Attorney General Marty Jackley is establishing a task force focused on ensuring government transparency. He said in a press release that government “funded by the taxpayers should be transparent.”
The Advisory Task Force Committee on Open Meetings Laws will meet for the first time this coming Tuesday, Nov. 25. The group is discussing possible legislative amendments to South Dakota’s current open meetings laws.
Jackley said the group is different from South Dakota’s Open Meetings Commission. The commission was established to review and address alleged violations of open meetings laws.
That group consists of five states attorneys. The new task force is made up of 15 individuals from news media and private organizations along with local government officials.
The 15 members are:
- Michael Smith – Clay County State’s Attorney
- Austin Hoffman – McPherson County State’s Attorney
- Karla Engle – Chief Legal Counsel for the South Dakota Dept. of Transportation
- Kirsten Jasper – Chief Legal Counsel for the South Dakota Dept. of Revenue
- Tracey Kelley – Custer County State’s Attorney
- Dylan Kirchmeier – Roberts County State’s Attorney
- Dave Bordewyk – South Dakota News Media Association
- Steve Willard – South Dakota Broadcasters Association
- Shane Roth – DeSmet School District Board President and Associated School Boards of South Dakota President
- Garret Bischoff – Huron School District Board Vice-President and Associated School Boards of South Dakota Immediate Past President
- Geoffrey Gray Lobe – Clay County Commissioner
- Cole Heisey – Minnehaha County Commissioner
- Kellen Willert – City Attorney for the City of Belle Fourche
- Terry Sletten – South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships Executive Director
- Jim Urban – South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships Board of Director Member
Tuesday’s meeting starts at 10 a.m. CST, both in person and on TEAMs. The in-person session takes place at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Training Center, 1302 E. Hwy 1889, Pierre, SD, in the second floor DCI Conference Room.
