September 7, 2021
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session September 7, 2021 in the Miner County 4-H Exhibit Hall. Members present: Alex Protsch, Garrett Gassman, Kathy Faber, and Tom Reisch. Absent: Roger Wentland. The flag pledge was recited. Others in attendance during portions of the meeting were Tami Severson, Karla Neises, Cindy Foster, Will Walter, and Rob Eggert. Motion by Gassman, seconded by Faber and carried to approve the agenda.
The minutes of the August 17th & 31st meetings were approved.
The auditor’s account with the county treasurer showed an August 1, 2021 balance of $6,007,236.00 in all state, county, civil, school and trust accounts.
Tami Severson appeared for Public Comment to inform the commission of the changes due to COVID for the SD Dept. of Revenue schooling for Directors of Equalization.
The following correspondence was received: SD DENR-Upland Hutterian Brethren Manure Management; SD Dept. Ag & Natural Resources-Solid Waste General Permits & Miner County Moisture Report.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Gassman and carried to approve the following claims for payment: CLAIMS ALLOWED: Road & Bridge $51,025.03, Wellmark $46,186.52, Delta Dental $1,466.89, Kansas City Life $457.22, Retirement $7,041.53, OASI $9,625.64, Commissioners $4,430.75, Auditor $7,365.75, Treasurer $6,334.75, States Attorney $5,433.50, Govt Building $2,872.00, Director of Equalization $7,550.06, Register of Deeds $6,532.97, Vet Service $893.00, Sheriff $11,254.75, Contract Law $4,502.02, Welfare $561.45, Co Nurse $1,342.00, Ambulance $8,240.20, WIC $91.50, Extension $1,744.60, Weed $1,225.00, Dispatch $10,118.93 (includes Sandra Roy at $18.08/hr), Emergency Mgt $2,275.00 AUG PAYROLL; Jessica Charles $14.00, Joshua Hahn $28.00, Amie Kidd $14.00 Tami Severson $14.00 PAYROLL TRAVEL Triotel $169.53 911 CHARGES; ICAP $691.67 COMMUNITY ACTION PMT; SD DOT $15,772.98 CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE; Jencks Law $2,004.59, Lammers Kleibacker & Dawson $1,155.75 COURT APPT ATTY FEES; Ulteig $3,125.45 ENGINEERING; HFCA $450.49 FUEL; Northwestern Energy $15.49 GAS SERVICE; Davison Co Sheriff $95.00 PRISONER CARE; Puetz Design+Build $17,505.06 PROFESSIONAL SERVICE; Miner Co Pioneer $809.16 PUBLISHING; Microfilm Imaging Systems $295.00, Miedema Sanitation $300.00 RENT; HFCA $12.00, Marshall & Swift $4,138.05, Office Peeps $92.24, Puetz Design+Build $381,220.67, Shane’s Hardware Hank $110.97, Ultra $1,162.25 REPAIRS; Kristian Ellendorf $900.00 STATE’S ATTY OFFICE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE; Relx Inc. $149.00 SUBSCRIPTION; American Stamp & Marking $50.62, Susan Connor $33.43, Gall’s $95.09, Hanson Co $141.44, Homestead Building Supply $1.89, John Deere Financial $72.28, McLeod’s $1,162.49, Menards $300.73, Office Peeps $73.44, Rockmount Research $315.79, Rusty’s $44.08, Tami Severson $20.00, Shane’s Hardware $12.99, SD Secretary of State $30.00, Ultra $78.00 SUPPLIES; Alliance $965.70, Colleen Arens $30.00, AT&T $273.27, Century Link $15.74, Susan Connor $30.00, Tami Severson $30.00 TELEPHONE; Safety Benefits $65.00, SD LTAP $100.00, Kent Terwilliger $39.48 TRAVEL; City of Howard $2,299.77, Xcel Energy $9.27 UTILITES; Ray Genzlinger $250.00 WATCHMAN.
It was moved by Reisch and seconded by Gassman to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 21-17
WHEREAS, Resolution 21-14 declared a fire danger emergency and banned open burning in the rural areas of Miner County, and
WHEREAS, recent rains have lessened the fire danger emergency,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Miner County Board of Commissioners that the ban on open burning pursuant to Resolution 21-14 is hereby rescinded.
Voting aye: Reisch, Gassman, Faber, Protsch. Voting nay: none. Resolution approved this 7th day of September, 2021.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan R. Connor, Miner County Auditor
It was moved by Gassman and seconded by Faber to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 21-18
WHEREAS, insufficient appropriation was made in the 2021 budget for the following department to discharge just obligation of said appropriation; and
WHEREAS, SDCL 7-21-32.2 provides that transfers may be made by resolution of the board from the contingency appropriation established pursuant to SDCL 7-21-6.1 to other appropriations;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the appropriation be transferred from contingency to Historical Museums $500.
Voting aye: Faber, Reisch, Gassman and Protsch. Voting nay: none. Resolution approved this 7th day of September, 2021.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
Director of Equalization Tami Severson presented the following plat for consideration.
It was moved by Faber and seconded by Gassman to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 21-19
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of county commissioners of Miner County, South Dakota, that the plat of LOT 1 OF KUHLE’S ADDITION IN THE NW ¼ OF SECTION 22, T 107 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: Faber, Gassman, Reisch and Protsch. Voting nay: none. Resolution adopted this 7th day of September, 2021.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
Discussion was held concerning the current COVID policies for the county offices. The current policy is to follow the CDC recommendations for quarantine, close contact and COVID positive for employees. Employees are paid if required to be quarantined or test positive. No changes were made to the current policy.
At 9:30 the Provisional Budget Hearing was held as advertised. Belinda Nelson and Kim Smith of Community Counseling Services joined the meeting to review the services they provide to Miner County. They explained the new 988 National Suicide Hotline that will be implemented in July of 2022 and how this will affect their provided services. Currently Miner County contributes $14,000 for their services which is the budget request for 2022.
Sheriff Eggert gave more explicit cost estimates for his office furniture. The sheriff’s 2022 budget will decrease by $3334 and the contract law budget will decrease by $1667.
Final adoption of the 2022 budget will be held on September 21st at 9:30.
The second reading of Ordinance 2021-03 AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE 12 “COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT”, SECTION 1201.02, “PERMITTED USES”; ARTICLE 3, “ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS”, ARTICLE 16 “SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS”, AND ARTICLE 2, DEFINITIONS, ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 04-01, AS AMENDED, OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF MINER COUNTY was held. It was moved by Faber, seconded by Reisch and carried to adopt Ordinance 2021-03.
The second reading of Ordinance 2021-02 An ORDINANCE CREATING LICENSING PROVISIONS FOR CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN THE UNICORPORATED AREAS OF MINER COUNTY was held. It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Reisch and carried to adopt Ordinance 2021-02.
Ron Krempges, Miner County Highway Superintendent provided information concerning the SD Association of Highway Superintendents previous treasurer’s embezzlement. It had been stated that the funds were all tax payer dollars. He clarified that the majority of the funds were dollars received from vendors who support their association. Krempges also reported of a potential new hire for his department.
As the result of legislation passed in the 2021 legislative session, the State of SD has distributed dollars to every county to be used by townships to inventory small structures within each township. Krempges will be hosting an informational meeting on September 21st at 12:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to bring township officials together to review the requirements for receiving this money and the process that must be followed. Letters will be mailed out to each township clerk informing them of this meeting.
The public hearing for the Miner County 5 Year Highway Plan was held as advertised. Those present for the hearing included: Commissioners Faber, Reisch, Gassman and Protsch; Auditor Connor; Beaver Township Officers Will Walter and Cindy Foster; Tami Severson, Karla Neises, and Sheriff Rob Eggert. Questions were answered concerning the small structures located on county roads. Information will be forwarded to First District of Local Govts. for the final plan that will be considered at the October 5th meeting.
Treasurer Jessica Charles presented information concerning properties that she will be working to take tax deed. These properties are located within the town of Canova.
Commissioners discussed the current courthouse hours. Department heads indicated they have received positive comments from the public utilizing the 7:30-8:00 and the 12:30-1:00 hours. Commissioners agreed that the hours have been well received. Therefore, the hours will remain the same (7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.) until the end of December when it will be reviewed again.
Angie Rentz, F.A.S.T. board member, joined the meeting telephonically. She presented the submitted letter to the board for their consideration of funding in the 2022 budget to help support the after-school program. Several issues with the operations and funding of the program have arisen. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Faber to include $1000 for the F.A.S.T program in the 2022 budget.
The board reviewed the 2022 Local Emergency Management Performance Grant agreement from the SD Dept. of Public Safety. Emergency Management Director Kent Terwilliger was not present for the discussion. It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Faber and carried unanimously to authorize Chairman Protsch to sign the agreement.
Kyle Higgens of Puetz Design + Build met to review the progress of the courthouse project.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned to September 21st. Dated this 7th day of September, 2021.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor