By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent

SIOUX FALLS – While the general agenda was brief, well over half the time of a 44-minute Minnehaha County Commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18, was filled during the meeting’s public comments which ran the gamut from ballots to bike trails.

County Auditor Bob Litz talked to commissioners about wanting to install 15 ballot “drop boxes” around the county to help deal with the plethora of absentee ballots he expects for the general election on Nov. 3, and to also address any fears people may have about the post office.

As an example of what his office has in store, he said that as early as Sept. 18, over 21,000 ballots would be sent out in the mail.

When South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett sent absentee ballot requests to every registered voter last spring, there were boxes that could be checked dealing with which elections a person wanted ballots for.

Many people who requested absentee ballots for the primary elections also requested general election ballots be sent to them when they became available.

Litz said he was in touch with Barnett about the drop boxes, as well as officials from all around the county, who approved of this method for getting ballots back.

He also told commissioners he is currently in discussion with the state’s attorney’s office about any security issues they feel need to be addressed.

His current plan is to put the drop boxes at least at every municipal library around the county.

At the time of the meeting, he had not been in touch with Dell Rapids, but he said he received approval from every other Minnehaha County community.

Dell Rapids is a special case because its library is run by that municipality and is not an extension of the county-operated Siouxland Libraries.

However, the biggest issue Litz has right now is the deadline. He feels that any issues need to be dealt with right away, so the boxes can be ordered and installed by the beginning of October.

Other areas of the country are also looking at similar collection methods, and according to a CNN article, President Donald Trump recently “tweeted” that these drop boxes will lead to voter fraud, even though he cited no proof backing up his claim.

A claim with which the South Dakota Secretary of State and the Minnehaha County Auditor, both Republicans, seem to disagree.

As Litz just brought his idea forward for informative purposes during public comments, it was not an official agenda item, so no action could be taken.

On Friday, however, Mayor Paul TenHaken released a statement to the public that has potentially nixed Litz’ idea.

“The idea of adding ballot boxes in libraries is certainly worthy of consideration, but without seeing a plan from Auditor Litz outlining details, including the security of ballots and a staffing plan, it is too early for the City to take on any County responsibilities on elections. Without knowing that plan, the City has decided to not take on any unprecedented responsibility for this election and the credibility of absentee ballots. We look forward to exploring this possibility in the future,” wrote Mayor TenHaken.

Without the ability to provide equal access to all voters across the county, Litz states that he will not be able to place drop boxes in more than two locations, the County Administration Building in downtown Sioux Falls, and the election center next door.

No Wall Lake bike trail!

Other time during the public comments came from people against a proposed biking/walking trail around Wall Lake.

Over the past year, meetings were held about a paved trail that would go four miles around the lake from SD Highway 42 to county Road 151 to CR 146 to 462^nd Ave.

When they began, a group of residents started a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization called the Friends of Wall Lake.

In January of this year, they asked the county to attach its name to the project for the purpose of having a local government body involved for grant applications and fund raising, as was reported at that time.

However, when the county agreed to this, there was no talk of county approval or non-approval of the project, and certainly nothing about providing any funds.

Commissioners Jean Bender and Dean Karsky took the unique position of speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting to clarify their position.

In fact, they said, not only had the county not approved anything dealing with this trail, there has never been an agenda item or plans to discuss this since it was originally brought forward in 2019.

Still, at Tuesday’s meeting, people spoke as if the commission was involved in the project, even though commissioners said the matter had never come up.

Had anything been done to the level those who spoke were suggesting, it would have to be on record, and no such records of the commission discussing it, let alone taking any kind of action, have ever been published.

Those who spoke against the trail kept referring to 70% of the residents not wanting it.

A letter signed by Margaret Bevier of 46271 Wall Lake Place refers to people responding to a survey by either “returning a postcard, signing a petition or calling me directly to cast their vote.”

But there was no explanation of exactly what was asked, how it was asked or the ages of who it was asked of in regard to gathering their results.

The list that Bevier gave to commissioners had several names listed at many of the addresses, but there was nothing stating their ages, or whether or not one person was answering for everyone at those addresses.

Again, as this was during public comment, no action was taken.

The Minnehaha County Commission meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at 6^th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls. All meetings are open to the public, and public comment is always encouraged.

Also, those wishing to watch the meeting live can do so via the Internet at www.minnehahacounty.org/live.