This evening, Steve Harding was sworn for his third term as the Mayor of Pierre.
Harding took his first Oath of Office as Mayor in 2017. Since then, he has successfully led the charge to replace Pierre’s nearly 100-year-old outdoor pool, change the City’s drinking water source from well water to Missouri River surface water, renovate and expand the Boys and Girls Club, provide commercial flights from Pierre to both Denver and Minneapolis, relocate City Hall, and transform the old City Hall site into a mixed-used development.
“Six years ago, the community had some long-standing wants and needs,” said Mayor Harding. “I’m proud to say with strong community support and a lot of effort from the City team, we have been able to tick some very large projects off the to-do list.”
In the next three years, Mayor Harding is looking forward to wrapping up a couple more of those projects.
“Water treatment is complete, we relocated City Hall about five years ago, the Boys and Girls Club project is done, and Minneapolis flights start this year,” said Harding. “My two biggest priorities at the moment are keeping the pool project on track for completion this year and making sure the old City Hall project continues as planned.”
As required by Home Rule Charter, the Mayor also gave the commissioners their assignments for the next year. They remain unchanged.
Comm. Jamie Huizenga will continue as President of the Commission and lead meetings in Mayor Harding’s absence. He also maintains oversight of Engineering, Planning, Zoning, Airport, Landfill and Garbage operations.
Comm. Blake Barringer is the liaison to the Utilities Dept.; Comm. Todd Johnson is the liaison to the Parks and Recreation Dept.; and Comm. Vona Johnson is the Public Safety and Library liaison.
Prior to being elected Mayor, Harding served on the Pierre City Commission for nine years.