Ipswich voters will elect two City Council members on Tuesday, April 9.
The election polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
At the election two Ward openings will be decided.
• Ward I, Two-Year term: incumbent Michael Hammrich and James Hoyle
• Ward II, Two-Year term: incumbent Mike Steen and Tracy Hutson
• Ward III, Two-Year term: incumbent Mike Heinz is unopposed
The polling place for each ward is at the Edmunds County 4-H Building.
Candidates responded to Tribune questionnaires. Their responses follow:
WARD I
Michael Hammrich
Family and Background? I have been married for 43 years. My wife Lisa and I have three children, Lance, Cory and Kelsey and eight grandchildren, Alec, McKenna, Kyler, Grady, Haddy, Huck, Haze and Sutton. I am a lifelong resident of Ipswich. I have been employed by Sylte Farms (S&S Rentals) for the past 11 years as their Property and Risk Manager. I have been a member of the Ipswich Fire Department since 1979 and the Ipswich Ambulance Service for 40 years.
Why are you running for City Council? I am currently a member of the Ipswich City Council. The City Council has been and needs to continue to be active and progressive to keep our community moving forward. We have some great organizations in Ipswich and they are a huge asset to our community. As a council we need to continue to support and work with them. In the past seven years the city has installed a new water and sewer system and our infrastructure is good for many years. We have upgraded our equipment and reduced repair bills to almost nothing. The employees do an outstanding job maintaining and keeping our city operating at a peak level. I would like the opportunity to keep working and moving Ipswich forward in the right direction.
What experience would you bring to this position? I have always been active in the Ipswich Community. I have been a member of most of the organizations throughout the years. The Ipswich Clinic and The Tiger Post are two community projects I was involved with along with the new water and sewer systems. These are all major projects that were badly needed and Ipswich can be proud of.
What are the top issues concerning the city of Ipswich? The city council is currently working on a drainage project in the southwest part of Ipswich. This project has been on going for several years due to all the requirements the federal government requires in order to get grants which is the only possible way to complete major projects in any community. The biggest project coming forward is the swimming pool. It was built in 1969 and has outlived its life. The City Council has appointed several city council people to spearhead this project and they will be putting a community board together which worked well for the Tiger Post project. To continue to grow and be progressive I feel a swimming pool has to be part of our community. We also have many young families in our community and they are continuing to move in. If elected on April 9, I would like to be part of the swimming pool committee and look forward to the challenge. I am asking for your vote on April 9!!
James Hoyle
Family and Background? I currently reside in Ipswich with my wife and daughter. I grew up on a ranch near Ipswich and graduated in 2006. In 2005 I enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard, and served until 2011. I attended SDSM&T in Rapid City and graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering. I am employed by Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. as a project manager, with a mix of remote work as well as travel, and involved with the family farm.
Why are you running for City Council? With all the projects that are proposed over the next 5 years (approximately $12 million). It would make sense to have someone who has in depth experience managing large scale construction projects on the city council. Tax dollars should not be treated as an open checkbook for pet projects. Some of the improvements that are necessary could easily be optimized to provide more benefits to tax payers while reducing overall cost if managed properly. This would reduce the burden of those that are on a fixed income that are already dealing with rampant inflation. This is why I’m running for City Council. We don’t need more reckless spending, we need our leaders to allocate the tax dollars entrusted to them wisely.
What experience would you bring to this position? I joined Kiewit in 2012 and have worked on numerous projects across the US. I have estimated over $2 billion in work and have managed over $150 million in my career. My experience over the years has made me very fiscally conservative. I have also been able to grow my leadership skills managing teams of people from all walks of life, bringing them together to achieve a common goals.
What are the top issues concerning the city of Ipswich? Two of the biggest issues facing our community is the lack affordable single family homes and job opportunities. Our future will no doubt become heavily reliant on tech jobs. With automation expanding in the agriculture industry we should have a great opportunity to retain our brightest and best. If elected, I will be donating my compensation from the city council to a STEM scholarship fund for Ipswich students.
I would appreciate your vote for Ipswich City Council.
WARD II
Mike Steen
Family and Background? I am married to Judy. We have two grown children and five grandchildren. Our son and family live and own a business here in Ipswich. Two of our grandchildren enjoy all that Ipswich has to offer.
Why are you running for City Council? To continue to offer and improve all the assets Ipswich has to offer. Continue up keep to streets and drainage. I’ve been involved and worked for progress in Ipswich for many years. To work for community improvements including a new improved and money saving swimming pool.
What experience would you bring to this position? I have been a part and present council member. I have been a business owner for over 40 years. I’ve been involved with the cemetery upkeep for years, as well as swimming pool operations and city streets.
What are the top issues concerning the city of Ipswich? Water drainage, swimming pool, street repairs, sidewalk from Tiger Post to swimming pool
Tracy Hutson
Family and Background? I was raised in Leola. Following my marriage to Jean, we both shared a vision of residing in a small town and subsequently chose to settle in Ipswich, her hometown. Over the past two decades, we have been fortunate to call Ipswich our home, where we have raised our three children, Jailey, Jalyssa, and Treyton.
Why are you running for City Council? I envision a bright future for Ipswich, where my children and anyone who appreciates small-town living can thrive. Doing what's best for Ipswich and its residents is extremely important to me. I aim to ensure projects are completed with financial wisdom, fully aware of the vast opportunities for growth in our town. If elected, I'm dedicated to taking action that will encourage business growth and enrich the lives of our community members.
I'm a strong advocate for open and effective communication; my door is always open for any discussions. If elected, I commit to promptly respond to my constituents' and truly listen to their concerns. While it's not always possible to please everyone, I promise to listen intently, conduct thorough research, and make informed decisions that best serve Ipswich.
What experience would you bring to this position? I hold an Associate's Degree in Building Construction Technology and currently oversee large-scale construction projects for Agtegra, managing them from inception to completion within budgetary constraints. For the past 20 years, I have also been a business owner in Ipswich. My commitment to the community extends through my past service on the Development Corporation, as a 4-H volunteer, and my roles in emergency and fire services, including 11 years as Fire Chief, President of the North Central Fire Chief Association, a member of the Ipswich Ambulance team, and the Edmunds County Emergency Manager.
I've contributed to writing grants for our county and Fire Departments and am ready to offer that expertise to the city as well. With my background in bidding and estimating, I can add value to both ongoing and upcoming projects. My daily interactions with numerous construction companies across South Dakota have enabled me to build a network that could help secure the most competitive bids and prices for future projects.
What are the top issues concerning the city of Ipswich? The lack of housing in Ipswich is a major concern that requires attention. We need to come up with a plan and budget for long-term growth to address this issue. As the city grows, it will impact different parts of our infrastructure, so it's crucial to have a plan in place to handle these changes.
It seems like there are some concerns among citizens about how the city communicates, and I'm willing to address them. I'd love to work together to find ways to improve our communication efforts, so that we can better serve both the council and the residents of Ipswich.
Ipswich is a great place to live and to raise a family, we need to keep positive and work through research and facts to do what’s best for our town.
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