March 17, 2020

The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session March 17, 2020 in the Miner County Courthouse.  Members present: Roger Wentland, Garrett Gassman, Tom Reisch, and Alex Protsch.  Voni Durant joined telephonically.  Absent: none.  Others in attendance were Director of Equalization Tami Severson, Sheriff Rob Eggert, Treasurer Pat Carmon, Register of Deeds Karla Neises, and Emergency Management Director Kent Terwilliger. 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 3rd meeting were approved. 

Present for public comment included Sam & Logan Schlim.  Sam addressed the board informing them of the affect the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance would have on his farming operation.

The board discussed the State of Emergency as declared by Governor Kristi Noem.  Under her directive all non-essential state personnel will stay home.  It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Gassman and carried unanimously to adopt the following declaration: 

As Miner County is a political sub-division of South Dakota, Miner County has declared that all non-essential personnel stay home beginning at noon March 17th until further notice.  This means specifically that all departments, other than law enforcement, highway workers, and emergency services, will operate primarily through the department head’s directive, with the least amount of personnel necessary to discharge essential functions.  If a department head must be absent or falls ill, the next in line will take charge.  All employees who are home are expected to work from home, if possible.  As this is involuntary for employees, they will be paid as if they are present at the office.  However, any working essential personnel or those working from home will not receive extra pay. 

The health and safety of our customers, communities and employees are of primary concern.  Therefore, public access will be limited at the county courthouse.  The public is encouraged to do business with the offices through email, telephone, fax and online.  For questions regarding online business, please call the following numbers with any questions:  Auditor-605-772-4671; Treasurer-772-4652; Register of Deeds-772-5621; Director of Equalization/Planning & Zoning-772-4241; Emergency Management 772-4533; Clerk of Courts-772-4612; Sheriff-772-4501; Community Health Nurse-772-4381; 4-H Youth Advisor-772-4661 (This office is currently closed as per Governor’s declaration).

The public hearing set for Monday, March 23rd has been postponed.  No date has been set.

Sheriff Eggert reported that he has hired Joshua Hahn to serve as a deputy sheriff in Miner County.  The commission approved the hire.  It was moved by Protsch, seconded by Gassman and carried to declare the prior deputy’s bullet proof vest as surplus and authorize the sheriff to sell the vest for the most advantageous price for the benefit of the county.  

Tami Severson, Director of Equalization presented the following plats for consideration.

It was moved by Reisch and seconded by Gassman that the following resolution be approved.

RESOLUTION 20-09

Be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Miner County, South Dakota, that the plat of CD ESSER TRACT 1, A SUBDIVISION OF THE NE ¼ OF SECTION 14, T 106 N, R 57 W OF THE 5TH P.M., MINER COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA, which has been submitted for examination pursuant to law, is hereby approved and the County Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to endorse on such plat a copy of this Resolution and certify the same.

Voting aye:  Gassman, Reisch, Protsch, Durant, and Wentland.  Voting nay:  none.  Resolution adopted this 17th day of March, 2020.

                                                                                    Roger Wentland, Chairman

                                                                                    Miner County Board of Commissioners

Attest:  Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor

            It was moved Gassman and seconded by Protsch that the following resolution be approved.

RESOLUTION 20-10

            Be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Miner County, South Dakota, that the plat of LOT 1 OF KYSAR’S ADDITIONIN THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER (SE ¼) OF SECTION EIGHT (8), TOWNSHIP ONE HUNDRED FIVE (105) NORTH, RANGE FIFTY-SIX (56) WEST OF THE 5TH P.M. IN MINER COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA, which has been submitted for examination pursuant to law, is hereby approved and the County Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to endorse on such plat a copy of this Resolution and certify the same. 

Voting aye:  Gassman, Reisch, Protsch, Durant, and Wentland.  Voting nay:  none.  Resolution adopted this 17th day of March, 2020.

                                                                                    Roger Wentland, Chairman

                                                                                    Miner County Board of Commissioners

Attest:  Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor

            Auditor Connor distributed the 2019 Miner County Annual Report which has been published and filed with the SD Department of Legislative Audit. 

            It was reported that Tami Severson, Roger Wentland, and Susan Connor met with FEMA concerning Flood Plain Ordinance.  Miner County does not currently have a Flood Plain Ordinance but with updated flood maps, that may need to be addressed.

            Emergency Management Director Kent Terwilliger gave an update on methods that should be used during this time to prevent virus spread.  He is in contact with state officials concerning securing supplies.

            It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Reisch and carried to authorize the auditor to pay the following claims:   Alliance $150.00, Santel $55.12, Triotel $167.53 911 CHARGES; ICAP $674.75 COMMUNITY ACTION PAYMENT; SD DOT $50.31 CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE; Confidential Investigative $642.90 COURT APPOINTED ATTY; SDACES $15.00 DUES; Central Electric Coop $62.07, Xcel Energy $162.60 ELECTRICITY; Botach $1,000.00, Maria Feldhaus $1,544.74, Lamb Motor Co. $37,604.00, Madison Ace Hardware $254.45, SD Federal Property Agency $825.00, TrueNorth Steel $3,522.37 EQUIPMENT; Butler Machinery $1,012.05, HFCA $5,758.81, Rhomar Industries $641.42, Wingen’s Garage $1,807.40 FUEL; Co Employee $96.35 INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT; Lake Co Sheriff $2,625.00 PRISONER CARE; Lake Co Sheriff $320.00, Lewis Drug $19.53 OTHER JAIL FEES; Aramark $263.31, Microfilm Imaging Systems $295.00 RENT; North American Truck & Trailer $799.00, Dawson Construction $9,489.81, HFCA $51.75, Office Peeps $164.53, S&S Contracting $117.35, Ultra $893.50, Van’s Auto Electric $210.00 REPAIRS; Brock White $80.00, HFCA $50.66, Tom’s Hardware $6.49 ROAD MATERIALS; Boyer Trucks $131.05, Brock White $3,176.75, Butler Machinery $616.11, Dakota Data Shred $86.70, Dawson Construction $35.87, Fastenal $166.87, North American Truck & Trailer $90.59, Girton Adams $575.00, Home Service Water $5.40, Howard Cold Storage $79.88, HFCA $261.25, Intab $34.30, I-State Truck Center $213.80, Kimball Midwest $531.80, Little Falls Machine $436.27, McLeod’s $268.00, Office Peeps $1,557.07, Pharmchem $85.65, Pomp’s Tire Service $727.72, Rockmount Research $362.83, Rusty’s $92.97, SD Federal Property Agency $189.85, Sturdevant’s $1,054.05, Titan Machinery $28.00, Tom’s Hardware $827.42, Ultra $60.00, Vander Haag’s $255.00 SUPPLIES; Alliance $39.95, Verizon $76.96 TELEPHONE; Election Systems & Software $340.00, Ron Krempges $28.00, Ramkota $106.64, Sandra Roy $211.04 TRAVEL.

            Having no further business, the meeting adjourned until April 7th.  Dated this 17th day of March, 2020.

                                                                        Roger Wentland, Chairman

                                                                        Miner County Board of Commissioners

Attest:  Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor