Spearfish Mayor Dana Boke welcomed planners to the 2017 WP/SDPA Conference this morning, recognizing that planners “have very critical and difficult jobs” in their communities.

“You are visionaries who can take the vision and put it to practical steps of execution. This not a common skill set, but on top of that you must do so while having to deal with elected officials, such as myself, and for that I am truly sorry. “It is my experience that you are made of both grace and grit, and I admire that. We truly thank you for everything you do in our communities and for pouring your life into the place you live.”

Chuck Marohn, president of Strong Towns, a national nonprofit working to strengthen financial resilience in America’s towns and cities, gave the keynote address at the conference. His keynote addressed the questions that so many towns are asking themselves today: Why are we so short of resources despite decades of robust growth? Why do we struggle at the local level just to maintain our basic infrastructure? What do we do now that the economy has changed so dramatically? The answers lie in the way we have developed; the financial productivity of our places. (Stay tuned to coverage of his keynote)

Tours of Sanford Underground Lab and Deadwood area

Planners rode on the Deadwood Trolley from the hotel to hear about the reincarnation of underground mining operations into the Sanford Underground Lab. Coming down the newly re-done Hwy 85 corridor, planners saw the three-year project that redid much of the street; a beautiful walking path; parking area and bathrooms at Puma-a trail head for the Mickelson Trail.

Spearfish Mayor Dana Boke kick offs WP/SDPA conference

Tours of Sanford Underground Lab and Deadwood area