State investigators are looking into complaints that the city of Sturgis misused taxpayers' money in an effort to sway last month's annexation vote.City officials came out Wednesday to say they did no such thing. Sturgis Mayor Maury LaRue says, "The Sturgis City Council believes that the citizens are entitled to a factual response to Meade County State's Attorney Jesse Sondreal regarding allegations that the City improperly used public funds to influence an election. The City strongly denies these allegations and wishes to present the facts."

Sturgis Mayor Maury LaRue says under South Dakota codified law, the City is allowed to provide factual information for purposes of voter education, which he says they did in a published article.LaRue says the questions were based on common questions being raised by people at public hearings.He says the city responded to those questions, doing nothing illegal or improper.

Meade County State's Attorney Jesse Sondreal says he isn't the one who brought up the investigation.The annexation was denied by voters in the February 2nd special election.

Jim Peterson