JUNE 14, 2024:
With no Public Works Director currently on staff, the City of Fort Pierre city continues to navigate how to keep day-to-day operations moving forward.
Last month (May 6, 2024), the city council voted 4-2 to reject the re-appointment of Rick Hahn to the job he’s held for the past several years. Voting to reject Hahn’s reappointment as Fort Pierre’s Public Works Director were Larry Cronin, Rick Cronin, Greg Kenzy and Scott Deal. Voting against the motion were Todd Bernhard and Callie Iversen. After the vote, none of the council members elaborated on what problems they had with his job performance.
During a meeting (June 3, 2024) earlier this month, Mayor Gloria Hanson said not having an engineer on staff is having a negative effect on city business. To help in the meantime, the council approved a contract for engineering services with Brosz Engineering.
This week (June 12, 2024), the city released contact information for Fort Pierre residents or business owners to use if they have questions.
- If you have questions pertaining to Building Permits, Ordinance and Ordinance Violations, Planning and Zoning Commission or Board of Adjustments and Appeals, please contact Assistant Public Works Director Jess Powell at 605-223-7690 or j.powell@fortpierre.com.
- If you have questions with regards to city parks and recreation areas or city streets, please contact Brett Fergen at 605-295-3849 or b.fergen@fortpierre.com.
- If you have any questions pertaining to electrical services (not bills or new accounts), street lighting or traffic signals, please contact Terry Schroer at 605-280-3778 or t.schroer@fortpierre.com.
- If you have questions involving sewer or water services (not bills or new accounts), please contact Joe Montana at 605-295-3734 or j.montana@fortpierre.com.
- Other questions or comments, can be directed to the city office at 605-223-7690.
All of the positions had been somewhat overseen by Hahn.
JUNE 4, 2024:
With no Public Works Director currently on staff, the City of Fort Pierre is struggling with how to move forward with various projects.
Last month (May 6, 2024), the city council voted 4-2 to reject the re-appointment of Rick Hahn to the job he’s held for the past several years. Prior to that vote, Alderman Larry Cronin asked to go into executive session to discuss personnel. After a nearly hour long executive session, Cronin made the motion and the council took its vote, essentially firing Hahn but also not elaborating on what problems they had with his job performance.
During this week’s meeting (June 3, 2024), Mayor Gloria Hanson said not having an engineer on staff is having a negative effect on city business.
Alderman Larry Cronin also suggested considering some options before moving forward with trying to hire a new Public Works Director.
To help in the meantime, the council approved a contract for engineering services with Brosz Engineering.
As a way to try to address code enforcement issues, a proposal to hire Code Enforcement Specialists, based in Burke was brought up again. The Council voted against using their services last year and citing concern about cost, Alderman Rick Cronin couldn’t support hiring them at this time.
The Fort Pierre City Council will discuss all of these matters further during upcoming meetings.
MAY 7, 2024:
Fort Pierre needs to hire a new Public Works Director after the City Council voted 4-2 this week (May 6, 2024) to reject the re-appointment of Rick Hahn to the job he’s held for the past several years.
Fort Pierre holds its municipal elections in April, so the first meeting in May is when the re-elected and/or newly elected mayor and council members take the Oath of Office and the group reorganizes for the coming year.
Another part of the reorganization includes approval of the mayor’s recommendations for city finance officer, public works director and city attorney, along with the designation of the official newspaper, official depository and committee assignments for council members. These have all traditionally been approved without much discussion, but that wasn’t the case during Monday night’s meeting.
Prior to the vote, Alderman Larry Cronin asked to go into executive session to discuss personnel. After a nearly hour long executive session, Cronin made the motion and the council took its vote.
Along with Larry Cronin, voting to reject Hahn’s reappointment as Fort Pierre’s Public Works Director were Rick Cronin, Greg Kenzy and Scott Deal. Voting against the motion were Todd Bernhard and Callie Iversen. No details of why Hahn’s job performance had become unsatisfactory were given and no further discussion was held on the matter.
Mayor Gloria Hanson told DRG News, “Rick Hahn has worked tirelessly for the residents of Fort Pierre for 8 years. His absence leaves a huge void in our team, and his historical knowledge and technical expertise will be greatly missed.”
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