September 3, 2024
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on September 3, 2024, in the Miner County Courthouse Commission room. Members present: Alex Protsch, Tom Reisch, Joe Bechen, Kathy Faber and Mike Clary. Members absent: None. Others in attendance for portions of the meeting were Tami Severson and Rob Eggert.
Chairman Protsch called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Faber, and carried to approve the agenda. The minutes from the August 20th meeting were approved. No one appeared for public comment.
The auditor’s account with the county treasurer showed an August 31, 2024 balance of $5,924,309.27 in all state, county, civil, school and trust accounts.
Motion by Clary, seconded by Reisch and carried to authorize the Auditor’s Office to pay the following claims: Road & Bridge $45,916.23, MERP Fund $54,707.52, Reliance Standard $1,820.00, Retirement $7,586.27, OASI $10,683.37, Commissioners $4,655.25, Auditor $7,576.50, Treasurer $7,750.75 (includes Brittany Yanish at $3,213.75/mo), States Attorney $6,056.50, Govt Building $4,208.00, Director of Equalization $9,042.32, Register of Deeds $8,048.68, Vet Service $592.25, Sheriff $13,952.39, Contract Law $6,192.56, Welfare $708.80, Ambulance $9,745.33, Extension $2,079.73, Weed $1,386.50, Dispatch $15,630.52, Emergency Mgt $2,575.00 AUGUST PAYROLL. Rebecca Mommaerts $14.00, Amie Kidd $14.00, Ron Krempges $14.00 PAYROLL TRAVEL; Josh Esser $150.00, Rob Eggert $90.00 EVOC DRIVERS; Subsurface $9,231.00 CONTRACT MAINTENANCE; Lammers, Kleibacker, Dawson & Miller $2,285.16 COURT APPT ATTY; Powerphone $1,692.70 CPR TRAINING; Northwestern Energy $31.33 GAS; Brian Baldwin $135.00 IN SERVICE EDUCATION; Mark Neises $328.00 MOWING; MC Treasurer $6.77 POSTAGE; Fidelity Abstract & Title $75.00 PROFESSIONAL FEES; Dust-Tex $244.58, GR-Emergency Vehicle $450.00, Graham Tire $688.00, Twotrees $1,729.95 REPAIRS; Jebro $47,226.41 ROAD MATERIALS; Relx, Inc. $149.00 SUBSCRIPTION; Bound Tree Medical $325.34, GR-Emergency Vehicle $900.00, Lacal Equipment $1,157.88, Mcleod’s Printing $603.22, MC Treasurer $82.89, Puthoff Repair $185.21, Twotrees $169.45 SUPPLIES; AT&T $174.56 TELEPHONE; SD Dept of Public Safety $2,340.00 TELETYPE.
No correspondence received.
Custodian Kiehl received a quote for new tires for the county Explorer as the sidewalls on the current tires are cracking. Commissioners approved purchasing four new tires at a total cost of $592.56.
Rebecca Mommaerts requested permission to open an Amazon Business account for the county, utilizing the pay-by-invoice option with 30-day terms and a $10,000 credit limit to help decrease the amount of taxes paid on reimbursements for purchases made online. Motion by Clary, seconded by Faber and carried to authorize Auditor Mommaerts to sign up for a $10,000 credit line with the pay-by-invoice option of an Amazon Business account for Miner County. Commissioners stressed that purchases should be made local when available if the savings were not significant. Mommaerts will send out invites to the department heads to acquire logins to the account.
By unanimous agreement the commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 7th was moved to Friday, November 8th due to a scheduling conflict.
Ron Krempges joined the meeting to update the Commission on highway matters. Krempges reported he had to close the bridge on the west side of Carthage last week. There is a detour planned for when the bridge project starts, but there is not one in place currently. The preconstruction meeting will be on September 13th.
Pavement markings were done last week; oiling projects are done for the year now. The culvert east of Canova was too deteriorated to be lined; Krempges hopes to replace that culvert this week and get asphalt on it before winter. Krempges has not yet received an update on the parking lot project from Asphalt Pros, but he has been working with Custodian Kiehl on dates to avoid. Fall mowing will probably start in a couple weeks. Krempges will place a notice in paper twice in September regarding removing bales out of the ditches. Krempges will be attending the county convention September 16-18, the Regional Local Roads Conference put on by LTAP in October, and the Safety Conference in November. Krempges will bring information on the township structure projects to the next meeting.
The 2025 Provisional Budget Hearing was held as advertised. The final 2025 Budget will be adopted at the September 16th meeting.
Tami Moore with Miner Conservation had to cancel her appointment on the agenda due to illness.
Richard Umstead appeared with a request to pay the past-due taxes on property that is currently in the process of county tax deed.
Motion by Faber, seconded by Bechen, and carried to enter into executive session for legal matters pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2 (3). Commissioners entered executive session at 10:44am. Commissioners returned to regular session at 11:14am. Commissioners agreed to take $2,463.37 (the total of past due and current taxes and fees associated with tax deed proceedings thus far) and reconvey the property back to Richard Umstead by quit claim deed, with the stipulation that Umstead meets with Jessica Charles in December to set up a payment plan for 2024 taxes payable 2025. This payment of $2,463.37 must be made by the end of the day. Umstead agreed to the terms. A resolution will be prepared by State’s Attorney Ellendorf for the commission to adopt at the next meeting.
Sam Schlim appeared to request a portable bridge for the road west of Carthage. Private companies have these to either sell or rent to counties; Schlim reported that the State has a few, but they are all being used. Commissioners will have Krempges investigate the possibility.
The meeting adjourned to Monday, September 16. Dated this 3rd day of September 2024.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Rebecca Mommaerts, Miner County Auditor