April 18, 2023
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on April 18, 2023 in the Miner County Courthouse Commission Room. Members present: Alex Protsch, Tom Reisch, Joe Bechen, Kathy Faber and Mike Clary. Absent: none. The flag pledge was recited. Motion by Faber, seconded by Reisch and carried to approve the agenda as amended. No Commission report of meetings attended was given. The minutes of the April 4th and 11th meetings were approved.
No person appeared for Public Comment.
The board acknowledge receipt of the following correspondence: East Dakota WDD-March Minutes; Miner County Historical Society-thank you; SD Dept of Ag & Ntrl Resources-Free Abandoned Underground Tank Removal Program; Miner County Veterans’ Service Officer-March Report; Miner County Moisture Report; Miner County Sheriff-March Report.
Motion by Bechen, seconded by Faber and carried to authorize the auditor to pay the following claims: Josh Esser $150.00, Kevin Feldhaus $30.00, Josh Hahn $30.00, Nathan Kizer $30.00, Garret Werkmeister $90.00 AMBULANCE ATTENDANT FEES; Alliance $150.00 911 CHARGES; ICAP $738.67 COMMUNITY ACTION PAYMENT; Lammers, Kleibacker, Dawson & Miller $2,341.05 COURT APPT ATTYS; Central Electric Coop $66.69, Xcel Energy $61.13 ELECTRICITY; Elan Financial Services $144.87, HFCA $21,169.28 FUEL; Two Way Solutions $5,810.70 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT; Co Employee $139.00 INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT; Dean Schaefer Court Reporting $24.00 MENTAL ILLNESS HEARING EXPENSE; Office Ally $35.00 PROCESSING FEE; Dust-Tex $133.24, Microfilm Imaging Systems $385.00 RENT; Cummins Sales $495.21, Dakota Alignment $510.00, HFCA $98.87, James Valley Landscape $120.00, Office Peeps $320.67, Two Way Solutions $453.63, Ultra $1,658.50 REPAIRS; Shane’s Hardware $33.98 ROAD MATERIALS; Butler Machinery $2,140.26, Dakota Alignment $33.15, Dakota Data Shred $178.87, Dust-Tex $171.90, Elan Financial Services $253.35, Josh Hahn $239.61, Home Service Water Conditioning $39.40, HFCA $55.32, iState Truck Center $62.27, McLeods $359.90, North Central Int’l $165.74, Office Peeps $4,694.72, Puthoff Repair $68.44, RDO Equipment $1,480.14, Tim Reisch $42.59, Rusty’s $165.55, Safe N Secure $48.38, Safety Kleen $418.44, Shane’s Hardware $182.91, SD Federal Property Agency $38.00, Stan Houston Equipment $4,201.70, Sturdevant’s $690.71, Transource $1,776.00, Ultra $149.30 SUPPLIES; Joe Bechen $38.25, Kathy Faber $64.26, Josh Hahn $120.00, SD Narcotics Officers Assn $50.00, The Lodge at Deadwood $208.00 TRAVEL.
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges reported on a new hire for the highway crew. Mike Umstead will begin his employment the second week of May. He also reported on the removal of load limits the end of April, equipment updates and other highway matters.
Motion by Faber, seconded by Bechen and carried to authorize the auditor to make an operating transfer as provided for in the 2023 budget from General Fund to Emergency Management $10,000.
The board reviewed the insurance coverage for outdoor equipment and agreed to leave the coverage as is.
Dakota Air Spray submitted an updated request for a permit to land aircraft on Miner County highways. They have submitted their certificate of insurance, listing Miner County as a certificate holder. Clary moved to approve the request, seconded by Reisch. Motion carried.
Courthouse Security Committee members presented estimates for upgrades to the courthouse security. Motion by Faber, seconded by Clary to approve the application to the UJS for security upgrades.
The public auction was held as advertised for tax deed property described as: Lot 12 Block 26, City of Carthage OP, Miner County, South Dakota. Present for the auction included: Colin Wunder, Steve Jacobson and Stacie Madison. Motion by Bechen, seconded by Faber and carried unanimously to approved the sale of the property to Stacie Madison for $2500. A quit claim deed shall be prepared by State’s Attorney Ellendorf and provided to Madison.
Tami Moore of the Miner County Soil Conservation District presented the 2022 annual report of the district. Moore informed the board of grants obtained, projects completed, district equipment rentals and tree planting projects. New personnel in her office includes Shalace Martin, District Conservationist and Bailey Baca, Soil Technician.
Emergency Management Director & Weed Supervisor Kent Terwilliger presented department reports. Terwilliger has obtained Homeland Security funds to purchase radios for the Fedora Fire Department and a repeater for the Carthage area. The full-scale emergency event will take place on June 24th in Canova. Pre-Disaster Mitigation meetings are being held with the assistance of First District of Local Governments. Terwilliger is a member of the Tri-State Emergency Management and has recently signed to be a direct contact for the National Weather Service. The emergency management pickup is in need of several repairs. Terwilliger asked permission to attend the University of Okoboji 3-day conference. Commissioners granted his request. He also explained that he had completed all of his certification as Emergency Manager and requested the board consider giving him a salary increase. The board denied his request.
As the Weed Superintendent, Terwilliger reported that he does not send out letters of non-compliance. If there is an issue, he contacts the individual in person to discuss the matter. The weed board has instructed Terwilliger to place a request for a side-by-side into his 2024 budget. He also made a request to make an exception from the personnel policy 4.6. The commission denied the request.
Sheriff Eggert addressed the commission and Emergency Manager Terwilliger concerning the application for Homeland Security funds. Eggert indicated that the sheriff’s department has not been kept abreast of the meetings and the equipment requests for Miner County. In 2021, the sheriff’s department did not receive the requested radios to keep the department in compliance with communication upgrades. His concern is that his department will not have the upgraded radios before the state’s deadline.
Motion by Bechen, seconded by Faber and carried to enter into executive session at 11:31 (SDCL 1-25-2 (3). The board returned to regular session at 11:47.
A burn ban implementation was discussed. Clary reported that several fire departments were in favor of implementing the ban. As this matter was not on the agenda for today’s meeting, the matter will be placed on the May 2nd meeting at 11:00. Fire chiefs will be invited to this meeting to discuss and give guidance on implanting a ban.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned until May 2nd. Dated this 18th day of April, 2023.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor