October 1, 2024
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on October 1, 2024, in the Miner County Courthouse Commission room. Members present: Alex Protsch, Tom Reisch, Joe Bechen, Kathy Faber and Mike Clary. Members absent: none. Also in attendance for portions of the meeting was Tami Severson.
Chairman Protsch called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. It was moved by Faber, seconded by Reisch, and carried to approve the agenda. The minutes from the September 16th meeting were approved. Faber and Bechen reported on their attendance at the most recent dispatch meeting. Howard School will pay $2,000 for 2025 and the portions for all entities will be examined and readdressed next year. No one appeared for public comment.
Motion by Faber, seconded by Bechen and carried to authorize the Auditor’s Office to pay the following claims: Road & Bridge $44,725.01, MERP Fund $53,494.49, Reliance Standard $1,820.00, Retirement $7,182.57, OASI $10,201.63, Commissioners $4,655.25, Auditor $7,576.50, Treasurer $7,750.75, States Attorney $6,056.50, Govt Building $3,450.56, Director of Equalization $8,921.02, Register of Deeds $7,507.97, Vet Service $592.25, Sheriff $12,901.43, Contract Law $5,183.24, Welfare $531.60, Ambulance $10,113.81, Extension $984.07, Weed $1,386.50, Dispatch $14,440.05, Emergency Mgt $2,575.00 SEPTEMBER PAYROLL. Rebecca Mommaerts $14.00 PAYROLL TRAVEL.
Josh Esser $60.00, Rob Eggert $120.00, Josh Hahn $30.00, Amber Kramer $30.00, Jackie Stuhr $30.00 EVOC DRIVERS; SDSU Extension $10,500.00 4-H PMT TO STATE; Triotel Communications $167.53 911 CHARGES; John Deere $87.28 FUEL; Northwestern Energy $35.44 GAS; Mettler Implement $31,243.00 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT; Brian Baldwin $135.00 IN SERVICE EDUCATION; Mark Neises $328.00 MOWING; Madison Community Hospital $104.00, Orthopedic Institute $531.00 PRISONER MEDICAL; Richard Weaver $2240.00 PROFESSIONAL SERVICE; Dust-Tex $244.58, ES&S $70.96, Marshall & Swift/Boeckh $2,331.10, Sturdevant’s $12.88, TwoTrees Tech $1,759.95, Zimmer Caulking $1,320.90 REPAIRS; Dakota Traffic Services $19,321.88 ROAD MATERIALS; Kristian Ellendorf $900.00 STATE’S ATTY OFFICE EXPENSE; Amazon $73.98, Elan Financial $231.80, ES&S $1,251.51, John Deere $346.40, K&M Tire $819.00, Mcleod’s $573.40, Tim Reisch $433.33, Rockmount Research $1,090.93, Tami Severson $20.00, Sturdevant’s $211.18, Kent Terwilliger $40.83, TwoTrees $169.45 SUPPLIES; AT&T $275.58, Jessica Charles $30.00, Erin Feldhaus $30.00, Lori Kiehl $30.00, Becki Mommaerts $30.00, Tami Severson $30.00, Molly Steeneck $30.00, Verizon $98.08, Danielle Werkmeister $30.00 TELEPHONE; Jill Calmus $1,046.24, Jessica Charles $46.00, Brandon Jacobson $9.82, Kim Lewis $16.37, Becki Mommaerts $46.00, Dan Page $21.61, Best Western $416.00, Tami Severson $363.10, Wyatt Walter $19.65 TRAVEL; City of Howard $3,008.40, Xcel Energy $9.39 UTILITIES.
Correspondence received: August Sheriff Report.
The auditor’s account with the county treasurer showed a September 30, 2024 balance of $5,958,776.34 in all state, county, civil, school and trust accounts.
Highway Superintendent Krempges reported on highway matters. Parking lots at courthouse and Highway building have been redone. Signs for bridge detour in Carthage will go up today. Work has begun on the bridge project north of Carthage. Other highway matters included gravel crushing, tire disposal, mowing, and mower repairs.
Motion by Bechen, second by Faber to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION 24-27
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE MINER COUNTY FIVE-YEAR HIGHWAY AND
BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN
WHEREAS, the South Dakota Department of Transportation Local Bridge and Improvement Grant Fund requires that in order to be eligible to apply for Bridge Improvement Grant funds, Counties are required to develop a five-year Highway and Bridge Improvement Plan, hereinafter referred to as Plan; and
WHEREAS, Miner County has utilized the South Dakota Department of Transportation, County Staff, the First District Association of Local Governments, Townships, and the general public in developing the various components of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Plan includes maps and lists identifying an inventory of highways and bridges, project needs, and revenue sources; and
WHEREAS, Miner County held a public meeting on September 16, 2024, to solicit input into the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the County will be able to use the Plan as a tool to budget for transportation enhancements and better coordinate transportation issues with other entities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MINER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT THE MINER COUNTY FIVE-YEAR HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS HEREBY ADOPTED AND IS RECOGNIZED AS THE HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR MINER COUNTY.
Dated at Howard, South Dakota this 1st of October, 2024.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Commissioners
ATTEST: Rebecca Mommaerts, Miner County Auditor
Jessica Charles joined the meeting to present an opportunity to help a Howard High School student by providing an internship. If approved, this internship will be for a couple of hours, twice a week from October to December, and the student will split her time between the Treasurer and Auditor offices. Liability insurance will be provided through the school. The Commissioners approved this internship with instruction to keep the student isolated from more confidential items. A confidentiality agreement will be drafted as well.
Tami Moore, District Manager of Miner Conservation District, joined the meeting to present their 2023 annual report. Wayne Moore was also present for this portion of the meeting. She reported on tree planting, equipment rentals, the grass seeding program, numerous school activities, community involvement, grant projects, and memorials. Notably, the trees planted this year at the 4-H Grounds were provided through a grant through Miner County Conservation.
Tami Severson presented a plat for approval by Rod & Jane Marten Trust. Taxes have been paid and Ron Krempges has signed off on it. Motion by Bechen, seconded by Clary and carried to approve the following resolution:
RESOLUTION 24-28
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Miner County, South Dakota, that the plat of LOT B OF MARTEN’S SUBDIVISION IN THE WEST ½ OF THE SW ¼ OF SECTION 36, T 105 N, R 56 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.
Dated this 1st Day of October, 2024.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Commissioners
Attest: Rebecca Mommaerts, Miner County Auditor
Severson presented a plat for approval by Dale Shumaker Survivor Trust/Marilyn Shumaker Family Trust that meets all zoning requirements and taxes have been paid on. Motion by Faber, seconded by Reisch, and carried to approve the following resolution:
RESOLUTION 24-29
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Miner County, South Dakota, that the plat of LOT 1 OF HILLTOP ADDITION IN THE SW ¼ OF SECTION 32, T 106 N, R 56 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 to certify the same.
Dated this 1st day of October, 2024.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Commissioners
Attest: Rebecca Mommaerts, Miner County Auditor
Severson presented a request for GIS Shapefiles from TRC Companies, Inc. The fee for these shapefiles has been paid. Commissioners approved the request.
Auditor Mommaerts reported on a donation request letter received from Hometown Holidays. Mommaerts recommended against donating county funds toward the event, but as the Courthouse Festival of Trees is done in conjunction with Hometown Holidays, Mommaerts updated the board on changes to the Hometown Holidays event, which will take place on Friday, December 6th. The courthouse will have an open house from 12:30pm to 3:00pm that Friday. Trees can start being set up on Monday, November 25th.
Mommaerts relayed a message from Kent Terwilliger that Stephen Vigliotti, Sr. has been added as an EOC volunteer for the county.
Travel reimbursement rates changed, effective October 1st, to $0.67 per mile, as set by the IRS. Mommaerts informed the board that the state memorandum includes a statement that “if a state employee elects to use a personal vehicle for state business but an Office of Fleet and Travel Management pool vehicle is available, the mileage reimbursement rate will be set at 45% of the rate set by the IRS, or $0.302 per mile.” Mommaerts asked if the board would like to just pay $0.67 regardless of if a county vehicle is available or not. The Commissioners instructed Mommaerts to follow the state’s policy and only pay the 45% if the employee elects to use their personal vehicle when an interdepartmental county vehicle is available.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Faber and carried to make an operating transfer, as provided for in the 2024 budget, of $480,000, from the General fund to the Road & Bridge fund in the amount of $450,000 and to the Dispatch fund in the amount of $30,000.
Motion by Bechen, seconded by Clary to enter into executive session to discuss courthouse security pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2 (6) (a&d) at 10:54a.m. Came out of executive session at 11:20am.
The meeting adjourned to Tuesday, October 15th. Dated this 1st day of October 2024.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Commissioners
Attest: Rebecca Mommaerts, Miner County Auditor