October 2nd found us at the Rotary Clubhouse with three more Wagner Community Seniors present. They introduced themselves and spoke about their studies and their future. Julia Bruguier and Vincent Bruguier are twins, and their parents are Jayette Bruguier and Drew Bruguier. Julia is thinking of attending USD and going into Elementary Education. Her twin brother Vincent is also thinking of a four-year degree at USD and studying psychology. Isabella Hull is thinking of the National Guard and/or a four-year degree in business. She would like to have her own nail shop someday.

President Jordan Weber welcomed the Seniors and offered a blessing for our food and fellowship. Rotarian Ken Cotton introduced his sister Rebecca who is visiting from Alabama. Song leader Gerrit Juffer led us in singing two verses of Clementine.

Membership Minute Chairperson Patty Frei briefly spoke to the Seniors about the Wagner Rotary, our history, and our work in the community. The main focus of the Minute was about the upcoming World Polio Day on the 24th of October. Rotarian John Sever from Washington, DC was the head of the infectious diseases branch of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases.

Sever was immersed in studies of infectious diseases that affect children and his professional goal was to identify new causes of disease and bring vaccines to the children of the world. Sever convinced Rotary’s leaders that the Rotarians of the world should tackle getting the vaccine to every corner of the world. Today, children all over the world have access to the polio vaccine.

The Lucky Table again held the winning ticket number. Scott McAdaraagh pulled the Queen of Clubs. Secretary/Treasurer Craig Krsnak announced that the officers had pulled names for two new attendance teams. The new captains are Margaret Doom and Bill Frei. Everyone else’s names were drawn for each team and a completed form will be handed out at next week’s meeting.

Football book winners were Julie Doom sold by Jeff Doom and Tiphany Dvorak sold by Becky Brunsing. Rotarian Patty Frei announced a work session in conjunction with WCS students next Thursday, October 10th at the Rotary Shelter at Wagner Lake. We will be mulching the bushes that the club planted two years ago. We will be meeting and working with the students at 2:30 p.m. on the 10th!

Margaret Doom, Wagner Area Growth announced that there is going to be a possibility of Wagner raising funds to build a new complex of a rodeo area, Buildings for 4-H Achievement Days, and the Charles Mix County Fair. Wagner would have to plan, design, and raise funds IF they would be awarded this project. She wanted to make members aware of this possibility.

Rotarian Becky Brunsing introduced her program which was Deb Houseman, the current Wagner City Administrator. She gave a brief presentation of the things that have happened as well as some future plans. They have just passed the 2025 annual budget. They have made some repairs to the baseball field, worked on the McCormick dugouts and some work has been done at the Hennies Baseball Field. For the future she would like to see some new park equipment for the city park along the highway. The Wagner Lake area has some beautiful play equipment, but the City Park needs some improvements. The drainage project for the South end of Wagner has finally been completed which should help those residents out when there is an excess of rainfall.

She stated that the city budget is based on expenses and revenue. The revenue portion is tight with $9,075.00 in sales tax coming in and real estate tax revenues of $543,000.00. The Wagner budget is a $2.2 Million dollar budget. They apply for grants for some of the improvements they would like to make, one of which would be a better entrance to the City Library. Entrance is difficult since the library is in the Boys and Girls Club and is located on the east side of the building.

She spoke at length about the Initiated Measure #28 which would eliminate the tax of food. “This not just about food,” stated Houseman. This is about anything that is purchased that is consumed. If the measure passed there would be grave consequences for all municipalities. There is the possibility of the State enacting an income tax to make up for the shortfall in sales tax. The amount of sales tax collected is not as large as people think it is. She urged everyone to do as much reading and discussion as possible about this Initiative that will be on the ballot in November.

We adjourned in our usual fashion by reciting the Four-Way Test: Is it the Truth? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?