Two vie for 5-year term on Valley Springs City Commission

Valley Springs voters will decide at the polls on Tuesday, April 8, who will fill the five-year vacancy on the town’s City Commission.

Earlier this year, Dean Helgeson announced that he would not be seeking another term after more than 16 years in the position. Ironically so, there will be a “Helgeson” on the ballot, as his wife, Sara, is running opposed to Luke Comeau, a 14-year resident of the city.

Cassy Herding receives the automatic bid to retain her chair on the commission for the next two years. Herding was appointed to fill the Rick Larsen’s commission chair after he was elected to the position of mayor in the 2024 municipal election. The appointment was for one year, and Herding was the only resident to submit a petition for the remaining two years.

The Valley Springs polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 at the American Legion Hall on Broadway Avenue.

This week, the Brandon Valley Journal gives you some insight into the two candidates vying for the five-year commission chair.

Luke Comeau, 45

Resident of Valley Springs: 14 years

Family: Machelle, wife; four children, ages 10 to 18

Career: CEO of ElevaCare (formerly Southwestern Health Center). ElevaCare is a community-based mental health center in southwest Minnesota. Comeau travels daily the counties of Cottonwood, Jackson and Nobles, overseeing full comprehensive mental health care they provide. ElevaCare is available 24/7, offering inpatient and outpatient facilities, and serves roughly 1,500 patients every month.

Affiliations: Volunteer with Valley Springs Fire Department. Currently training for EMT license.

Also owns Comeau’s Supreme Services, LLC (Experts in Lawn and Landscaping).

What initially led you to make Valley Springs your home? 

We moved here from the Sioux City (Iowa) region in 2011 and it was a job opportunity that brought us here. I’ve been in the healthcare industry ever since.

What led you to file for the city commission?

That comes from what I do for a living. Every day I work for the betterment of communities in southwest Minnesota and getting critical access to health care for residents in rural America, and rural America is really where my passion is at.

Looking at the town that I live in, I’ve certainly seen some great progress within the town in the last 14 years. Obviously, the challenges of rural living are certainly abundant. I just want to see Valley Springs really succeed and thrive in the best way they can. We’re looking at ways to get in more businesses and more economic development within the town. In the 14 years I’ve been here, the housing development by the school and all the different new houses that have went in has been very encouraging to the growth of the town, and I want to see that continue. I just have a passion for making the area as great as possible.

If you are elected, are there some things that you would like to see accomplished?

I would really like to see more things in regards to kids in school. Obviously, the school has moved out, and that’s certainly a respectful decision by the Brandon Valley School District. But we have a high community of kids in the city. We have a daycare that has opened up in the last few years, which has been greatly successful, but as the town grows, you need the infrastructure for families; that’s got to be there and be in place. Whether it is parks or recreation or whatever it is, maintaining a town that has adequate supplies for families is critical, and I think part of that is looking for a business somewhere in the town for basic groceries and things of that nature. 

Are there any current things that the city is has on their agenda that you’d like to go see go one way or another?

Obviously, there’s a big topic right now that has to do with vehicles, and it seems to be pretty contentious in regards to some of the wording of that. I will certainly say – and I have to denote that I haven’t been a part of every commissioner meeting –what’s hitting the public viewpoint is that they’re putting some pretty stringent rules in place in regards to how people park within the town. For the most part, my general belief is I think the government should have the least amount of say in personal property to the respectable limit. Obviously, we know there are rules where you can dig and things with power lines, but I think when the government gets involved in people’s personal property, there needs to be some pretty specific reasons why you’d be doing that. It seems to me that there’s some things proposed that really kind of limits what a personal homeowner can do on their own property. That’s of some concern to me in regards to which way that would go. I think there’s a split in regards to working vehicles versus non-running vehicles. I think getting into limits of where you can park your vehicle can be a little bit of an overstretch on your own personal property. Some people can’t afford a massive driveway or things of that nature. They’re saying your wheels can’t touch the grass, and that’s getting pretty picky into someone’s own personal property.

If someone says, ‘Hey, there is an old beater vehicle with no windshield that’s been sitting on this property.’ Esthetically, that doesn't look good for the city. I think that’s a different conversation versus someone that says, ‘Hey, we have two vehicles and a small driveway.’ I think that’s a different topic. Right now, the language is ‘vehicles can’t be on the grass.’ 

One of the things that I would like to see done at the commissioner level is we live in a day and age of technology. I am disappointed that we have not brought that type of modalities to commission meetings. I fully respect that Commissioner meetings, if you’re going to participate, you should be there in person. That’s general rule of law for most governmental agencies. I work with commissioners every day in southwest Minnesota, and I think Commissioner meetings should be recorded. They should either be on Zoom so the general public can go back and see how that meeting went. Certainly, there’s meeting notes, but anymore most Commissioner meetings are broadcast live for the general public to listen to. They can’t participate, but they can see the conversation going on. 

That’s something that I’d like to bring forth for our community. 

Municipalities are funded by sales tax. Do you have any ideas of how to generate more sales tax for the city?

I look at it just the same way that we bring families in the community. You’ve got to have some type of incentive for business to come here. I’m not privy to some of the tax abatements and everything of that nature at this point, but we have to be reaching out to businesses and helping them thrive and work in the smaller communities. We all know that small business in rural America is very difficult right now just due to the competition within the urban markets. 

In a small community and in the growth that we’ve seen in the last few years, it’s going to be more sustainable, especially with the new housing project here, but that’s on the southwest side of the town by the school where more families are moving in and are calling it home. The diversity of the town is changing, and we certainly are going to be able to hold a smaller venue of a business.

What are some things that you think Valley Springs is doing right? 

The quality of living out here is just something that people really need to appreciate if they’ve never been here before. I mean, being in a smaller town outside of the Sioux Falls area, the quietness, the rural nature of it, it really is a great town to raise a family, to be able to go for walks at night, just the community atmosphere of the town, and just to see how much that’s changed in the last 10 years here. The overall community atmosphere has really changed and brightened up a lot.

You can’t be reactionary in what you do personally or professionally. You’ve got to be thinking, where are we at in four to five years.

Any other comments?

I just really have a passion for making our community succeed and be a great place to raise a family and things of that nature. And so, I just want the best for my community. Each and every day, I’m fighting for families across our region in regards to mental health care, and I really just want our community to be successful and be forward thinking. We know growth is going to happen. Look at what’s happening in Brandon and Sioux Falls. Someday, that growth will be hitting us pretty hard, and we won’t be prepared for that.

Sara Helgeson, 33

Resident of Valley Springs: I first became aware of Valley Springs through Dean, when we first started dating. I fell in love with the charming little town. As our relationship progressed, it was a natural decision to move here. I have never felt more at home. This community welcomed me with open arms and warm smiles. I feel more at home here in Valley than I ever have in any other place. 

Family: Dean, husband; six children, Logan Helgeson (Sioux Falls), Cullen Helgeson (Pierre), Cassidy Helgeson (Sioux Falls), Mason, 14, Isabella, 13, and Leo, 6.  and one “incredible little” granddaughter, Rydgelie, 4.

Career: I have worked for the state of South Dakota, Department of Social Services for over five years. I’m very proud of my work and enjoy it very much. Helping our community is something I find joy in. The people I work with, I consider a second family. We were all very excited for our new location on South Highline Avenue. 

Affiliations: A current member of the Housing and Redevelopment Committee (HRC) for Valley Springs. The committee was recently renewed and we have been working diligently to update documentation and help the residents of the apartment complex we manage. 

What initially led you to make Valley Springs your home? 

When Dean mentioned stepping down from his position as a city commissioner, I understood his reasoning of wanting someone with more passion. He has served as commissioner for over 16 years and wanted to give someone else the chance to be a voice for the people. I have attended almost every meeting for the last 18 months or so. The big change that got me involved was when the city discussed the Valley Springs School closing. 

The Brandon Valley School District is absolutely incredible. I, however, did not want the local school to close. It is such a big part of our community and it was hard to see these decisions being made and not having much of a voice. I did speak to Patrick, the city attorney frequently on the subject. He was kind enough to give me updates on what he knew and gave me direction on where I might do my own research. So far, we had two documents hinting at an agreement made between Valley Springs and the school board. Many of us were under the impression there was an agreement that as long as Valley Springs School was a part of the Brandon Valley School District, there would always be a school within Valley Springs city limits. Per the city attorney’s suggestion, I contacted the Minnehaha County Auditor’s office. That proved fruitless and they suggested I contact the South Dakota Department of Education. That was also a dead end and they suggested I speak to the school board. Since I had come full circle, my investigation came to an end. I was disappointed but I was comforted by knowing I tried everything I could. I still watch for any possible updates or changes on the status of the school and am looking into speaking more to the school board. 

If you are elected, are there some things that you would like to see accomplished?

If I am elected, I’d like to hear what the community is most interested in. So far, I have heard interest in keeping the ice rink open and maintained in the winter, better maintenance of the mud volleyball court, and some concern about the railroad. I think an increase in communication would be beneficial. I would enjoy talking face to face with members of our community to be a voice of their concerns. I love how we have the Valley Springs Newsletter, the text message system to notify the community of upcoming maintenance, and the open city meetings for any to attend. 

Are there any current things that the city is has on their agenda that you’d like to go see go one way or another?

I love Valley Springs. Currently there is nothing on the city agenda that sways one way or another. I enjoy Valley Springs and its classy, small town feel. I appreciate how things are managed and the people who serve on the commission. I tend to be like-minded with many of the decisions that are made. I like to have all the facts and make decisions based on reason and fairness. 

Municipalities are funded by sales tax. Do you have any ideas of how to generate more sales tax for the city?

Generating more sales tax for a small community like ours can be difficult. Events like AutoMania and the Feather Party are great solutions. I also noticed there are still only two businesses listed on the new Chamber of Commerce billboard outside of town. I’d look into getting more businesses added there. If people driving by see what we offer, we can get more out of the sales tax. Another alternative is the new development. The area southeast of town holds spots for commercial development and I hope to see new and growing businesses show interest. 

What are some things that you think Valley Springs is doing right? 

Valley Springs could be a poster child for what small town America should look like. Despite the world around us, this little community continues to hold to simple values that seem to get lost in big cities. I don’t have to worry when my kids want to ride around town and go play. I trust the people who live here. I don’t need to worry about what the neighbors do or think. I have easy communication with them and there are no questions or assumptions. This town may be small but it’s not afraid to make needed changes. The city did an incredible job of obtaining a grant for the big water project that covered over 80 percent of the cost, which was over a million dollars! Many of us noticed an instant difference in the water once the new pump house purification system was up and running. The water was clear and clean. I thought it was a great idea to have an open house to let the community have a chance to see the inside of the pump house and the reason behind the change in the water bill. Change can be hard but it can also be good. Despite the increase in the water bill, the city managed to keep the cost less than the other local communities. 

Any other comments?

No matter the outcome of the April 8th election, I am and will always be a proud member of this community. I hope every registered voter makes an educated decision and makes their voice heard.