Mayor & Council

Meet Garretson's Mayor and Council Members!

Here you can find some information on them, contact info, and the city ward map.

Meetings are held the first Monday of each month.

Bruce Brown

Title: Mayor

Bruce Brown Email

I was born in Storm IA, and grew up in Estherville IA. I attended Estherville High School and Iowa Lakes Community College. I graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Pharmacy. Worked for 2 years in Vermillion, SD as a Pharmacist with Davis Drug.  From there to Eli Lilly and Company, as a retail sales rep, and then Hospital Sales rep position (both in Des Moines, IA) then to Indianapolis, IN as an Associate Manger in International Marketing, from there I moved into an Associate Manager position in Sales Training and then a position for Hospital Sales and Marketing. I moved back to South Dakota (Valley Springs) in a new Sales Division with Lilly. Six years later I was selected as one of 12 new Lilly US Medical Research and Development Liaisons, I spent 11 years working with Thought Leaders and Universities developing new research and education programs. I covered 8 States.  I have authored 12 publications in medical and electronics.  I retired from Lilly after 31 years. I joined Walgreens for 2 years as a pharmacist. I visited and fell in Love with Garretson, moved here in 2016. I am active in the community. I volunteer at the Food Pantry and served as President of the Garretson Historical Society and Museum for 4 years.  I am a strong believer in volunteer work and giving others a helping hand. I was interested in city government and attended council meeting every month. I was encouraged to run for city council and served on the council for about a year and a half. I was then encouraged, by the serving mayor, to run for mayor. I became mayor in 2024. I love the people of Garrettson and enjoy working with the great city employees. As a team we have moved many projects forward to benefit the community. We are not done yet!

Alysha Kientopf

Title: Council Member

Department: Ward I

Alysha Kientopf Email

Dave Bonte

Title: Council Member

Department: Ward II

Email: Dave Bonte Email

About Dave!
I have lived in Garretson for 50 of my 60 yrs of age. I have spent approximately 40 years of that time living by the Splitrock Creek. I am going on my 6th year on the city council. I enjoy the people, parks and lifestyle in Garretson. I am continually reminded about the wonderful people in Garretson by the community support that is delivered by so many loyal individuals. My wife Debbie and I will be married for 40 years this year. We have raised three sons in Garretson and have 3 grandsons with our 2nd set of twins on the way. 

Jackie Rotert

Title: Council Member

Department: Ward III

Jackie Rotert Email

Phone: 605-421-9999

My name is Jackie Rotert. My family and I have lived in Garretson for 6 years. I have been married to my husband Joey for 17 years and we have 2 daughters and a 3year old cockapoo dog named Bruce. Our oldest daughter Maci is a freshman and our youngest daughter Haylee is a 5th grader. They keep us busy with volleyball, basketball, golf, softball, soccer, and church activities. I graduated from Southeast technical Institute with an associate’s degree in Nuclear Medicine and immediately started my career at Sioux Valley (Sanford) Hospital. I worked as a  Nuclear medicine technologist/ leadership for 18 years and last June I transitioned out of patient care and leadership and took a role back at Sanford in the clinical informatics department. I am currently on the Learning board for Zion Lutheran Church, President of the Garretson JO Volleyball Club, and have volunteer coached different ages of girls volleyball and softball. My family and I enjoy golfing, hunting, movies, taking vacations to the Black Hills, and side by side ranger riding.

Brayden Beaner

Title: Council Member

Department: Ward III

Email: Brayden Beaner Email

I was born and raised in Garretson, South Dakota, and graduated from Garretson High School in 2020. After high school, I attended South Dakota State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in financial management in 2023. I am currently attending the University of South Dakota's Knudson School of Law to obtain a Juris Doctor degree and plan to graduate in December 2025. I worked at ABC Rentals in Sioux Falls for nine years and rose through the ranks, becoming the Operations Manager before leaving. At ABC Rentals, I primarily managed logistics and daily operations. During law school, I worked for the Office of South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden's General Counsel. At the Governor's Office, I worked on legal issues presented to the state as well as policy and legislative discussions. I am eager to serve our local community because it makes a real impact and truly helps make it a better place to live. 

MATT "JAKE" JACOBSON

Title: Council Member

Department: Ward II

Email: jakempj@gmail.com