By Andrew Atwal
andrew.atwal@yankton.net

South Dakota features planning districts, which are associations of local governments (county, city and tribal) in many of the districts across the state. District III, which encompasses Bon Homme, Hutchinson, Douglas, Charles Mix and Yankton counties, among others, helps to provide planning and development, improve the quality of government services and save costs by providing one source for specialized services.

“District III is a regional development organization that helps local governments and the private sector with various projects,” said director Greg Henderson. “We work on pretty much every kind of major problem.”

The main goal of all the planning committees across the state is to provide comprehensive development assistance to its membership and to organizations and businesses in the private sector. They offer a wide range of services that help their region maintain public services and expand economic opportunities.

Among the projects the group has taken on in Yankton County in 2011 included a sewer system, which the Timberland Park Homeowner’s Association sought. The group also helped the City of Yankton with the East Highway 50 lift station. However, the group denied an application for the Volin Rural Fire Association’s proposal for a new vehicle.

In Bon Homme County, District III helped the City of Scotland with storm water and sewer improvements as well as with a project on Washington Street.

The planning committee helped a few projects in Douglas County, included railway avenue reconstruction in Corsica and a facility upgrade and expansion project within the county.

In Hutchinson County, a number of projects are still under review. However, in 2011, the group helped the City of Parkston with its “safe routes to school” initiative, the City of Menno with a water meter replacement project, and other improvements in Menno and Freeman for a small community planning grant.

District III also helps with many other projects across the area, including community planning, housing, geographic information systems (GIS), business development, grant and loan applications, and other speciality projects.

Since its founding in 1973, each dollar of membership dues paid by counties has expanded to an average of $61 in assistance needed — a number that counties to grow higher. Total outside assistance to date totals more than $247 million on just $4 million in dues paid.

District III is financed through membership dues, administrative charges, state and federal agency service contracts, grants and other technical assistance fees. Expenses in 2011 were at $1.1 million and about 22 percent of the funding came from local government dues.

The group is currently working locally with the Boys and Girls Club of Yankton to try and secure the group a grant to build a new facility.

District III helps many groups and community organizations secure funds to help improve their communities in ways they might not have been able to without the groups help and guidance.

You can follow Andrew Atwal on Twitter at twitter.com/andrewatwal