City to bring in national museum experts to inspect Delbridge Museum animals

Group wants report while legal options, legislation explored

The city of Sioux Falls will spend $55,000 to bring in a group of museum experts to evaluate the Delbridge Museum of Natural History following a vote by a working group Monday.

The experts would likely come to Sioux Falls at the end of January and spend about five days evaluating the 192 specimens in the collection. They would then issue a report within 60 days, said Great Plains Zoo CEO Becky Dewitz, a member of Mayor Paul TenHaken’s working group.

Jamie Smith making another run for South Dakota Capitol

Erica Beck, TenHaken’s chief of staff, expressed reservation about the length of time it would take to get the report.

“It’s not doing the zoo any favors with regard to attendance,” she said.

But getting the expert opinion would help instill confidence in the public that the working group is considering various options, said group members.

South Dakota lawmakers divided on conflict-of-interest standards