SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Department of Corrections Secretary Kelli Wasko will resign effective Oct. 20, she said in a letter dated Sept. 1 to Gov. Larry Rhoden.
Rhoden provided KELOLAND News with a copy of the letter on Tuesday. The legislature will be voting on a proposed $650 million 1,500 bed prison recommended for Sioux Falls on Sept. 23.
The announcement of Wasko’s resignation comes after about 20 lawmakers signed a Sept. 1 letter to Rhoden that said “We do not have trust in the leadership of Rhoden’s Department of Corrections.”
You can read Wasko’s letter attached below.
Rhoden said in a KELOLAND interview that of the 20 lawmakers who signed the letter, only 1 had talked to him in person about any concerns.
In an interview with KELOLAND’s Bob Mercer, Mortensen was asked about specifics of the Sept. 1 letter.
“It’s serious consideration of these concerns is what we’re looking for that we’re looking for and it hasn’t been provided to this point. There’s a reason why we didn’t put any names in or say this or that person has to be fired, because this is a responsible group of legislators that don’t hip shoot and put things out for click-bait,” Mortenson said. “We want this done, we want this run, by a DOC we can have confidence in, and I’m hopeful that on September 23 that we can approve this prison and get it done, and kind of a fresh start at the DOC as well.”
Many of the lawmakers that signed the DOC leadership trust letter had been supportive of the original $825 million recommended plan for a site in Lincoln County. The letter said they had questions on how and why a $625 million plan was now an option instead of earlier.
Wasko has been the DOC Secretary for about 3 1/2 years.
This is a developing story.
