Lisbeth (Whitehead) Solum – Brookings 3/12/21
https://brookingsregister.com/article/solum-niemeyer-has-good-leadership-qualities
 

I proudly endorse Ope Niemeyer for mayor because he has clearly proven his
leadership style fits the criteria listed above. I have known Ope for 40 years. Ope has a
40 year investment in this city. He has worked from the ground up as a city councilor to
his bid for mayor. During his time as a councilman, Ope has relied on the expertise of
others, listened to his constituents and made decisions with the collaboration of other
council members.

​

Roberta Olson, Brookings 3/29/21
https://brookingsregister.com/article/olson-niemeyer-for-mayor

Ope Niemeyer is the most level-headed listener and integrator of current knowledge to
lead Brookings into the future and the closure of the COVID pandemic.
I support Niemeyer for the following reasons: his service to Brookings as a Council
member for the past 10 years; his continued interest in reaching out, listening, and
bringing a high level of unity to the community; his experience and education as a team
manager and successful businessman; and his accurate historical knowledge of the
community of Brookings. In a short sentence: “Ope gets it.”

​

Fedora Sutton Butler, Brookings 3/26/21
https://brookingsregister.com/article/sutton-butler-we-need-a-consensus-builder-for-
mayor

We know that Ope Niemeyer has the ability to listen and collaborate. He recognizes that
the experts are experts and as such are excellent advisers to the mayor and the City
Council.

​

Tom Yseth, Brookings – former Brookings County Commissioner 3/12/21
https://brookingsregister.com/article/seth-incumbent-candidates-for-council-have-
served-us-well

I am writing in support of our three incumbent candidates on the Council – Ope
Niemeyer (for mayor), Patty Bacon and Nick Wendell. They served on the Council
during this pandemic in what I would call leadership hell.
These three councilors made tough decisions based on what they thought was best for
Brookings, not politics, selfishness, or some special interest group.

​

Doug Smith, Brookings 3/3/21
https://brookingsregister.com/article/smith-make-your-voice-heard-in-the-voting-booth

I encourage people to vote for Ope Niemeyer for mayor, and vote for Patty Bacon and
Nick Wendell for City Council. They have experience and served our city well. They
have gone through some very trying and contentious times serving on the council this
last year. They did not waver in their commitment to keep the people of Brookings safe
and healthy.
This COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet, and won’t be over for some time. We need a
mayor and council that will continue to follow the science, encourage mask wearing and
social distancing to keep the citizens safe and healthy.

​

https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2020/12/13/brookings-scores-100-on-mei-for-third-
year-in-a-row/

The city of Brookings has gotten a perfect MEI score for the third year in a row.The MEI which stands for municipal equality index examines inclusive municipal laws, polices and services are to LGBTQ people who live and work in a city.
https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/news/sd-philanthropic-award The City of Brookings was named the 2020 Outstanding Philanthropic Community.
The City of Brookings’ culture of philanthropy represents an essential part of the community’s identity and what makes this beautiful community prosper. Since March 2020, the Brookings Community Foundation has raised and distributed over $60,000 for its COVID-19 Relief Fund to local nonprofits including the Boys & Girls Club of Brookings, My Neighbor, Family Back2School Program, Brookings Arts Council, Brookings Regional Humane Society, and the Brookings County Salvation Army. The City of Brookings is strongly committed to philanthropy, distributing $676,970 to outside organizations in 2020. Brookings also provides support to the Brookings School District, which has varied from $195,000-207,200 over the past ten years. The Brookings School District partners with many other local agencies, including the Boys & Girls Club in its summer school program, Power Up, and works to meet families’ needs through the Family Back2School Program, Brookings Arts Council, and Brookings County Salvation Army. The Brookings School District and Brookings Area Transit Authority are currently working on a proposed shared building facility on an in-kind donation of land. Brookings County with its over $660,000 distribution to social causes also shares in this philanthropic culture. Home to South Dakota State University and the South Dakota State University Foundation, Brookings knows how to make a big impact, and this year’s One Day for State campaign raised $1,617,648 in under 24 hours.

https://cityofbrookings-sd.gov/499/Bicycle-Friendly-Community

In November 2016, the League of American Bicyclists recognized the City of Brookings with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community (BFCSM) award. The Bronze BFC award recognizes Brookings' commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.

https://cityofbrookings-sd.gov/428/ABLE-and-EMPOWER-Awards

ABLE Award City of Brookings Carnegie Library

The City of Brookings, and in conjunction the Brookings Arts Council, are being recognized for rehabilitation work on the Brookings Community Cultural Center and is the chosen recipient of the 2018 A.B.L.E. (Ability, Belief, Leadership and Effort to Achieve Access For All) Award presented by the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities. The A.B.L.E. Award (Ability, Belief, Leadership and Equality to Achieve Access for All) is an annual award program designed to recognize the outstanding commitment of a business or public entity in fulfilling the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The building located at 524 4th Street served as the Carnegie Library until 1976 and is now home to the Brookings Arts Council. Built in 1914, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and mixes historic charm with necessary updates to ensure the space is functional and welcoming to serve the public. In 2017, the building underwent a complete renovation that included the rehabilitation of an existing bathroom into an ADA compliant, accessible family restroom. This addition to the building brings significant value to the space as it fosters the Brookings Arts Council’s mission of providing a welcoming space for all individuals to make community connections through participation in and access to the arts. These changes undertaken by the City of Brookings are commended for the continued effort to support inclusion for all individuals through the successful renovation of this space to enhance public accessibility, while preserving the historic value of the building. It is the Committee’s intention to highlight the efforts of an outstanding business or entity, which in turn may motivate others to provide improved accessibility to goods, services and recreational opportunities. Since 1996, there have been 78 nominees for the A.B.L.E. Award.

https://www.cityofbrookings-sd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2833&ARC=3477

Award in Excellence in Concrete Paving.  The City of Brookings received an Award in Excellence in Concrete Paving from the South Dakota Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association for the 22 nd  Avenue Reconstruction Project between
Minnesota Drive and Eastbrook Drive. The project included full reconstruction to widen the roadway with concrete pavement, new concrete sidewalk and concrete shared use path, replacement of underground utilities, traffic signal upgrades, and new street lighting. The project was designed by Civil Design, Inc., and was completed in early 2020. Jason Reaves, Executive Vice President of the SD Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association, presented the award to the City of Brookings. The project category for the award is Municipal Streets & Intersections (under 30,000 Square
Yards). Any concrete pavement project in the state of South Dakota qualifies for the
award. This project will be submitted to the National American Concrete Pavement
Association for judging in the national pool of projects for that category.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/2665/16313
A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Commending and honoring the 2010 Habitat for Humanity--South Dakota Habitat Supporters of the Year.