January 18, 2022
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on January 18, 2022 in the Miner County Courthouse Commission room. Members present: Alex Protsch, Garrett Gassman, Kathy Faber, Tom Reisch and Joe Bechen. Absent: none. The flag pledge was recited. Tami Severson and Rob Eggert were also present. Motion by Gassman, seconded by Faber and carried to approve the agenda as amended.
The minutes of the January 4th meeting were approved.
No persons appeared for Public Comment.
Commissioners acknowledged receipt of the following correspondence: Miner County Moisture Report; Veterans’ Services Officer December Report; Argonne Historical Marker Miner County Historical Society, SDML SD Sheriffs’ Association Awards Nomination Form; Miner County Sheriff 2021 Annual Report; and SD Game, Fish & Parks 2021 Annual Report.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Faber and carried to authorize the auditor to pay the following claims: Alliance $150.00, Santel $55.12, Triotel $167.53 911 CHARGES; Cardmember Services $12.50 ALCOHOL MOTOR CARRIER QUERY; Ulteig Engineers $2,150.54 CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE; DeCastro Law Office $2,312.70 COURT APPT ATTY; Midstates Organized Crime $100.00, SDACC $450.00 DUES; Central Electric Coop $75.41, Xcel $51.39 ELECTRICITY; Istate Truck Center $112,374.00, Kiesler Police Supply $429.00 EQUIPMENT; HFCA $3,191.66, Wingen’s Garage $2,547.83 FUEL; Glacial Lakes & Prairies $300.00, Lifequest $2,500.00 GRANT; Miner Insurance Agency $332.00 INSURANCE; SD CLE $75.00 JURY INSTRUCTIONS; Miner Co Treasurer $6.31, Stamp Fulfillment Services $1,321.75 POSTAGE; Beadle Co Sheriff $80.00, Lake Co Sheriff $2,850.00 PRISONER CARE; Lake Co Sheriff $340.00, Lewis $9.98 PRISONER MEDICAL; First District Assn Local Govts $250.00, SD Dept. of Ag $400.00 PROFESSIONAL FEES; Judy Calmus $375.00, Dust-Tex $66.39, Microfilm Imaging $385.00 RENT; Dware $4,350.00, First District Assn of Local Govts $10,500.00, HFCA $98.82, James Valley Landscape $50.00, Transource $1,022.86, Two Way Solutions $9,000.00, Tyler Technologies $3,901.22 REPAIRS; Spencer Quarries $3,850.32 ROAD MATERIALS; Boyer Trucks $140.24, Butler Machinery $850.00, Cardmember Services $230.39, Dakota Data Shred $17.00, Dust-Tex $242.79, Gall’s Inc. $162.01, HFCA $1,053.58, Kimball Midwest $499.67, Krug Products $565.31, McLeod’s $212.67, Miner Co Treasurer $159.24, Office Peeps $1,080.24, PharmChem $18.00, Rusty’s $2.74, Cora Schwader $111.60, Shane’s Hardware $158.83, State 4-H Office $90.00, Transource $1,050.74, Ultra $325.00, Wingen’s Garage $1,470.00 SUPPLIES; Verizon $87.07 TELEPHONE; Cardmember Services $291.75, SDACHS $100.00 TRAVEL.
Curt Neises, Green Valley Township Clerk and Weed Supervisor Kent Terwilliger joined the meeting. Terwilliger presented an email that he had received from Neises which requested more detailed information on township spraying. Terwilliger stated he wanted the direction of the board on how to proceed with this request as he was concerned that more detailed records may create a liability issue for the county. Bechen gave incite on commercial applicator processes taken by other commercial applicators. Gassman said the townships should receive detailed records due to the county being a commercial applicator. It was the consensus of the board that any township asking for detailed records shall receive such records with the billing that is sent out in November of each year.
Terwilliger informed the board at the recent LEPC meeting it was approved to purchase a large screen smart TV to facilitate training exercises conducted by Emergency Management Director Terwilliger. He also reported on COVID test kits that will be made available to the public free of charge. The Miner County Health Nurse along with Terwilliger will be working to distribute the kits once they arrive. There are several commissioners and other Miner County first responders that must complete the required NIMS training courses. Terwilliger will arrange to hold a class in the near future.
Director of Equalization Tami Severson reviewed her worksheet for implementation of productivity valuation of agricultural land for the 2022 assessment year and her NA good sales 2021 for 2022 intentions worksheets. Severson gave a brief explanation of how not increasing vs increasing values affects the taxable value of property. In the example, by increasing values the taxable value should decrease and if nothing is done to the values, the taxable value would increase. Severson also requested to hire a part-time employee for her department. Commissioners instructed her to advertise for the part-time position which was planned for in the 2022 budget.
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges updated the board as to highway matters including: Bridge rehab bid opening is scheduled for February 9th at 11:00 (highway commissioners to attend); application for Volkswagon Truck Replacement Program has been completed; hauling of chips is about complete; highway employees will be attending a crack sealing class at Hanson County; and working on plans to electronically store old bridge and highway plans. He also presented the following resolutions for the board’s consideration.
It was moved by Gassman and seconded by Bechen to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 22-04
MINER COUNTY WEIGHT LIMIT ENFORCEMENT
WHEREAS, seasonal climatic changes can be detrimental to our highways, and
WHEREAS, the Miner County Board of County Commissioners desires to protect existing Miner County Highways, ultimately saving tax dollars, and
WHEREAS, the Miner County Board of County Commissioners desire the enforcement of weight limitations on Miner County roads as set forth and posted by the Miner County Highway Superintendent
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the limits on Miner County Highways shall be set at 7 ton per axle/40-ton gross vehicle weight, with the exception of county road 17 (425th Ave.) from Carthage south to SD Hwy #34 and county road 22 (242nd St.) from Canova east to US Hwy #81 shall be 40-ton gross vehicle weight, during spring thaw period and when weight limit signs are in place and that the South Dakota Highway Patrol be and hereby is authorized and requested to enforce weight limitations on Miner County roads.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the penalty for the violation of the load restrictions shall be set forth in SDCL 32-22.55.
Voting aye: Gassman, Reisch, Bechen, Faber and Protsch. Voting nay: none.
Resolution adopted this 18th day of January, 2022 at Howard, South Dakota.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
It was moved by Gassman and seconded by Reisch to approve the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 22-05
WHEREAS, excessive loads can be detrimental to our highways, and
WHEREAS, the Miner County Board of Commissioners desires to protect existing Miner County Highways, ultimately saving tax dollars and,
WHEREAS, the Miner County Board of Commissioners desire the enforcement of weight limitations on Miner County Roads as set forth and posted by the Miner County Highway Superintendent
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the limits on Miner County Highways shall be set with South Dakota weight limitations with the exception of 425th Avenue (County Road #17) between 220th Street and 233rd Street (SD Hwy #34) and 421st Avenue (County Road #21) between 233rd street (SD Hwy #34) and 244th Street will be set as 80,000 pounds gross weight for any vehicle or combination of vehicles.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that seasonal spring thaw weight limitations will preside over such weight limitations when signs are in place and displayed and that the SD Highway Patrol be and hereby is authorized and requested to enforce weight limitations on Miner County roads and that the penalty for the violation of the load restrictions shall be set forth in SDCL 32-22-55.
Voting aye: Gassman, Reisch, Bechen, Faber and Protsch. Voting nay: none.
Resolution adopted this 18th day of January, 2022.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
It was moved by Faber, seconded by Gassman and carried to authorize Chairman Protsch to sign the letter addressed to the SD Dept. of Public Safety Motor Carrier Services-Request for Assistance – Weight Limit Enforcement.
Bechen questioned Krempges about posting county gravel roads during the spring thaw. Krempges indicated that two county gravel roads really take a pounding during the time the asphalt roads have spring weight limits in place. In the past those two roads have been posted several times. Krempges will continue to monitor the condition of those county gravel roads during the spring thaw.
Sheriff Eggert reported the 2018 Dodge Durango is currently undergoing major repairs at Prostrollo’s Auto Mall. These repairs will be covered under the vehicle’s warranty. New office furniture for the sheriff’s office is scheduled to arrive this week.
With gratitude for 8 years of service as a Miner County Commissioner, the board accepted the resignation of Garrett Gassman. Gassman’s service will end February 1st. The board thanked Gassman for his dedication to the citizens of Miner County and wished him well in his future.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Faber and carried to approve the 2022 GIS contracts with First District Association of Local Governments. These contracts provide GIS webhosting and GIS parcel database maintenance.
Miner County Treasurer Jessica Charles informed the commissioners tax deeds have been filed for the following properties.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Gassman and carried unanimously to declare the following property as surplus and authorize the auditor to abate the unpaid taxes.
Lot 1 of Lot 4 of Lot 7 of the SW4 of Section 2, Township 106N, Range 56 West of the 5th P.M.
It was moved by Faber, seconded by Reisch and carried unanimously to quit claim deed Lot 1 of Lot 4 of Lot 7 of the SW4 of Section 2, Township 106N, Range 56 West of the 5th P.M. to the City of Howard.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Faber and carried unanimously to declare the following property as surplus and authorize the auditor to abate the unpaid taxes.
Lots 1 and 2, Block 26, Town of Vilas, Miner County, South Dakota
This property has been scheduled for public auction on February 15th at 9:30 a.m. in the commission room of the Miner County Courthouse.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Faber and carried to authorize Chairman Protsch to sign the Charles Mix Prisoner Housing Agreement for 2022.
It was moved by Faber, seconded by Reisch and carried to authorize Chairman Protsch to sign the SD Dept of Health Amendment II – FY22 County Clerical Contract.
Commissioners reviewed an email from Todd Kays of First District Association of Local Govts. outlining changes to the ARP final rules. This will allow for more uses to be approved when applying these funds.
The board took a tour of the HVAC room to view the issues with the current drainage system. Mitchell Plumbing will be contacted to upgrade the size of the pipe that is restricting water flow. The drainage pipe located in on the east side of the driveway is freezing up. Puetz Design + Build will contact the civil engineer that designed the water drainage system to look for solutions to rectify the drainage problems.
It was moved by Faber, seconded by Bechen and carried to enter into executive session (SDCL 1-25-2 (1) & (3) at 11:17 a.m. The board returned to regular session at 1:20 p.m.
It was moved by Gassman, seconded by Faber and carried unanimously to appoint Kari Jo Carlson effective February 1, 2022 as commissioner to fulfill the remaining portion of Garrett Gassman’s term which will end on December 31, 2022.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Reisch and carried unanimously to grant the following raises to Miner County full-time department heads effective January 1, 2022: Jessica Charles-$2000, Karla Neises-$2000, Tami Severson-$2000, Kristian Ellendorf-$2000, Robert Eggert-$2000, Cora Schwader-$2000, Kent Terwilliger-$2000, Ron Krempges-$2000, Susan Connor-$3500.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned to February 1st. Dated this 18th day of January, 2022.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor