April 8, 2014
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session April 8, 2014, in the Miner County Courthouse. Members present: Garrett Gassman, Roger Wentland, Don Bowman, Voni Durant and Alex Protsch. Absent: none. Chairman Wentland called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
The Auditor’s account with the County Treasurer showed a March 31, 2014 balance of $3,991,281.83 in all state, county, civil, school, and trust accounts.
Motion by Durant, seconded by Protsch and carried to approve the agenda as amended.
The minutes of the February 18th were approved with the change of ES&S contract for ballot layout services-not for equipment and software.
Tami Moore of the Miner County Conservation District presented the district’s annual report.
Brenda Dahlstrom of GIS Workshop presented information on County-wide GIS for Miner County. Emergency management director Robert Calmus, Register of Deeds Karla Neises, Director or Equalization Tami Severson and Treasurer Debbie Eggert joined the meeting.
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges reported on notices placed in the paper for drain tile water into road right-of-ways and farming the road right-of-ways. A representative from LTAP met with Krempges and Clearwater Township officials concerning the placing of mag-water on township road 235th street west of US Hwy 81 leading to Shannon Colony. This project will continue once the ground warms to an acceptable level.
Krempges requested a level raise for Jeremy Beyer. Motion by Protsch, seconded by Durant and carried to increase Beyer from level 1 to level 2 ($14.68).
The board adjourned as a board of commissioners and reconvened as a Board of Equalization. Members took their oaths. Director of Equalization Tami Severson was also present.
Severson presented application 14-06 for tax exempt status from Nels Pederson Post #145 American Legion for Lot 3 Block 3, Howard City OP (Former Gary’s Bakery). Motion by Gassman, seconded by Bowman and carried to approve application 14-06 from Nels Pederson Post #145 according to SDCL 10-4-9.2 Benevolent Exemption.
The following applications for tax exempt status from Horizon Health Care, Inc. for properties purchased from Rural Learning Center were considered. Motion by Gassman, seconded by Durant and carried to approve the following applications from Horizon Health Care, Inc. due to SDCL 10-4-9.3 non-profit Health Care – Federal 501 (c) (3): Application 14-02 Lot Nine (9) Block Fourteen (14) except the South Two Feet (2’) of the south side of the east one hundred feet (100’) thereof, Howard City OP; Application 14-03 Lot Eight (8) and the South Two feet (S 2’) of Lot Nine (9), Block Fourteen (14), Howard City OP; Application 14-04 The North Twenty-four feet (24’) of Lot Seven (7) Block Fourteen (14), Howard City OP; and Application 14-05 Lots Five (5) and Six (6) and the South one foot (1’) of Lot Seven (7), Block Fourteen, Howard City OP.
Application 14-01 for tax exempt status was presented by DOE Severson. It was her recommendation to deny this application due to the fact that the property has been transferred to a taxable owner. Motion by Bowman, seconded by Durant and carried to deny application 14-01 from Horizon Health Care, Inc. for Lot Ten (10) Block Fourteen (14), Howard City OP as it no longer qualifies for tax exemption status under SDCL chapter 10.
The board recessed as a Board of Equalization until April 22, 2014.
The board reconvened as a Board of Commissioners. Commissioners noted receipt of the following correspondence and reports: US Dept of Homeland Security-FEMA approval of the Miner County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan; Miner County Conservation District February report; Miner County Sheriff’s January & February report; and Mitchell Area Safehouse Denim Days-Sexual Assault Awareness month.
The SD Dept. of Revenue reported the compliance audit findings for the Office of Equalization. Within this report it stated that the Miner County Equalization office is understaffed by 1 fulltime employee according to IAAO and state standards. The board instructed the director to advertise for a full time employee.
First District of Local Governments’ estimate for GIS services was reviewed. Commissioners will continue to gather information on the possible implementation of GIS services for Miner County.
Motion by Bowman, seconded by Gassman and carried to authorize the chairman to sign the agreement for hardware maintenance & firmware maintenance with Election Systems & Software LLC for election equipment.
Motion by Durant, seconded by Bowman and carried to approve the estimate ($6976.80) from Midwest Boiler & Repair, Inc. for the removal and replacement of the existing condensate/feed water tank on the courthouse boiler.
The total unreserved, unassigned fund balance of the General Fund as of March 31, 2014 is $1,127,815.69 which represents a 40.00% unassigned fund balance percentage based on the 2014 General Fund budget.
Emergency Management Director Robert Calmus reported on needed repairs to the Fedora repeater. Sioux Falls Two-Way will repair the repeater to improve dispatching coverage to the western side of the county.
Claims allowed: Road & Bridge $28,714.24, Wellmark $29,409.85, Reliance $1,218.14, Retirement $4,625.02, OASI $6,952.55, Commissioners $3,824.00, Auditor $6,058.75, Treasurer $6,107.00, States Attorney $3,563.75, Govt Building $2,879.24, Director of Equalization $4,474.72, Register of Deeds $5,312.93, Vet Service $770.50, Sheriff $9,998.25, Contract Law $3,260.00, Welfare $280.50, Co Nurse $1,829.28, Ambulance $7,567.97, WIC $98.88, Extension $1,191.20, Weed $798.00, Dispatch $8,907.85 (includes Joni Jacobsen at $15.38/hr), Emergency Mgt $2,341.50; Alliance $300.00 dispatch charges; Interlakes Community Action $534.42 community action payment; Lammers, Kleibacker & Brown $544.22 court appointed attorneys; Miner Co Treasurer $2.50 domestic abuse administrative expense; Domestic Violence Network $650.00, Mitchell Area Safehouse $650.00 domestic abuse grants; Domestic Violence Network $11.25, Mitchell Area Safehouse $11.25 domestic abuse pay to others; Community Counseling Service $1,750.00 drug abuse grant to others; Ntl. Assn. of State Agencies $39.00 dues; Xcel Energy $26.41 electric service; Ultra, Inc. $85.00 equipment below capitalization; Howard Farmers Coop $16,336.86, James River Equipment $1,914.65 fuel; Northwestern $2,021.34 gas service; Barbara Esser $1,500.00 health services contract; Emergency Training Assn $200.00 in-service education; Volunteers of America, Dakotas $690.00 juvenile detention per diem; Community Counseling Service $1,750.00 mental health center grant; Ulteig $390.00 misc. service; Mitchell Regional Ambulance $300.00 ALS intercept; Allegiant Emergency Services $10,608.00 other-homeland security; Lake Co Auditor $20.00 other jail fees; Fedex $11.47, Miner Co Treasurer $146.21 postage; Lake Co Auditor $1,495.00 prisoner care; Miner County Pioneer $400.27 publishing; Aramark Uniform $107.80 rent; Al’s Service $117.99, GCR Tire Centers $154.20, Homestead Building Supply $731.43, Office Peeps $81.45, Sioux Falls Two Way Radio $162.24, Ultra $4,215.00 repairs; Homestead Building Supply $10.50 road materials; Greg Protsch $900.00 state’s atty. off. exp. allow.; Al’s Service $33.75, A-Ox Welding $49.19, Boyer Ford Trucks $92.52, Brock White Co $114.00, Butler Machinery $157.92, Terry Carlson $2.96, Diesel Machinery $72.49, Dust-Tex $114.98, GCR Tire Centers $5,534.23, Homestead Building Supply $34.75, Howard Farmers Coop $189.79, Kimball Midwest $116.41, Krug Products $202.08, Locators & Supplies $78.82, Miner Co Treasurer $46.80, Northern Truck Equipment $18.72, Office Peeps $383.47, Pheasantland Industries, Garment $840.02, Quill $29.99, Rafferty-Robbins $2.49, RDO Equipment $1,890.00, Runnings Farm & Fleet $599.90, SD Federal Property Agency $41.93, Sturdevant’s $401.01, Titan Machinery $111.55, Tom’s Hardware $35.46, Ultra $2,942.00 supplies; Alliance $764.00, AT&T $100.77, Century Link $6.33, Mike Clary $30.00, Rob Eggert $30.00, Lanny Klinkhammer $30.00, Verizon Wireless $187.97 telephone; Cedar Shore Resort $251.85, Maria Feldhaus $303.78, Ron Krempges $27.00, SD Assn of Co Officials $525.00, SD Sheriffs Assn $195.00 travel; City of Howard $1,760.38 utilities.
The board adjourned to April 22, 2014. Dated this 8th day of April, 2014.
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor