Sturgis Providence

04/02/2024

Vote YES for No Race!

02/12/2024

Official press release on the SD Supreme Court ruling. the Sturgis Citizens WILL have an election on the City form of Government.

For immediate release - February 12, 2024
- the citizens WILL have an election!

Sturgis, South Dakota – The 2+ year court battle between the City of Sturgis and its citizens concluded last week when all five Justices of the South Dakota Supreme Court agreed that Sturgis City Finance Officer Faye Bueno and the Sturgis City Council violated their “clear duties” by refusing to schedule an election on the proposition of whether Sturgis should continue to have a City Manager position as part of its government structure.

In the February 7, 2024 Supreme Court Opinion Bohn v. Bueno, Tammy Bohn, Justin Bohn, and Brenda Vasknetz (“Petitioners”) finally triumphed against Sturgis city officials who ignored their “clear duties” and refused to schedule an election. The Supreme Court unanimously agrees that “neither the finance officer nor the city council had the authority to delay the scheduling of an election to vote on the submitted petition.” The election should have been held in April 2022!

Since December 2021, Petitioners’ attorney, Kellen B. Willert, has been advocating that Bueno had a duty to certify the 900+ signatures on the Petition and the city council had a duty to schedule the election. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that:

1) Bueno “had a clear duty to compare the petition submitted with the form provided in the ARSD. Performance of that clear duty could lead to no other conclusion but that the petition was in the ‘form required by this chapter.’”

2) “Bueno had a clear duty to act under the regulation to certify the petition and present it to the city council.”

3) “… the city council had a clear duty to schedule an election.”

Despite complete and utter defeat, Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen stated in a February 8, 2024 press release asserts that “the city is … researching when an election on the matter may be held.” The Supreme Court specifically ruled “…the election must be held using the process and timing requirements identified in SDCL 9-10-1,” which requires the ballot “be presented at the next annual municipal election or the next general election, whichever is earlier.” There is no research – the citizens are entitled to cast their votes on this issue at the next annual municipal election on April 9, 2024! Petitioners call for Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen to immediately resign.

Because Petitioners have justifiable concerns about Sturgis continuing to use delay tactics to avoid an election on this issue, Petitioners call on Sturgis to do the right thing at the next regular council meeting on February 20, 2024 at 6:30 PM: schedule this election to be held on April 9, 2024. .

For more information, contact Petitioners Tammy Bohn, Justin Bohn, and Brenda Vasknetz at [email protected].

02/22/2023

For Immediate Release; Wednesday, February 22, 2023; Contact: Eric Davis [email protected]

Sturgis Attorney Leads Referendum Effort to Force Public Vote on Sturgis City Council’s Decision to Hire New City Manager

STURGIS - In a late-night meeting Tuesday, February 21, the Sturgis City Council passed Resolution 2023-20, which purports to authorize the City of Sturgis to hire a new city manager to replace current City Manager Daniel Ainsley. Ainsley recently announced his resignation to accept a new position with the City of Rapid City.
This morning, local Sturgis resident and attorney Eric Davis announced an effort to refer the resolution to a vote of the residents of Sturgis.
According to Davis, “the citizens of Sturgis created the Office of City Manager by election in 2007. Last December, a legally-sufficient number of those citizens signed and filed a valid petition to reconsider that question.” Whether the City had a legal obligation to hold that election is an issue currently pending in two lawsuits before the South Dakota Supreme Court. “The City should not be taking any action on this matter until the lawsuits regarding the petitions are resolved,” Davis said.
Last year, Davis and high school speech and debate coach and Sturgis resident Eric Johnson recorded a short, 4-episode podcast series about the Sturgis municipal election called the Sturgis Kitchen Table. Davis and Johnson have followed the dispute surrounding the city manager petitions and the subsequent lawsuit closely and decided to revive the podcast a year later to support the referendum effort.
“All we are asking for is an election, but we need the community’s help to gather the signatures.” Davis said the effort needs to gather at least 1,000 signatures in three weeks. “We shouldn’t be forced to do this a second time,” Davis said, “but we can get it done if we work together. Mr. Johnson and I will be back on the podcast with an update in a few days to tell people how they can sign and circulate the petition.”
“This vote is going to determine the future of Sturgis,” Davis said. “It is a question of critical importance in this community, and it needs to be answered by its citizens. We’re going to have a vigorous, informed, and respectful debate; and then we are going to have an election. May the strongest ideas be enacted into law and faithfully executed. Those are the principles our government was built on. The City of Sturgis has been infringing on the constitutional rights of its citizens for too long.”
The podcast episode discussing last night’s city council meeting and the referendum effort can be accessed here or by searching Sturgis Kitchen Table on Spotify.

The Sturgis Kitchen Table is back for Season 3!On February 21, 2023, the Sturgis City Council passed an illegal resolution purporting to authorize the City to hire a new city manager following the resignation of long-time City Manager Daniel Ainsl...

05/30/2022

Memorial Day - Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15 KJV - Remember and Honor🇺🇸❤️

12/03/2021

🛑Stop🛑 giving out lame, generic greeting cards...Send your loved ones a truly memorable card instead!

Get a limited-edition Buffalo Chip illustrated 4 design 12 pack of cards NOW at http://bit.ly/2Bchwek

02/16/2021

Tegun Thomson, a fellow motorcross rider was involved in a terrible accident during… Brad Thompson needs your support for Support for Tegun Thomson and family

02/02/2021

02/01/2021

01/30/2021

The beautiful Sturgis Marcotte Recreation Area Park established by all the Sturgis residents who actively enjoy it on a daily basis. We encourage every resident to stop by this weekend and walk the Marcotte Recreation Area Park to truly understand the beauty and recreational possibilities this property can provide for all of the Sturgis community to enjoy. The weather looks great and there is plenty of parking. Please say YES YES YES on February 2nd to make sure this isn't the last this property will be used.

01/30/2021

There is a path already established by all the Sturgis residents who actively enjoy the Sturgis Marcotte Recreation Area Park on a day to day basis. This path is located across from 2614 Elk Road. We encourage every resident to stop by this weekend and walk the Marcotte Recreation Area Park to truly understand the recreational possibilities this property can provide for all of the Sturgis community to enjoy. The weather looks great and there is plenty of parking. Please VOTE YES February 2nd to make sure this isn't the last time this path will be taken....

01/28/2021

Vote YES on Feb 2nd. Save the Sturgis Marcotte Recreation Area Park