an in-state Extension partner each year with the Friend of SDAAEP award. In 2021, this award was presented to Pam Geppert of Dakota Farm Talk. Geppert has been a collaborator with SDSU Extension for over 10 years, producing radio segments to share science-based knowledge and recommendations in response to current issues and concerns in agriculture, in addition to publicizing Extension-led events across the state. Her segments are broadcast weekdays during agriculture radio shows on 10 radio stations in South Dakota. With Geppert’s partnership, SDSU Extension has been able to reach producers and multiple agricultural sectors from every corner of the state.
NACAA has been the professional association for Extension staff and faculty since 1916.
On Friday December 3, Governor Kristi Noem filed her appeal brief in the Planned Parenthood v. Noem litigation, which she has appealed to the United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Following last week’s historic oral arguments in the Dobbs case, South Dakota is moving forward with our legal fight to protect unborn lives,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I look forward to the day when all life – born and unborn – is protected by law, and this litigation will be helpful in achieving that ultimate goal.”
In September, Governor Kristi Noem retained attorney Jay Sekulow and the American Center for Law and Justice to join the State’s legal team in this litigation. Sekulow, an accomplished Supreme Court advocate, is Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. Sekulow led President Donald J. Trump’s defense team in its impeachment acquittal in January 2020.
The District Court had previously enjoined the provision in South Dakota state law requiring that a pregnant woman consult with a pregnancy help center, ensuring that she had all facts available and that she was not being coerced into an abortion, before deciding whether to abort her unborn child. The State of South Dakota appeals the District Court ruling to ensure that women considering an abortion have all of the facts regarding their unborn child, the potential risks of an abortion procedure, and to ensure that the mother is not being coerced into an abortion.
Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide from sunrise until sundown on Tuesday, December 7 in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
This order is in response to a proclamation by President Joseph R. Biden, which can be found here.
The Winner City Council will meet this evening in the Winner City Council Chambers at 325 S. Monroe Street at 6:30 p.m. One of the items of discussion will be to settle on the next Winner City Election date which will be April 12th of 2022.
The Gregory City Council will hold their regular meeting tomorrow night (Monday, December 6th) at 5:00 p.m. at Gregory City Hall, located at 120 W 6th Street. Please note the City of Gregory meets on the first and third Monday of each month.