July 3, 2018
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session July 3, 2018 in the Miner County Courthouse. Members present: Roger Wentland, Garrett Gassman, Voni Durant, Tom Reisch and Alex Protsch. Absent: none. Chairman Wentland called the meeting to order.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Motion by Protsch, seconded by Gassman and carried to approve the agenda. Others present for the meeting included Director of Equalization Tami Severson and Carla Poulson of the Miner County Pioneer.
The minutes of the June 19th meeting were approved. No one appeared for Public Comment.
The auditor’s account with the county treasurer showed a June 30, 2018 balance of $7,044,564.88 in all state, county, civil, school and trust accounts.
It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Durant and carried to approve the following claims for payment: Claims allowed: Road & Bridge $38,031.14, Wellmark $38,471.10, MetLife $1,627.33, Retirement $5,919.68, OASI $8,532.07, Commissioners $4,263.75, Auditor $6,640.37, Treasurer $6,307.75, States Attorney $3,975.00, Govt Building $3,438.00, Director of Equalization $7,322.50, Register of Deeds $6,757.16, Vet Service $859.00, Sheriff $11,039.75, Contract Law $4,058.19, Welfare $700.78, Co Nurse $1,234.25, Ambulance $8,249.89, WIC $84.00, Extension $1,234.25, Weed $1,267.00, Dispatch $12,959.18, Emergency Mgt $2,262.00 JUNE PAYROLL; Brittany Lunstra $11.00, Tami Severson $11.00 TRAVEL; Eric Kobernusz $150.00 4-H JUDGE; SDSU Extension $12,158.00 4-H PYMT TO STATE; Triotel $167.53 911 CHARGES; Horizon Health Care $100.00 BLOOD DRAW; Stephanie Moen & Associates $63.00 DEPOSITION; Xcel Energy $11.89 ELECTRICITY; Miner Co Treasurer $59.00 FUEL; Northwestern Energy $76.96 GAS SERVICE; Community Counseling Service $3,500.00, LifeQuest $2,500.00 GRANTS; Howard Animal Clinic $90.00 INVESTIGATION EXPENSE; Todd Spader $190.00 MOWING; Miner Co Treasurer $130.00 POSTAGE; Avera Occupational Medicine $235.00 PREEMPLOYMENT SCREENING; Bob Calmus $85.19, Dakota Body Shop $180.00, Howard Auto Clinic $242.55, Light and Siren $816.11, Sturdevant’s $11.46, Tri M Tunes $250.00, Ultra $10,641.99 REPAIRS; Lexis Nexis $144.00 SUBSCRIPTION; Emergency Medical Products $207.34, Fastenal $8.61, Homestead $34.99, Interlakes Sports Center $14.50, Kibble Equipment $221.53, Brittany Lunstra $8.51, Miner Co Pioneer $131.85, Miner Co Treasurer $92.20, Pheasantland Industries $1,486.26, Salem Special $174.00, Titan Machinery $125.52, Ultra $68.00, US Records Midwest $497.08 SUPPLIES; Alliance Communications $828.99, AT&T $108.16, Century Link $12.21 TELEPHONE; Howard Auto Clinic $100.00 TOWING; Bob Calmus $210.21, Mike Clary $47.00, Governor’s Inn $74.00, Amie Kidd $39.48 TRAVEL; City of Howard $1,762.95 UTILITIES; Beadle Co Auditor $1,400.00 VICTIMS ADVOCATE.
The following correspondence was received: East Dakota Water Development District-June meeting minutes; Miner County moisture report and Wegner Auto Company-State bid information.
State’s Attorney Greg Protsch and Deputy State’s Attorney Kristian Ellendorf joined the meeting to discuss the State’s Attorney budget. Protsch explained that since beginning his first term in 1984 he has not asked for an increase in the office allowance provided by the county. Crimes have more than doubled in the last 6 years therefore requiring Ms. Ellendorf to assist in many State’s Attorney cases. Protsch and Ellendorf made a request to make the deputy state’s attorney a paid position. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Durant and carried (Alex Protsch abstained) to pay the deputy state’s attorney $18,000 annually starting in 2019.
It was moved by Reisch and seconded by Protsch to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 18-14
BE IT RESOLVED that the Miner County Board of County Commissioners, having adopted and signed a Joint Cooperative Agreement on the 28th day of March, 1972, creating the First Planning and Development District, Model Rural Development Program, do hereby agree to renew their participation in the Joint Cooperative Agreement for Fiscal Year 2019 (October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019). To support the Joint Cooperative Agreement and the activities of the District staff, the Miner County Board of County Commissioners will provide $8,358.37 to the First District Association of Local Governments during the aforementioned Fiscal Year 2019 period.
Voting aye: Reisch, Gassman, Protsch, Durant and Wentland. Voting nay: none. Resolution adopted this 3rd day of July, 2018.
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
Auditor Susan Connor made a request to move two polling places within Miner County. Currently the Canova C.A.R.E. center is the polling location for voters located in Precinct 4 (Vermillion Township, Canova Township, Rock Creek Township and Canova Village). Connor proposed moving this polling place to the Canova Community Center on Canova’s Main Street. The Canova Town Council will be repairing the existing sidewalk along the Canova Community Center to make the site handicap accessible. The Howard Armory currently is the polling place for Howard City Wards 1, 2, & 3, Precinct 6 (Clearwater Township, Howard Township, Roswell Township, Vilas Village), and Precinct 7 (Henden Township, Adams Township, Grafton Township, Belleview Township). Connor proposed moving this polling place to the Miner County 4-H exhibit hall. She also requested that additional cement be poured for additional parking along the east side of the building and additional gravel be placed for parking-which was granted by the board. It was moved by Durant and seconded by Reisch to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 18-15
WHEREAS, SDCL 12-14-1 requires the board of county commissioners to provide for election precincts throughout its county and shall designate polling places within such precincts,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Miner County Board of Commissioners sets the polling places for the following precincts:
POLLING PLACE: Miner County 4-H Exhibit Hall (203 West Wilson St. Howard, SD)_
Precinct 1 (Howard City Ward 1);
Precinct 2 (Howard City Ward 2);
Precinct 3 (Howard City Ward 3);
Precinct 6 (Clearwater, Howard, Roswell Townships, Vilas Village);
Precinct 7 (Henden, Adams, Belleview, Grafton Townships)
POLLING PLACE: Canova Community Center (Main St. Canova, SD)
Precinct 4 (Vermillion, Canova, Rock Creek Townships, Canova Village)
POLLING PLACE: Fedora Fire Hall (Main St-421st Ave. Fedora, SD)
Precinct 5 (Clinton, Beaver, Miner Townships)
POLLING PLACE: Carthage Fire Hall (107 Buell St. Carthage, SD)
Precinct 8 (Green Valley, Carthage, Redstone Townships, Carthage City)
Voting aye: Reisch, Durant, Wentland, Gassman and Protsch. Voting nay: none. Resolution adopted this 3rd day of July, 2018.
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
Treasurer Pat Carmon informed the commission on HB 1195 which allows the treasurer’s office to refund license plate fees in certain circumstances. It has been left to the county’s discretion whether or not to refund a county’s wheel tax portion on the license fees. It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Protsch and carried to refund the county wheel tax portion to any refunds covered by HB 1195.
Carmon also reviewed properties available for tax deed and asked the commission for direction on which properties to proceed with tax deed. She also made a request for a salary increase for the 2019 budget year. The board granted the request to raise the treasurer and director of equalization salaries to match the register of deeds salary.
Auditor Connor presented the preliminary 2019 budget for the commissioners’ review. The board will continue budget discussions at their July 17th meeting.
It was moved by Durant, seconded by Protsch and carried to grant a level increase to Rebecca Mommaerts from level 5 to level 6.
It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Reisch and carried to authorize Chairman Wentland to sign the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Award with the SD Dept. of Public Safety.
It was moved by Durant, seconded by Protsch and carried to grant a level increase to Cindy Foster from level 6 to level 7 and to Darcy Albert from level 3 to level 5 due to Ms. Albert obtaining her Certified Appraiser Assessor status through the State of SD and not receiving a level raise since January 2016.
The board acknowledged the correspondence from the SD Dept. of Social Services exercising the 30 day notice to void the agreement to provide onsite services in the Miner County courthouse office. Those needing social service assistance may contact the state office and a representative will be sent to their home.
Director of Equalization Tami Severson reported that Corelogic has requested computer generated public records from her office. Corelogic would like Miner County to strike item #6 of the agreement which states: Computer-generated records may not be used for commercial purposes, or for profit or gain by the purchaser, or their client/assignee/agent. Real Estate Tax information is to be used for inquiry purposes and payment of taxes. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Gassman to remove item #6 from the agreement for all requests for computer generated public records.
Brad Wilson of the SDML Worker’s Compensation Fund presented a 30 year membership plaque in recognition of Miner County’s membership since the inception of the SDML Worker’s Compensation Fund.
The meeting adjourned to July 17th. Dated this 3rd day of July, 2018.
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor