Rich Ward - Aberdeen, SD City Councilor

10/06/2026

Great day for Aberdeen!

It’s good to celebrate the wins...but now the work starts. Excited to see what businesses, jobs and opportunities grow from Roosevelt Business Park.

We’ll be opening bids in just a few weeks. Excited to see what comes next!

10/05/2026

A quote often attributed to Abraham Lincoln says:

“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.”

I’ve always liked that mindset.

As election season approaches and conversations inevitably get a little more heated, I think there’s something worth remembering in it.

It’s okay to have a first reaction: I don’t like that person. I don’t understand that idea. That subject makes no sense to me.

But our first reaction doesn’t have to become our final conclusion.

We don’t necessarily control our first reaction. We do control what we do next.

Maybe the next step is a conversation. A question. A little more reading. Getting to know someone whose perspective is different from ours. Trying to understand something before deciding what we think about it.

Understanding doesn’t require agreement.

But curiosity is almost always better than dismissal.

Maybe we could all use a little more of that Lincoln mindset right now.

10/02/2026

South Dakotans love to complain about the weather… but apparently we need to give Texas the floor!

Farmers’ Almanac ranked Texas #1 for the worst weather in America — and South Dakota didn’t even crack the Top 10.

So, Texans: if you’re tired of the weather, come north. We’ll make the case for our business climate… and apparently our actual climate is helping us out too.

09/30/2026

One of South Dakota’s strongest advantages is also one of the simplest: no individual state income tax.

In 2026, South Dakota remains one of only eight states without one.

That matters for families, workers, entrepreneurs, and businesses alike. When people are deciding where to live, build a career, start a company, or invest, keeping more of what you earn is a real competitive advantage.

There are a lot of reasons to be bullish on South Dakota. This is certainly one of them.

Some Americans pay double-digit tax rates on their income each year. Others manage to bypass state income tax altogether.

09/29/2026

I’m excited for Summit 2026 tomorrow!

It’s not too late to grab your ticket and join us. 🎫

What are you most curious about? 👀

🤖 How AI is changing the way we work
🎬 How creative teams deliver under pressure
🩺 How healthcare challenges become new innovations
💡 How entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses
🔐 How we can prepare the next generation of cyber leaders
🎨 How curiosity and storytelling inspire innovation
🏙️ How we can build communities where people want to stay

You can explore all of this at the 2026 Technology and Entrepreneurship Summit on Wednesday, September 30 at Northern State University.

🎟 Get your tickets: https://www.northernstartupcenter.com/summit

09/28/2026

Last week kicked off Leadership South Dakota's Class of 2027, and it was an awesome start! I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of a cohort of 40 leaders from across South Dakota, building relationships and learning from one another over the next six months.

Our first session in Pierre was packed...we heard from former Governor Dennis Daugaard, Representatives Will Mortenson & Erik Muckey, and we also had the opportunity to visit with U.S. Senator Mike Rounds. We toured the South Dakota Historical Society, the State Capitol (and Capitol dome), the South Dakota Women’s Prison, and the South Dakota Discovery Center.

A big thank you to the Aberdeen Development Corporation for sponsoring me and making this opportunity possible. I’m excited for what’s ahead and already looking forward to getting the group back together in Rapid City in October.

09/27/2026

Baby Boomers currently hold more than half of America’s household wealth. What will this chart look like in 5, 10, or 20 years as that wealth increasingly transfers to younger generations?

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/americas-net-worth-by-generation-2026/

09/26/2026

A little context is helpful here.

Recent headlines have focused on Aberdeen selling approximately one million gallons of water for use at the Ellendale data-center project. That is absolutely worth reporting. I also think the broader context helps put that number into perspective.

Aberdeen's official water-rate study projects approximately 1.328 billion gallons of billed water use in 2026, or about 3.64 million gallons per day. The same study shows actual 2024 billed use of 1.31 billion gallons.

Reporting indicates the hauling began June 9. Using Aberdeen's projected annual average, approximately one million gallons would represent about 0.26% of normal citywide billed water use over that same period. That percentage is an estimate based on the city's annual-average usage, not an exact June-through-September meter total.

Pricing is another helpful piece of context. Aberdeen's adopted 2026 rates are $5.25 per 1,000 gallons residential and up to $6.80 per 1,000 gallons for the highest commercial tier. Reporting says this bulk water is being charged at twice the residential rate, or $10.50 per 1,000 gallons. That is approximately 54% above our highest published in-city commercial rate.

The more detailed reporting also explains that this is construction-related flush-and-fill water, used to clean and test the cooling system before coolant is added.

I appreciate our local media covering the transaction and asking questions about it. I simply think the denominator is important too. One million gallons is a large number on its own, but understanding it in relation to Aberdeen's overall water use gives readers a clearer picture of its actual scale.

The transaction is worth reporting. So is the context around it.

Sources: City of Aberdeen 2026 Fee Schedule; City of Aberdeen 2025 Water & Sewer Rate Study; Aberdeen Insider/The Dakota Scout; Dakota News Now.

09/11/2026

Today, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, honor the heroes who stepped forward, and reflect on the strength and unity shown in the days that followed.

May we continue to carry that spirit forward by looking out for one another, supporting our neighbors, and strengthening the communities we call home. 🇺🇸

09/03/2026

Proud to see Dakota Resources feature the work we are doing at the Development Corporation, and grateful for more than twenty years of true partnership in driving real growth for our community!

Cheers to many more years of community partnerships!

Aberdeen is preparing before opportunity even arrives.