Oldham, SD

This house has been demolished in the past week and the lots will be cleared and fill hauled in to make them ready for new houses. Our Horizons groups are moving ahead with the objectives in the strategic plan. The new OAIC has obtained these 4 lots from the county and will make them available for free to anyone that will build a new house and the committee is also looking into placing a governor’s house on two of the lots. It takes 2 lots to build a house so we now have room for 2 new houses. We are working with the county commission and some absentee landowners to obtain more lots in town. There has only been one new house built in Oldham in the past 35-40 years so we want to encourage development and hope that free improved lots will attract interest in building in the community. There would be some after pictures but we are currently snowbound with this late spring snowstorm so I wasn’t able to get the after photos. Check back later and track the progress.

Through the Horizon’s program the community has recognized the need to have an organization to seek resources for programs and projects identified through our Horizon’s strategic plan. We created the Oldham Area Improvement Organization and sought 501c3 tax exempt status. We received that in February. With that OAIC will be able to seek out and obtain resources to carryout the goals outlined in the strategic plan. Todate we have not obtained funding for any of the projects but are working on ways to obtain resources from several organizations.

I think people have become more aware of leadership in the community. People are taking more of an interest in the community. They recognize the need for changes to reverse the trends that have been going on for the past several decades. We had a very good turnout for our city elections. We have a new mayor and councilman that will be taking office in May. Both people have been active in the Horizon’s program.