April 7, 2020
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session April 7, 2020 via Microsoft Teams Meeting. Members present: Roger Wentland, Garrett Gassman, Tom Reisch, Voni Durant and Alex Protsch. Absent: none. Also joining the meeting included Tami Severson and Tim Reisch. 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 as amended. The minutes of the March 26th meeting were amended to include Alex Protsch as present and were approved. The minutes of the April 1st meeting were approved. No conflict of interest was declared.
The Auditor’s account with the County Treasurer showed a March 31, 2020 balance of $7,585,106.66 in all state, county, civil, school, and trust accounts.
An UNSIGNED letter was received concerning the 4-H bid mowing. No persons appeared for Public Comment.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Gassman and carried to authorize the auditor to pay the following claims: Road & Bridge $54,064.47, Wellmark $41,157.11, Delta Dental $1,503.65, Kansas City Life $444.25, Retirement $6,620.20, OASI $9,571.00, Commissioners $4,430.75, Auditor $7,332.50, Treasurer $6,850.75, States Attorney $5,667.75, Govt Building $2,800.20, Director of Equalization $7,363.44, Register of Deeds $6,600.10, Vet Service $893.00, Sheriff $11,290.67, Contract Law $2,423.64, Welfare $472.80, Co Nurse $1,326.00, Ambulance $6,029.13, WIC $90.25, Extension $1,326.00, Weed $1,195.25, Dispatch $12,004.24, Emergency Mgt $2,219.75 MAR PAYROLL; Jeremy Beyer $14.00, Darwin Callies $14.00, Logan Calmus $14.00, Terry Carlson $14.00, Susan Connor $14.00, Don Eppe $14.00, Adam Mentele $14.00, Becki Mommaerts $14.00, Eric Smith $14.00, Grant Stevens $14.00 TRAVEL; Alliance $150.00, Century Link $108.05, Santel $55.12, Triotel $169.53 911 CHARGES; Wass Funeral Home $1,500.00 BURIAL EXPENSES; FJM Collections $22.50 COLLECTION FEES; ICAP $674.75 COMMUNITY ACTION PAYMENT; SD DOT $839.16 CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE; Jencks Law PC $841.25 COURT APPOINTED ATTY; Miner Co Treasurer $8.00 DOMESTIC ABUSE ADMIN EXPENSE; Domestic Violence Network $36.00, Mitchell Area Safehouse $36.00 DOMESTIC ABUSE PAY TO OTHERS; MidStates Organized Crime $100.00 DUES; Central Electric Coop $62.41, Xcel Energy $33.08 ELECTRICITY; HFCA $5,769.48, Sturdevant's $121.12 FUEL; Northwestern Energy $1,156.50 GAS SERVICE; Canova Community Improvement $1,000.00, Canova-Epiphany Senior Citizens $306.00, Childrens Care Corner $6,000.00, Domestic Violence Network $650.00, Miner Co Recreation Assn $2,500.00, Mitchell Area Safehouse $650.00 GRANTS; Emergency Safety Education $280.00 IN SERVICE EDUCATION; SDACC $2,021.00 LEGAL EXPENSE RELIEF FUND; Minnehaha Co $312.66, Yankton Co Sheriff $50.00 MENTAL ILLNESS HEARING EXPENSE; Colleen Arens $16.93, Rusty's $13.98, SD Federal Property Agency $800.00, Sturdevant's $30.47, Tom's Hardware $12.99 PANDEMIC SUPPLIES; Miner Co Treasurer $158.69 POSTAGE; Fidelity Abstract $454.00, Mumford Protsch $41.98 PROFESSIONAL FEES; Miner County Pioneer $1,059.29 PUBLISHING; Microfilm Imaging Systems $295.00 RENT; Century Link $9,116.00, Hafner Electric $93.83, Office Peeps $169.99, Racom $5,151.00, Ultra $1,071.50, Vanguard Appraisals $1,700.00 REPAIRS; Homestead $47.41 ROAD MATERIALS; Greg Protsch $900.00 STATE'S ATTY OFFICE EXP ALLOWANCE; Relx Inc. $149.00 SUBSCRIPTION; Bierschbach Equipment $1,748.10, Boyer Trucks $3,414.26, Colonial Research $187.35, Dakota Data Shred $16.00, Dakota Fluid Power $1,622.89, Diesel Machinery $144.68, Dust-Tex $119.94, Gillund Enterprises $212.16, Home Service Water $21.60, Homestead $41.99, HFCA $297.67, Inclusion Solutions $763.70, Madison Ace Hardware $24.91, Matheson Tri Gas $153.08, Mid-American Research $133.16, Miner Co Treasurer $167.30, Office Peeps $307.40, Rusty's $179.33, Tami Severson $20.00, Streichers $56.99, Sturdevant's $538.91, Tom's Hardware $27.47, Ultra $60.00, Wheelco $1,322.23 SUPPLIES; Alliance $864.66, Colleen Arens $30.00, AT&T $88.29, Century Link $14.48, Tami Severson $30.00, Verizon $76.96 TELEPHONE; City of Howard $1,615.66 UTILITIES; Beadle Co Auditor $1,175.00 VICTIMS ADVOCATE
As Governor Noem has granted administrative leave to state employees for Monday, April 13th and the closing of state offices, the Miner County Board of Commissioners will grant administrative leave to full time employees on Monday, April 13th.
It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Durant and carried to authorize the chairman to sign the SD Department of Health’s Fiscal Year 2020 WIC Contract Amendment to increase funds to cover estimated costs in the fiscal year.
An email message was received by a Miner County resident requesting assistance in obtaining food during this pandemic. Miner County will be working closely with Interlakes Community Action, the organization that oversees the Miner County Food Pantry, to provide assistance to residents.
As required by SDCL 10-3-14 the annual conference with the commissioners and the director of equalization was held. Director of Equalization Tami Severson explained her plan for work during this pandemic. Commissioners expressed their appreciation for her efforts during this unprecedented time.
Auditor Connor gave an over view of her proposed pandemic plan for conducting the 2020 Primary election on June 2, 2020. The SD Secretary of State will be sending out a press-release encouraging voters to apply for an absentee ballot and vote by mail. The health and safety of all Miner County residents and election workers are a prime concern. Therefore, at the April 21st commission meeting, Connor will be presenting a resolution for the commission to consider regarding the number of polling places within the county. She again stressed that voters should seriously consider voting absentee by mail to avoid the spread of COVID 19. This information will be distributed to newspapers, posted on the https://minercountysd.org website and social media. Anyone with questions may contact the auditor’s office at 772-4671.
The bid opening for the 2020 mowing and trimming of the Miner County 4-H grounds was held as advertised. The following bids received reflect a per time basis: Todd Spader $327; Tim & Taylor Reisch $339; Eric Rentschler & John Eulberg $350.00. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Gassman to enter into a contract with Todd Spader for the mowing of the 4-H grounds $327/mowing & trimming. Voting aye: Gassman, Durant, Protsch, Reisch and Wentland. Voting nay: none.
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges joined the meeting telephonically. The Force Account Agreement for the 2019 Event D and the Detailed Damage Inspection Reports were presented. These agreements will allow the Department of Transportation to reimburse the county for eligible costs (estimated $56,300) associated with the Emergency Relief projects. It was moved by Durant, seconded by Gassman and carried to authorize Chairman Wentland to sign the Force Account Agreement with the SD Department of Transportation.
It was moved by Protsch, seconded by Gassman and carried to authorize Chairman Wentland to sign the Grant of Option to Purchase Materials from David Skoglund for period from March 23rd through January 31, 2022.
Krempges informed the board that due to additional requirements implemented by the SDDOT in 2019 regarding scour survey for bridge improvement projects, Miner County will receive an additional $32,525.90. This is for the bridge improvement project located west of Carthage.
Grant Stevens submitted his resignation as of April 1st. The board would like to thank Grant for his service to Miner County and its residents. Krempges is advertising for Stevens’ replacement. Applications will be taken through April 15th.
Krempges reported that he has submitted to John Bruner the information that was requested by Bruner concerning the roads and flooding in the northeast corner of the county. He also reviewed other highway matters including bridge & culvert repairs and staffing during the pandemic. Krempges stated that other counties have started to split the highway workers into crews, having one crew work while the other crew stays home. This would help with
the spread of COVID 19. Commissioners will address this at their next meeting or may call a special meeting if requested by Krempges.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned until April 14th (beginning of Equalization). Dated this 7th day of April, 2020.
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor