March 15, 2022
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on March 15, 2022 in the Miner County Courthouse Commission room. Members present: Alex Protsch, Kari Jo Carlson, Kathy Faber, Tom Reisch and Joe Bechen. Absent: none. The flag pledge was recited. Tami Severson, Tim Reisch, Rob Eggert, Kent Terwilliger, Rebecca Mommaerts and Jessica Charles were also present for portions of the meeting. Motion by Reisch, seconded by Faber and carried to approve the agenda.
The minutes of the March 1st meeting were approved.
The auditor’s account with the county treasurer showed a February 28, 2022 balance of $5,363,442.40 in all state, county, civil, school and trust accounts.
No persons appeared for Public Comment.
The following claims were approved for payment: Alliance $150.00, Santel $55.12, Triotel $167.53 911 CHARGES; SDACC $353.00 CLERP; FJM $142.50 COLLECTIONS FEE; ICAP $701.92 COMMUNITY ACTION PAYMENT; SD DOT $375.69 CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE; Office Peeps $6,550.00, Ultra $2,415.00 EQUIPMENT; Cardmember Services $10.08, HFCA $7,136.18, Runnings $91.44, Sturdevant’s $28.24 FUEL; Shane’s Hardware $7.99 HOTEL SUPPLIES; Emergency Safety Education $235.00 IN SERVICE EDUCATION; Minnehaha Co Juvenile Detention Center $257.00 JUVENILE DETENTION PER DIEM; Miner Co Treasurer $146.56 POSTAGE; Davison Co Sheriff $95.00, Lake Co Sheriff $160.00 PRISONER CARE; Fidelity Abstract & Title $800.00 PROFESSIONAL FEES; Miner Co Pioneer $449.14 PUBLISHING; Dust-Tex $132.78 RENT; HFCA $51.63, Office Peeps $480.31, Sturdevant’s $163.04, Ultra $3,162.25 REPAIRS; Relx Inc. $298.00 SUBSCRIPTIONS; Butler Machinery $652.14, Dakota Fluid Power $1,165.50, Dawson Construction $27.78, Diesel Machinery $1,868.40, Dust-Tex $346.00, Gall’s $290.89, Home Service Water Conditioning $17.80, Howard Cold Storage $169.80, HFCA $28.34, Krug Products $267.46, McLeod’s $355.09, Mid-American Research $119.49, Miner Co Treasurer $30.35, Office Peeps $1,789.95, Pharmchem $94.35, Rockmount Research $225.28, Shane’s Hardware $53.94, SDACC $33.00, Steinley Real Estate Appraisal $293.41, Sturdevant’s $692.34, Transource $284.97, Ultra $469.30, WW Tire $60.00 SUPPLIES; Alliance $1,035.81, AT&T $272.76, Verizon $91.97 TELEPHONE; SD Dept. of Public Safety $2,340.00 TELETYPE; Patricia Hartsel, RPR $1,096.20 TRANSCRIPTS; AmericInn $98.00, Joe Bechen $21.00, Kathy Faber $35.28, SDACC $30.00, Steinley Real Estate Appraisal $350.00, Street Cop Training $249.00 TRAVEL; Central Electric Coop $63.67, City of Howard $6,825.12, Xcel Energy $75.08 UTILITIES.
Commissioners acknowledged receipt of the following correspondence: Duane Sutton -Brown County Regional Jail and SD Dept. of Ag & Ntl Resources-Shannon Hutterian Brethren State General Permit Application Review. The commission did not have interest in participating in Brown County’s regional jail facility project.
Veteran Services Officer Tim Reisch joined the meeting to inform the commission of his intent to enter the SD District 8 House race. Tim Reisch also presented the following proclamation for the board’s consideration. It was moved by Faber, seconded by Reisch and carried to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 22-11
Miner County Proclamation
A proclamation designating March 29, 2022 as “Welcome Home Day”
Whereas, the Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in conflict with the United States Armed Forces and South Vietnam; and
Whereas, the United States became involved in Vietnam because policymakers in the United States believed that if South Vietnam fell to a Communist government, that Communism would spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia; and
Whereas, members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in an advisory role in the South Vietnamese in 1961; and
Whereas, as a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on August 2, 1964, and August 4, 1964, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, on August 7, 1964, which effectively handed over war-making powers to President Johnson until such time as “peace and security” had returned to Vietnam; and
Whereas, in 1965, United States Armed Forces ground combat units arrived in Vietnam; and
Whereas, by the end of 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam, and by 1969 a peak of approximately 543,000 troops was reached; and
Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which required the release of all United States prisoners-of-war held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from South Vietnam; and
Whereas, on March 29, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam; and
Whereas, more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 members of the Armed Forces were wounded; and
Whereas, members of the United States Armed Forces, who served bravely and faithfully for the United States during the Vietnam War, were caught upon their return home in the crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War; and
Whereas, it was also the first time in history America failed to welcome its veterans back as heroes; and
Whereas, the establishment of a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” would be an appropriate way to honor those members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; and
Whereas, the citizens of Miner County greatly appreciate the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam Veterans who weren’t properly welcomed back when they returned home years ago;
Now, therefore be it resolved that the Miner County Commissioners do hereby recognize March 29, 2022 as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”. The Miner County Commissioners further honors and recognizes the contributions of veterans of the Armed Forces who served in Vietnam.
Dated this 15th day of March, 2022. Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Commission
Attest: Susan Connor, County Auditor
Reisch also gave a report on tasks performed and services received for Miner County veterans.
Health insurance reimbursement of maximum out of pocket costs was reviewed. Clarification was requested of the original motion made in December of 2017. Commissioners tabled this until the end of the meeting.
The bid opening for the highway supply bids was held as advertised. Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges was present.
Bids per ton for gravel crushing in the Ecklein pit were received as follows: Rechnagel Construction $3.05 per ton. It was moved by Carlson, seconded by Bechen and carried to award the bid for gravel crushing in 2022 to Rechnagel Construction.
The following bids are for a one-year period from April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023. Submitting bids for cutback asphalt and emulsion oil were as follows: Jebro MC3000 $879.64/ton CS1H $374.57 CSS1H $484.57. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Faber, and carried to award the bid for cutback asphalt and emulsion oil to Jebro, Inc.
The following firms submitted bids per ton for hot bituminous patch material: Asphalt Paving & Materials-Huron Plant Class E Type 1 Virgin $77.50, Class E Type 2 Virgin $78.50 Class E Type 1 Recycled $73 Class E Type 2 Recycled $74; Asphalt Paving & Materials DeSmet Plant Class E Type 1 Virgin $71, Class E Type 2 Virgin $72.50 Class E Type 1 Recycled $67 Class E Type 2 Recycled $68.50; Commercial Asphalt-Mitchell plant Class E Type 1 Virgin $68, Class E Type 1 Recycled $68, Class E Type 2 Virgin $68, Class E Type 2 Recycled $68; Commercial Asphalt-Spencer plant Class E Type 1 Virgin $66, Class E Type 1 Recycled $66, Class E Type 2 Virgin $66, Class E Type 2 Recycled $66; Concrete Materials Class E Type 1 Virgin $71, Class E type 2 Virgin $71, Class E Type 1 Recycled $65, Class E Type 2 Recycled $65; It was moved by Carlson, seconded by Faber and carried to award the bid to Concrete Materials and Commercial Asphalt.
The following bids per ton for quartzite materials were received: Spencer Quarries $10.75/ton 7/16” Quartzite chips, $16/ton Rip Rap, $16/ton 4”-12” Rock, $9.30/ton base material, $10.90/ton 1 ½– 3” Ballast, trucking $.15/ton mile double trailer & $.23/ton mile single trailer; Concrete Materials $40/ton Rip Rap, $8.50/ton base material, $17.75/ton 1 ½– 3” Ballast, trucking $.19/ton mile. It was moved by Carlson, seconded by Bechen and carried to award the bid for quartzite materials to Spencer Quarries.
The following bid per pound for crack sealant was received: Brock White $.73/lb-this price is FOB Crafco Plant. Freight to be determined at time of order. Due to extreme market volatility all prices and availability are subject to change without notice, all quotes to be confirmed at time of order and subject to inventory status. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Carlson and carried to award the bid for crack sealant to Brock White.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Faber and carried to purchase metal culverts, guard rail, steel piling, bridge decking, steel sheet piling, creosote treated #1 Douglas Fir lumber, and cutting edges during the period from February 1, 2022, through January 31, 2023, off of the bid awarded by Beadle County to TrueNorth Steel.
Krempges reported of his plan to place spring load limits on county oil roads in the upcoming days. He will bring to the next meeting information on the replacement truck associated with the Volkswagen Truck Program. Miner County has qualified for a grant for bridge replacement located within Green Valley Township. This will be replaced using box culverts and therefore ownership will need to be transferred to Green Valley. Krempges also informed the board that one of the heaters in the highway shop is in need of repair. He will contact local contractors for repair/replacement quotes.
Motion by Carlson, seconded by Faber and carried to enter into executive session (SDCL 1-25-2 (3)) at 11:20. The board came out of executive session at 11:48.
Motion by Carlson, seconded by Faber and carried to authorize Chairman Protsch to sign the contract with PCI Roads LLC for Low Slump Dense Concrete Overlay, Structure Number 49-069-017.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Reisch and carried to declare surplus from the Sheriff & Dispatch offices-5 monitors, 3 computers and a power shot 5x150 digital camera and authorize disposal.
Auditor Connor reported the AFLAC employee meeting was not well attended. Many employees did not meet with the AFLAC agent and had not turned in the required paperwork.
Weed Supervisor Kent Terwilliger presented an email he had received from Tom Gere with the SD Dept. of Ag & Natural Resources. Terwilliger recommended the commission not take action on the matter of providing spray records to townships upon request. He suggested to take time to review the matter. Carlson informed Terwilliger and the board that she had talked with State’s Attorney Kristian Ellendorf concerning this matter. The spray records are like any other public record and must be provided to the townships upon their request. The commission agreed, at which Terwilliger was appreciative for the guidance on the matter. Terwilliger also presented information from AGTerra which could provide auto-tracking on the spray truck so that all information would automatically be downloaded to his spray records. Terwilliger thought this could be installed on the truck for approximately $10,000. At this time the commission is not considering this equipment. Joe Bechen left the meeting.
Auditor Connor presented information on the ARPA final rule allowing entities receiving less than $10 million may utilize “loss revenue” without using the provided funding formula. It was moved by Faber, seconded by Carlson and carried unanimously to allow Susan Connor, Auditor, to elect the final rule allowing counties to use up to $10 million of the ARPA Recovery Funds as “loss revenue” for the provision of general government services without needing to use the Treasury revenue loss formula.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Carlson and carried to reimburse employees the last $2000 of an individual’s out-of-pocket maximum or the last $4000 of a family out-of-pocket maximum associated with health insurance plans offered by Miner County per calendar year. It was moved by Carlson, seconded by Faber and carried to enact the previous motion retroactive to January 1, 2021 and going forward.
Auditor Connor presented the 2021 annual report which has been published and submitted to the SD Dept. of Legislative Audit.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned until April 5th. Dated this 15th day of March, 2022.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor