(605) 882-5115      Watertown, South Dakota

ABOUT THE FIRST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION

First District Association of Local Governments (First District) is a voluntary association of local governments working cooperatively for the benefit of Northeast South Dakota. Established in 1971, First District provides professional planning, programming, and technical assistance to cities, counties, businesses and community organizations in South Dakota. First District serves 11 counties and 75 communities within the counties of Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner, Moody, and Roberts.

Over the years, First District has been involved in numerous projects from planning, zoning, and community project development to housing development, geographic information systems, and direct loans for small businesses. As the needs of the District’s counties and communities change, so does the work direction of the District.

Although the First District is a public body, it has no legal authority to tax, issue bonds, or require local governments to comply with or implement policies. Thus, each of the eleven counties voluntarily joins First District on an annual basis.

First District Association of Local Governments is governed by a board – the Governing Body. The Governing Body discusses issues of regional concern and directs the activities of First District. It is comprised of designated, elected, and appointed members in the following manner:

  • One county commissioner from each respective county board
  • One elected municipal representative from each county
  • One at-large member from each county
  • Chairman of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
  • Chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

First District is funded by annual memberships from its member communities and counties, state and federal contracts, and fees for service activities from public and private sources.

First District’s professional staff is available to assist local officials and concerned citizens explore ways to make their communities and counties a better place to live, through professional development, planning, and management services.