August 10, 2021
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session August 10, 2021 in the Miner County 4-H Exhibit Hall. Members present: Alex Protsch, Garrett Gassman, Kathy Faber, Tom Reisch, and Roger Wentland. Absent: none. The flag pledge was recited. Others in attendance during the meeting were Tami Severson, Brittany Yanish and Rob Eggert. Motion by Wentland, seconded by Gassman and carried to approve the agenda.
The minutes of the July 20th meeting were approved.
The auditor’s account with the county treasurer showed an August 1, 2021 balance of $6,721,355.90 in all state, county, civil, school and trust accounts.
No persons appeared for Public Comment.
The following correspondence was received: Miner County Veterans’ Services Officer’s July report; SDML WC Notice of Election; Victim Witness July Report.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Gassman and carried to approve the following claims for payment: Road & Bridge $36,770.59, Wellmark $46,186.52, Delta Dental $1,466.89, Kansas City Life $470.95, Retirement $6,693.33, OASI $9,406.60, Commissioners $4,430.75, Auditor $7,365.75, Treasurer $6,334.75, States Attorney $5,433.50, Govt Building $3,590.00, Director of Equalization $7,722.68, Register of Deeds $7,041.24, Vet Service $893.00, Sheriff $11,254.75, Contract Law $4,171.99 (includes Michael Jenkins at $19.37/hr), Welfare $788.00, Co Nurse $1,342.00, Ambulance $13,095.56 (includes Danielle Werkmeister at $26,763/yr), WIC $91.50, Extension $3,446.50, Weed $1,225.00, Dispatch $13,563.81 (includes Jennifer Miller and Shannon Hoffman at $17.59/hr), Emergency Mgt $2,275.00 JULY PAYROLL; Darcy Albert $14.00, Mike Clary $28.00, Tami Severson $14.00 PAYROLL TRAVEL.
Anne Aamot $60.00, Lauri Adler $70.00, Diane Anderson $80.00, Colton Buus $150.00, Robert Kommes $25.00, Karen Lambert $45.00, John Madison $70.00, Susi Odden $125.00, Charlene Schmit $35.00, Vicki Vining $40.00, Adam Wirt $175.00, Jill Wunder $35.00 4-H ACHIEVEMENT DAY JUDGES; Josh Esser $120.00, John Hahn $20.00, Nathan Kizer $20.00 AMBULANCE ATTENDANT FEES; Northwestern $16.34 GAS SERVICE; AT&T $326.93 TELEPHONE;
Alliance $150.00, Santel $55.12, Triotel $169.53 911 CHARGES; FJM Collections $324.07 COLLECTION FEES; ICAP $691.67 COMMUNITY ACTION PMT; SD DOT $57.83 CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE; Ulteig $21,573.21 ENGINEERING; HFCA $8,920.95, Sturdevant’s $49.66, Wheelco $323.19, Wingen’s Garage $328.00 FUEL; Co Employee $295.79 INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT; Mark Neises $315.00 MOWING; Miner Co Treasurer $222.90 POSTAGE; Lewis Drug $272.97, Mitchell Clinic $130.00 PRISONER MEDICAL CARE; Architecture Inc. $3,500.00, Avera Occupational Medicine $98.00, Butler Machinery $16,890.00, Fidelity Abstract & Title Co $800.00, Great Plans Pysch. Services $1,912.50, Puetz Design+Build $11,470.51 PROFESSIONAL SERVICE; Miner County Pioneer $248.74, Sanborn Weekly Journal $84.00 PUBLISHING; Microfilm Imaging Systems $385.00, Miedema Sanitation $300.00 RENT; Howard Auto Clinic $40.00, HFCA $66.63, Istate Truck Center $667.64, Office Peeps $189.69, OMC Stump Grinding $250.00, Puetz Design+Build $294,778.75, Sturdevant’s $21.74, Two Way Solutions $49.99, Ultra $11,097.25, Wingen’s Garage $285.88 REPAIRS; Jebro Inc. $121,540.58, Tom’s Hardware $8.81 ROAD MATERIALS; Kristian Ellendorf $900.00 STATE’S ATTY OFFICE EXP ALLOWANCE; Relx Inc. $149.00 SUBSCRIPTIONS; Dawson Construction $90.41, Diesel Machinery $270.49, Dust-Tex $350.62, Home Service Water Conditioning $50.20, Homestead Building Supply $42.34, Istate Truck Center $350.53, Jack’s Uniforms $131.26, McLeod’s Printing $100.16, Miner Co Treasurer $26.29, North American Truck & Trailer $302.88, Office Peeps $1,179.27, Puthoff Repair $30.56, RDO Equipment $892.04, Rusty’s $144.44, SD Federal Property Agency $532.00, Tami Severson $20.00, Sturdevant’s $334.93, Tidmore Flags $153.85, Tom’s Hardware $213.93, Ultra $78.00, Wingen’s Garage $49.75 SUPPLIES; Alliance $967.54, Colleen Arens $30.00, Century Link $15.74, Susan Connor $30.00, Tami Severson $30.00, Verizon-NY $76.54, Verizon $85.16 TELEPHONE; SD Dept of Public Safety $2,340.00 TELETYPE; Mike Clary $54.00, HFCA $27.21, Cora Schwader $153.12, SDPA $80.00, Kathy Weidler $39.48 TRAVEL; Central Electric Coop $131.79, City of Howard $1,938.07, Xcel Energy $9.38 UTILITIES.
SDSU has announced the hiring of Jillian Calmus as Miner County 4-H Youth Advisor. Calmus will begin her duties on September 27th.
4-H Youth Advisor clerical, Brittany Yanish, met with the board to discuss her current work hours. The board had increased her hours from 7 to 8 beginning July 6th and ending on August 20th. The board instructed Yanish to continue working 8 hours per day through the end of the SD State Fair (September 6th).
Wyatt Walter board member of the Children’s Care Corner made a request to utilize the 4-H grounds for a Fall Festival. All proceeds from the festival would be split between the Children’s Care Corner and Miner County 4-H. The festival would include face painting, music, horse drawn wagon rides, bounce house and many other activities. Walters also requested the county allow the festival committee to host a wine & beer tasting during the festival. Currently the rental agreement prevents alcohol on the 4-H grounds. Auditor Connor had made contact with the insurance carrier concerning this matter. Through email correspondence the insurance carrier would approve if the following requirements were followed: The group serving the beer & wine must have an insurance policy; ID’s must be required to ensure legal drinking age and only wine & beer will be served. It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Reisch and carried to allow the use of the 4-H grounds for the festival including beer & wine tasting on the conditions the group provide proof of insurance, obtain an alcohol permit from the City of Howard and any approval that may be needed through 4-H.
Auditor Connor made the request to close the courthouse offices located at the temporary location (217 S. Main) all day September 17th. All employees working at that location will assist with moving the items in the storage units to the basement of the Miner County Courthouse. Commissioners approved the request.
Justice Forster and Christy Stock of the Miner County Historical Society joined the meeting to request funding for a historical marker near Argonne. Forster presented the history of Argonne which he has been researching since he joined the Miner County Historical Society board in 2018. Forster has raised approximately ½ of the cost for the marker. He made a request for the county to contribute $500 toward the costs. It was moved by Wentland, seconded by Gassman and carried to authorize payment of $500 to the Miner County Historical Society for the Argonne historical marker.
State’s Attorney Kristian Ellendorf reviewed correspondence concerning medical marijuana. This matter will be placed on the August 17th agenda to develop a draft ordinance pertaining to the regulation of medical marijuana in the unincorporated areas of Miner County.
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges updated the commission on ditch mowing progress, planned culvert replacement work, and the Rural Infrastructure Program. More information on the Rural Infrastructure Program will be provided at the upcoming district meeting and SD Counties Fall Convention. The board approve contracting with Feldman Fencing to install the fence around the newly installed bridge on 435th Ave. (Canova Oil).
No change was made to the burn ban that is currently in place for the unincorporated portions of Miner County.
It was moved by Wentland, seconded by Faber and carried to approve a waiver of policy in distribution of interest received, no interest will be distributed to the Rural Access Infrastructure fund.
The board reviewed the 2022 provisional budget. This will be published and considered at the September 7th provisional budget hearing.
It was moved by Wentland, seconded by Reisch and carried to enter into executive session per SDCL 1-25-2 (1) at 10:31. The board returned to regular session at 10:37.
Two proposals were received from Eagle View for oblique imagery. One proposal for 3” pixels and one for 6” pixels. The board indicated it would be in the best interest of those departments that will utilize this imagery to contract for the 6” pixels. It is the intention of the Board of Commissioners to utilize Federal ARP funds to purchase this service. By utilizing this information, it will help protect the public and its employees through the COVID 19 pandemic, limiting interaction with the public on essential, necessary day-to-day jobs. With the enhanced imagery, the need for on-site, in-person visits will be dramatically reduced. This technology will be used for dispatch communications to fire, police and EMS personnel to make better decisions regarding the placement of individuals who are testing positive and/ or who are being quarantined. It also allows requests for rezones, subdivisions, variances and conditional use without the need to go out in the field for inspections. This will limit the exposure to staff during the staff review of all public hearing-related requests. It was moved by Wentland, seconded by Reisch and carried unanimously to contract with Eagle View for oblique imagery for Miner County utilizing ARP funds.
Kyle Higgens of Puetz Design + Build joined the meeting to provide an updated construction schedule and report on the courthouse building project. Higgens presented the following change orders for consideration:
Change order #10 Contingency Deduct $33,866.65; Change order #11 IT Room IDU’s $9005.84; Change order #12 Lineset Soffits $12,932.31; Change order #13 Courtroom Ceiling Paint $5166.40; Change Order #14 CHN Vanity & Install $1295.41; Change order #15 Storm Sewer Rework $6505.16; Change order #16 Window Replacement & Hardware Replacement $2395.03; Change order #17 Attic Insulation $15,499.20; Change order #19 Additional Painting $6797.90 and Change order #20 Floor Buffing/Waxing $10,115.26. It was moved by Wentland, seconded by Gassman and carried unanimously to approve Change orders #10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 & 20.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned to August 17th. Dated this 10th day of August, 2021.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor