Ethics, conflict of interest debate arrives in Sioux Falls government
City officials considering modifications to code of conduct rules
The state Supreme Court and the Legislature aren’t the only government entities in South Dakota struggling to interpret conflict of interest rules for public officials.
Sioux Falls City Councilors are considering a series of proposed amendments to the ethics and code of conduct ordinances that bar them from voting on matters in which they have a financial interest.
And like the state Constitution’s prohibition on lawmakers being in contract with the state, Sioux Falls City Charter also specifically states that councilors cannot benefit from a contract with the city, “directly or indirectly.”
But what constitutes an indirect benefit has been challenging for the city’s ethics board in recent years to determine. And that’s because the term isn’t defined anywhere in ordinance.
That’s, in part, why Councilor Greg Neitzert will introduce 17 pages of changes to existing Sioux Falls ethics and conflict of interest ordinances this week, which he says will clarify the dos and don’ts for councilors, including removing the words “direct or indirect” from the Canons of Ethics binding councilors.
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