American News, Aberdeen, Nov. 22
Is it city’s job to regulate Lyft?
City leaders are going to consider an ordinance governing ride-sharing services like Lyft, which recently started operating in Aberdeen.
The plan is to put as much as possible into the draft - including regulations that Sioux Falls and Rapid City have implemented or are implementing - and to pare it back from there.
Lyft is considered a “transportation network company” under state law, which sets out a series of regulations for drivers.
The Sioux Falls City Council passed an ordinance requiring transportation network companies to pay an annual license fee of $1,500, according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. That amount covers all drivers.
Lyft drivers are operating in Rapid City as the council works to incorporate Lyft regulations into an ordinance that was first drafted to regulate taxis, according to the Rapid City Journal.
Aberdeen City Manager Lynn Lander previously said the ordinance Rapid City is pondering would require vehicle inspections, background checks on drivers and language on how fees are collected.
It appears, though, that Lyft already has the background check bit covered as they are required by state law.
In fact, according to Ron Wager, Aberdeen city attorney, “Transportation network company requirements are stricter than what we have for our taxi cab drivers.”
Which begs the question: How much more involved in the regulation of ride-sharing services does the city want to get?
Certainly, council members should complete their due diligence. And taking a look at a draft ordinance that covers a lot of territory is fine, but there’s no need for duplication or needlessly restricting free enterprise.
Taxis in Aberdeen have to be inspected every 120 days to make sure their speedometers, brakes, windshield wipers, lights and other features work. The vehicles must also have a spare tire and be clean.
We would argue inspecting private vehicles used for Lyft every four months is unnecessary - especially for a service that encourages customers to provide a rating for the service they get.
More restrictive to taxi services is that the city regulates the fees they can collect. The minimum fee is $3. The maximum - for up to 77 blocks, anyhow - is $7.50, though there can be charges for extra stops and passengers. Additionally, taxis can charge an extra dollar per ride between 9:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., per city ordinance.
Lyft is not bound by those rate restrictions and, having found a legal workaround, should never be.
There will certainly be instances - perhaps most - in which Lyft rides cost more than those provided by taxis. If patrons want to pay extra for the convenience of using a smartphone app to order a quick ride for a flat fee, that’s their choice.
The benefit of paying with a credit card as opposed to needing to have cash on hand is also substantial.
Wager said it might be time for the city council to consider updating its taxi ordinances. That probably makes more sense than imposing too many regulations on Lyft and any other ride-sharing services that come along.
Any advantage enjoyed by transportation network companies is a credit to their ingenuity. That shouldn’t be punished.
In trying to be fair to all parties, the city needs to keep the people who need rides at the top of the list. The businesses are secondary.
Local drivers wasted no time in offering their services and vehicles to Lyft. Now they’re in business and the city is in an awkward spot of trying to craft well-meaning guidelines retroactively. It might be hard to unring the bell, so communication is going to be key.
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Rapid City Journal, Rapid City, Nov. 21
Fall River County about to go solar
GOOD: Fall River County is on its way to becoming a pioneer of sorts in South Dakota. The county commission there recently gave what amounts to its final approval for a utility scale solar energy project for the southwest corner of the state. The project, which will be built on a 700-acre area, is being developed by 174 Power Global, a subsidiary of the Korean-based Fortune Global 500 Hanwa Group. Work on the project is expected to begin in April 2018 and be completed in September. The solar farm is expected to generate enough electricity for an estimated 45,000 homes when it is completed. Black Hills Energy will be its primary customer. One of the great benefits of solar energy is that there is no need for trucks, trains or pipelines to transport it to customers. Fall River County and its commissioners have helped shine a light on the future.
BAD: The four members of the West Dakota Water Development District must have been singing in the rain last week after they learned their votes sank two stream gauges in their district. The U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, told a Journal reporter that the district’s decision to not allocate $14,785 for the stream gauges - something that has been done for 32 years - led to the decision. The USGS contributes $11,725 annually for the gauges, which are just above Deerfield Lake and in a tributary above Pactola Reservoir. They measure the flow from underground springs that feed the lakes and then disseminate the data via a satellite that provides information to Pennington County Emergency Management, South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Rapid City, the Rapid Valley Irrigation District and others. The vote also contradicts the district’s mission, which according to its website includes “proper water management” and “evaluation and protection of our water quality.” If you don’t care about water quality, why run for a position that is charged with overseeing water quality?
UGLY: A grim toll has been adding up on South Dakota’s roads lately. According to the Department of Public Safety, 35 people have lost their lives in traffic accidents since Sept. 1. Fifteen fatalities were reported in September, 14 in October and at least six so far in November - and the holiday driving season is just around the corner. “Too many fatalities, too many families grieving,” said Office of Highway Safety Director Lee Axdahl. Ten of the fatal crashes occurred when vehicles left the road and rolled; 16 of the victims were not wearing seat belts. Losing a loved one in a traffic accident shatters families. Even if you don’t care about your own safety, think about others when you drive and focus on the road.
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The Daily Republic, Mitchell, Nov. 20
Hisses and cheers
CHEERS to the climbing cattle prices pleasantly surprising produces this season.
Last week, we reported cattle prices shot up from $141.28 to $186.17 per hundredweight, padding the pockets of the same ranchers who were met with low cattle prices in 2016.
Officials cited a variety of factors for the increase, but we’re just happy to see a bit of good luck hit South Dakota’s agriculture economy after a devastatingly dry year.
The other good news is that many corn and soybean growers are also surprised with better than expected yields as harvest comes to a close.
With the doom and gloom outlook many foresaw in the scorching summer months behind us, we’re hoping for a booming year in the ag economy in 2019. And the rising cattle prices are hopefully a sign of more good things to come.
HISSES to the TransCanada pipeline spill that leaked approximately 210,000 gallons of oil in northeast South Dakota last week.
Our area is no stranger to TransCanada, with a massive spill occurring near Freeman last year. We saw first-hand the impact a spill can have on the environment, and we spoke with people along the route that runs in our coverage area who were worried the same thing could happen to them.
And now it has, just in a different part of the state.
We understand if those along the Keystone route are feeling anxious after this latest spill, because like them, we’ve been told time and time again from TransCanada officials during interviews that people have little to worry about with their pipelines.
With 2018 right around the corner, we can’t help but wonder if these massive spills will become annual occurrences.
CHEERS to the fact we finally heard an estimate cost for the restoration of Lake Mitchell, but hisses to the number itself.
At a public meeting last week, a city official tossed out an $8 million estimate to restore Lake Mitchell, an estimate which was anything but final. But the $8 million figure was only the city’s estimated expense.
Another $12 million could be needed from grant funds. And while the majority of money coming from outside of the city’s coffers, what if the city can’t attain those grant funds as expected?
We’re encouraged that numbers and costs are beginning to trickle out as the city works to repair its algae-ridden lake, but the $20 million total price tag is intimidating. The good news is a consultant for the city speculated a repaired lake could have major economic benefits for the city of Mitchell.
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