January 3, 2023
The Miner County Board of Commissioners held their reorganization meeting January 3, 2023, in the Miner County Courthouse. Members present: Alex Protsch, Joe Bechen, Tom Reisch, Kathy Faber and Mike Clary. Members absent: none. Also, present Tami Severson and Karla Neises.
County Auditor Susan Connor called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Newly elected officials Kathy Faber, Tom Reisch, Joe Bechen & Mike Clary Commissioners; and Karla Neises Register of Deeds took their oaths of office.
The auditor’s account with the county treasurer showed a December 31, 2022 balance of $5,541,450.84 in all state, county, civil, school and trust accounts.
Auditor Connor called for nominations for chairman of the Board of Commissioners for 2023. Faber nominated Alex Protsch. Bechen moved that nominations cease. Seconded by Reisch. All voting in favor. Protsch took the chair.
Protsch requested nominations for vice-chairman of the Board of Commissioners for 2023. Bechen nominated Reisch. Bechen moved that nominations cease. Seconded by Faber. All voting in favor. Tom Reisch will serve as the 2023 vice-chairman of the Miner County Board of Commissioners.
It was moved by Faber seconded by Bechen and carried to approve the agenda. The minutes of the December 20th meeting were approved. Kent Terwilliger appeared for public comment to inform the board that county highway plows have been pulled off the roads.
The board acknowledge receipt of the following correspondence: Miner County Moisture Report; SD Dept of Ag & Ntrl Resources-Solid Waste General Permits.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Bechen and carried to authorize the auditor to pay the following claims: IAAO $240.00, SD State’s Atty Assn $734.00, SDACO $708.10, SDACC $1,295.00, SD Sheriffs Assn $568.94 DUES; Motorola $3,348.51 HOMELAND SECURITY; Kristian Ellendorf $900.00 STATE’S ATTY OFFICE ALLOWANCE; Homestead Building Supply $85.42, Tim Reisch $433.33, Tami Severson $20.00 SUPPLIES; Susan Connor $30.00, Lori Kiehl $30.00, Tami Severson $30.00 TELEPHONE; First District Assn of Local Govts $9,410.00 URBAN/RURAL DEVELOPMENT; City of Howard $4,417.59 UTILITIES.
The Miner County Pioneer was designated as official county newspaper, the Miner County Courthouse, Canova Community Hall, and Carthage Community Center as mortgage sale sites and the River’s Edge Bank at Howard, American Bank & Trust at Carthage, and the SD Public Funds Investment Trust as official depositories for the county for 2023. Authorized signers on all accounts: Auditor Susan Connor, Deputy Auditor Rebecca Mommaerts, Treasurer Jessica Charles and Deputy Treasurer Kathleen Weidler.
The following appointments were made: Jody Becker (Medical), Rob Eggert (Law Enforcement) and Jackie Stuhr to 3-year (City of Howard)terms on the Ambulance Board. Members and the year their term expires are as follows:
Mike Connor (NE area) 1-1-24 Denise Gassman (SW area) 1-1-24
Jody Becker (EMT) 1-1-25 Kari Jo Carlson (SE area) 1-1-25
Gibi Page (NW area) 1-1-25 Jackie Stuhr (City) 1-1-26
Jody Becker (Medical) 1-1-26 Rob Eggert (Law Enforcement) 1-1-26
Weed board members and their year their terms expire and area represented are as follows:
Dan Page (NW Area) 1-1-26 Kim Lewis (NE Area) 1-1-26
Brandon Jacobson (SE Area) 1-1-24 Wyatt Walter (SW Area) 1-1-24
The following commissioners' appointments were made for 2023:
Entire board-Zoning, and Emergency Management Boards
Weed Board-Faber Dispatch Board/Law Enforcement-Protsch &Reisch
Ambulance Board-Faber Farm-Protsch & Bechen
First District Board-Clary Courthouse-Bechen & Protsch
Highway-Bechen & Reisch Juvenile Detention Board-Faber
Legislative Representative-Clary 4-H Promotion & Expansion-Reisch
The following persons serve as weather spotters: Mike Clary, Kody Dawson, Hunter Eggert, Rob Eggert, Kevin Feldhaus, Aaron Jeffery, Nathan Kizer, Nick Kramer, Ron Krempges, Evan Meyer, Adam North, Chad Podhradsky, Alex Protsch, Eric Rentschler, Ken Ruml, Nathan Ruml, Brandon Schwader, Tim Sherman, Scott Stanghor, Evan Donahue, Nathan Dawson, Drew Yanish, Joe Calmus, Dave Esser, Mike Genzlinger, Sam Gosmire, Matt Bornitz, Reginald Faber, David Hattervig, Dick Henn, Randy Lager, Zack Maznio, Tim Nelson, Grant Stevens, Travis Stevens, Mike Hvam, Lee Lewis, Gary Nutter, Dan Page, Gibi Page.
The following persons serve as Volunteer Ambulance Attendants: Jody Becker, Cathy Cavigielli and Aaron Jeffrey. Volunteer Ambulance Drivers: Mike Clary, Rob Eggert, Josh Esser, Kevin Feldhaus, Josh Hahn, Amie Kidd, Nathan Kizer, Nick Kramer, Amber Kramer, Ron Krempges, Evan Meyer, Adam North, Nathan Ruml, Scott Stanghor, Garret Werkmeister and Drew Yanish.
The following serve as EOC Volunteers: Wade Erickson, Connie Eliason, Ashley Callies, Rick Olson, Teresa Abrahamson.
It was moved by Faber and seconded by Clary to approve the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 23-1
WHEREAS, SDCL 12-15-11 provides that the Board of Commissioners shall by annual resolution at the first regular commission meeting establish the rate of compensation to be paid the judges and clerks of a necessary election;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the rate of compensation for judges and clerks for any county-wide election in 2023 be established at $250.00 for a general election, $250.00 for a primary or special election, on call election board workers $75, for attendance of election schools $30 and resolution board workers $100.
Voting aye: Clary, Bechen, Reisch, Faber and Protsch. Nay: none.
Resolution approved this 3rd day of January, 2023.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
It was moved by Bechen and seconded by Faber to pass the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 23-2
WHEREAS, SDCL 7-7-25 states that the Board of County Commissioners, by resolution, may authorize county officials to attend educational conferences, meetings, and conventions held and conducted within the state of South Dakota pertaining to the betterment and advancement of county government;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the county commissioners, highway superintendent, auditor, treasurer, register of deeds, state's attorney, sheriff, assessing officer, coroner, and veterans service officer be authorized to attend conferences, meetings, and conventions (within SD) called for the purpose set forth in SDCL 7-7-25 and that the mileage and necessary expenses to attend such be allowed. This resolution shall be in force for fiscal year 2023.
Voting aye: Bechen, Clary, Reisch, Faber and Protsch. Nay: none.
Resolution approved this 3rd day of January, 2023.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
It was moved by Reisch and seconded by Faber to pass the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 23-3
2023 SALARY RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED that the following wage scale for Miner County employees be in effect for the remainder of fiscal year 2023 (annual salary unless otherwise specified).
Commissioners-Chairman $11,964
Vice-chairman 11,427
Commissioners 10,824
Appointed boards 25.00/ meeting
Auditor, Susan Connor 59,151
Treasurer Jessica Charles 53,070
Register of Deeds Karla Neises 55,749
Director of Equalization Tami Severson 53,070
State's Attorney Kristian Ellendorf 49,548
Deputy State’s Attorney Greg Protsch 21,012
Sheriff Robert Eggert 58,167
Chief Deputy Sheriff Josh Hahn 45,168
Deputy Sheriff Garrett Werkmeister 43,164
Part-time law enforcement 20.41/hr.
Guards- 19.00/hr.
Highway Safety Grant Hours 23.64
Director of 911 & Dispatch Services Cora Schwader 48,153
plus a $1.00 per hour bonus for providing dispatcher training
Dispatchers/Permanent PT Clerical:
Level 1- Amanda Austerman 19.63/hr.
Level 2- Jennifer Miller, Shannon Hoffman, Kelly Sherman 20.07/hr.
Level 3- 20.51/hr.
Level 4- 20.95/hr.
Level 5- Deborah Gibson 21.39/hr.
Level 6- Jennifer Bolden, Stacey McCoy, Joni Jacobson 21.83/hr.
Level 7- 22.27/hr.
Level 8- Randall Schwader 22.71/hr.
Level 9- 23.15/hr.
Level 10- 23.59/hr.
plus a $1.00 per hour bonus for providing dispatcher training
Full-time clerical (salaried):
Level 1- 35,271
Level 2- 35,691
Level 3- Kathy Weidler 36,165
Level 4- Brittany Yanish 36,564
Level 5- 36,966
Level 6- 37,365
Level 7- 37,767
Level 8- Darcy Laible, Amie Kidd 38,166
Level 9- Rebecca Mommaerts 38,568
Level 10- 38,967
Full-time clerical (hourly):
Level 1- 19.38/hr.
Level 2- 19.61/hr.
Level 3- 19.87/hr.
Level 4- 20.09/hr.
Level 5- 20.31/hr.
Level 6- 20.53/hr.
Level 7- 20.75/hr.
Level 8- Gibi Page 20.97/hr.
Level 9- 21.19/hr.
Level 10- 21.41/hr.
Temporary clerical 18.63/hr.
Custodian-Lori Kiehl 19.38/hr.
Emergency Management Director-Kent Terwilliger 30,009
Veterans Service Officer-Tim Reisch 6,900
Ambulance Manager-Cora Schwader 11,022
Welfare Director-Gibi Page 21.49/hr.
Ambulance EMT-
Molly Steeneck, Erin Feldhaus 30,561
Danielle Werkmeister 29,340
Ambulance Volunteers
Weekday-12 hr shift $48
Weekend-12 hr shift $78
Holiday-24 hr shift $100
3rd Attendant/Driver $20/run
Weed Supervisor-Kent Terwilliger 16,158
Highway Department:
Superintendent-Ron Krempges 65,349
Level 10- 21.41/hr.
Level 9- Terry Carlson, Darwin Callies 21.19/hr.
Level 8- Donald Eppe, Jeremy Beyer 20.97/hr.
Level 7- Eric Smith 20.47/hr.
Level 6- Adam Mentele 20.05/hr.
Level 5- 19.84/hr.
Level 4- Brian Dold 19.61/hr.
Level 3- 19.39/hr.
Level 2- Terry Burger 19.17/hr.
Level 1- 18.38/hr.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that longevity pay based on $25.00 per year of employment be paid in November for 2023.
Voting aye: Bechen, Clary, Reisch, Faber and Protsch. Nay: none.
Resolution approved this 3rd day of January, 2023.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
It was moved by Faber, seconded by Clary and carried to set the 2023 holidays as follows: All County offices (excluding 911 call center employees) New Year’s Day (January 2 observed), Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Good Friday (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.), Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Veterans’ Day (Nov. 10 observed), Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day; 911 call center employees all shifts unless otherwise noted New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Good Friday (5 PM to 1 PM), Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (5 PM-1AM shift), Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve (5 PM-1 AM shift).
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Bechen and carried to approve the rates charged for dispatching and 911 services which were used to prepare the 2023 budget.
It was moved by Faber, seconded by Clary and carried to approve the following clothing allowances: law enforcement $250/yr/employee for law enforcement clothing and highway workers $250/yr./employee for highly visibility clothing.
It was moved by Faber, seconded by Bechen and carried to appoint Mark Rustand to serve as interim Miner County Coroner until as such time the board appoints a permanent coroner to serve the remaining portion of the 2 year term (term ending on 12/31/24).
Miner County Ambulance 2023 rates: $400 plus $10.35/mile.
Copy charges were set at black copies .25 and color copies .50.
It was moved by Clary, seconded by Bechen and carried to approve & authorize the chairman to sign the 2023 Davison County Sheriff’s Office Jail Contract.
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges presented the Township Small Structure grant applications from Vermillion, Howard, and Belleview Townships. It was moved by Carlson seconded by Faber to approve the small structure grant applications of Vermillion, Howard and Belleview townships. Voting aye: Reisch, Clary, Faber, Bechen and Protsch. Voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Due to the current weather conditions the meeting adjourned early. The next meeting will be held on January 17th. Dated this 3rd day of January, 2023.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor