(YOU CAN FIND THE SAMPLE BALLOTS HERE)

STURGIS - The Sturgis Municipal Election is Tuesday, April 9. 

All residents vote at the Sturgis Community Center, 1401 Lazelle St. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 9. 

In-person voting is going on now at the Finance Office at Sturgis City Hall, 1040 Harley-Davidson Way, Sturgis. You can vote in person at the Finance Office until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Also, voters can request an absentee ballot that must be returned to the Finance Office by 3 p.m. on April 9.

Candidates include:  WARD 1: Jamie Helms and Nick Jones; WARD 2: Ruth Kopp and Richard Zerbst; WARD 3: Richelle Bruch and Jim Thompson; WARD 4: Jesse Blakeman (unopposed).

Those elected will take office at the May 6 council meeting. They serve three-year terms. 

In addition to voting for representatives to the Sturgis City Council, voters in Sturgis will find two questions on the ballot.

The first question posed is to decide whether the city manager position should be eliminated from the City of Sturgis government.

The current city government operates with a city council comprised of eight (8) alderpersons elected from four (4) wards, and a mayor elected at-large; the mayor has no veto power and cannot break a tie vote. The unelected city manager is the chief executive officer for the city, enforces the laws and ordinances, and (with a few exceptions) appoints city officers and employees.

If the city manager position is eliminated, the mayor would be the chief executive officer for the city, allowed to enforce the laws and ordinances and vote to break certain ties. 

The mayor would also have the executive power of the veto, and to appoint and remove certain appointed officers. The city council then hires and removes employees. 

Many South Dakota municipalities under this type of government have a full-time “City Administrator” position to assist the mayor in his/her duties.

A vote “YES” would eliminate the city manager position. A vote “NO” would keep the city manager position and the current government would not change. 

The second question on the ballot came via a referendum.

The city received petitions to refer to the voters of Sturgis the Sturgis City Council’s decision of Feb. 20, to sign the Spirit of Sturgis TT Race host agreement for this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

The city has considered hosting a street race during the Rally since August 2022. The city discussed the idea with five race promoters before its selection. Since then, the promotors visited Sturgis at least 10 times, meeting with citizens and business owners and city representatives.

The proposal came before the Council on Oct. 2, 2023. On Nov. 20, 2023, the council held a public work session on the topic. 

The council considered the matter during a regular meeting on Dec. 4, 2023. At that time and after public input, the council authorized the mayor to sign a Letter of Intent. The promoters next sent a draft agreement to the city for review. The document was revised five times before the Council President signed it.

The city can cancel the five-year agreement at any time by mutual agreement of the parties. The track must be set up and torn down by the promotor. The promotor must provide liability insurance including coverage for the city. The cost for the first year of the contract is $653,962. The parties anticipate the city's cost of the event will be covered by sponsorships; however, there is no guarantee that this will happen.

AMA Pro Racing, in collaboration with Øuterkind and the City of Sturgis, have been working to stage the inaugural Spirit of Sturgis TT race on Sunday, Aug. 11, coinciding with the final Sunday of the 84th Annual City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 

The Sturgis City Council voted 5-3 at its meeting on Feb. 20 to approve signing the contract that would set up the race which would take place through the streets of downtown Sturgis.

A “YES” vote rejects the city council action. A “NO” vote approves the city council action.