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Loest in Translation: Yankton County Secessionists Afraid to Discuss Real Intent Publicly

Yankton County Commission Chair Cheri Loest says the commission wants to encourage local secessionists not to yank their four townships out of the county to merge with Turner County for slacker CAFO regulations. Unfortunately, she’s willing to help them keep secrets to do it:

Loest says a meeting is planned with residents from those townships to discuss their grievances with county government.

…Loest says in order to facilitate open and honest communication, the meeting will not be open to the public [David Leonard, “Loest on Yankton County Secession,” KYNT Radio, 2020.01.22].

Shady secessionists—maybe no one will notice....
Shady secessionists: Maybe no one will notice….

Commissioner Loest tells the radio that an open meeting might make the secessionists “intimidated by who might be there” and believes her outgoing neighbors are “more apt to be frank and honest” in a closed meeting. But the fact that a group planing a drastic political action with enormous potential ramifications for taxpayers, road maintenance, economic development, and the environment might be scared to discuss its real intentions in public does not entitle those cowardly lions to a secret meeting with public officials. Secessionists and county leaders have an obligation to be open with the public about exactly what they are planning and why they are planning it. To shut the public out of any such discussion is irresponsible.

It’s also bad optics. If secessionists think reorganizing Yankton and Turner counties is a good idea, they need to show they are willing to be frank and open with everyone in both counties, on the record. Holding secret meetings with elected officials makes voters skeptical of the plan and suspicious of the planners. (Wait—maybe that’s Commissioner Loest’s real plan here: make the secessionists look bad by having secret meetings and sowing doubt among the broader electorate….)

Commissioner Loest says she will be one of only two commissioners at this secret meeting, so there’s no quorum and thus no legal reason that this secessionist chat has to be open. But legality is not the issue: openness is. Yankton County’s secessionists are proposing a big plan with big impacts on the public. They need to engage and persuade the public openly. If they have legitimate grievances, they need to find the courage to air those grievances with the public and make everyone understand the need for change.If they just want to keep secrets, that’s all the more reason to distrust them, reject their plan, and keep their ag-industrial operations under the careful observation of Yankton County government.

4 Comments

  1. Gary Swensen 2020-01-24 19:43


    …….Well everyone the other Commissioner is NOT, I repeat NOT Me ……Gary Swensen …But Cheri Loest is really Cozy with Don the HOG BARN C.A.F.O. LOVER …Banker from Farm Credit and First Dakota Bank Yankton, S.D. Commissioner Don Kettering …………
    GOD HELP US ALL…..

    Gary Swensen Yankton County Commissioner….

  2. Debbo 2020-01-24 20:11

    If Loest hears them out respectfully, then tells them their only option is to air it all in a public meeting, then the secretiveness on a very important public issue might be acceptable. On the other hand, if she’s going to work with them to game it all out as their underhanded advocate— Vote her out!!

  3. Clyde 2020-01-25 00:03

    I agree with Cory…..no way should this not be very public in both counties. This smells as bad as those hog barns will.

  4. jerry 2020-01-28 21:15

    1860 redeaux. These Turnerites need to get a pool boy that Falwell likes so he can come and help these secretive pills out.

    “The governor of West Virginia and the president of the Liberty University came together on Tuesday and urged conservative counties and cities in Virginia to leave that state and join its western neighbor.

    “If you’re not truly happy where you are, we stand with open arms to take you from Virginia or anywhere you may be,” Gov. Jim Justice said.

    “I think it makes sense,” Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. added later. “I would vote for it.””

    There is no political satire anymore, we’re living the dream.

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