PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — At least 20 Republican members in the South Dakota House of Representatives are calling on Governor Larry Rhoden to clean up the state Department of Corrections ahead of the September 23 special session that he has called on funding a new $650 million men’s prison in Sioux Falls.
Leading the group are Rep. Will Mortenson and Rep. Tim Reisch. Mortenson, an attorney, is a former House Republican leader, while Reisch, a former sheriff, previously served in the administrations of several governors as secretary of corrections and state adjutant general.
They issued a letter on Monday signed by 20 House Republicans who had previously supported the original prison project, which was to be built south of Sioux Falls in rural Lincoln County. That effort, which was led by South Dakota’s previous governor, Kristi Noem, and Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko, failed in the House in February.
Rhoden responded to the defeat by appointing a Prison Project Reset task force that recommended placing the prison in northeastern Sioux Falls.
While that task force is wrapping up its work, Reisch, in June, called for changes in the department.
Rhoden responded by saying he was sticking with Wasko. Rhoden’s office last week announced a FAQ website about the latest prison proposal.
The legislators’ letter this week turns up the heat, saying, in part, “We do not have trust in the leadership of Rhoden’s Department of Corrections. We are renewing the call for Governor Rhoden to clean up his Department of Corrections before the special session vote on the new prison in Sioux Falls.”
Noem appointed Wasko as corrections secretary in 2022. Selection of the Lincoln County site for the men’s prison was announced in October 2023. There were lockdowns at the Sioux Falls complex in March 2024 and October 2024, and again in May of this year.
Joseph Roemmich took over as warden of the Sioux Falls Penitentiary in June. In August, Tabatha Benting was named warden for the Jameson Prison in Sioux Falls.
The proposed new prison along Benson Road in northeast Sioux Falls is intended to offset those spaces. Funding it will requires two-thirds majority approval from lawmakers — at least 47 of the 70 House members and at least 24 of the 35 senators.
KELOLAND News will be further updating this story throughout the day.
