Grant County Commission Proceedings
Grant County Commission Proceedings
March 3, 2026
The Grant County Commission met at 8 a.m. with Commissioners Street, Mach, Stengel, Tostenson and Hoff present. Chairman Mach called the meeting to order. Motion by Stengel and seconded by Tostenson to approve the February 17, 2026 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Assistant Owen asked to add approval of Hasslen Construction quote for sewer pump lid. Commissioner Street asked to add discussion of setbacks. Motion by Street and seconded by Hoff to approve the agenda with the additions noted. Motion carried 5-0.
Present from the public were George Vinson, Traci Stein and Adam Keuhl. Staff members present were Deputy Commissioner Assistant Layher, Commissioner Assistant Owen, Drainage Officer Berkner, States Attorney Schwandt, Hwy Supt Peterson, Sheriff Steffensen, and Jail Administrator Burns.
Public Comment: Chairman Mach called for public comment three times. There were no comments. Chairman Mach closed the public comment.
The Auditor’s Account with the Treasurer for January was noted.
AUDITOR’S ACCOUNT WITH THE COUNTY TREASURER
To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners, Grant County:
I hereby submit the following report of my examination of the cash and cash items in the hands of the County Treasurer of the County of Grant as of the last day of January 2026.
Cash on Hand, $1,941.86
Checks in Treasurer’s possession less than three days, $22,922.20
Cash Items, $0.00
TOTAL CASH ASSETS ON HAND
$24,864.06
RECONCILED CHECKING
First Bank & Trust, $706,123.88; Interest, $0.00; Credit Card Transactions, $6,246.24; First Bank & Trust (Svgs), $5,440,672.23; Jail Bond, $1,466,539.35.
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
First Bank & Trust, $0.00; First Bank & Trust (TIF), $0.00.
TOTAL CASH ASSETS
$7,644,445.76
GENERAL LEDGER CASH
BALANCES:
General, $1,274,597.90; General restricted cash, $2,669,000.00; Cash Accounts for Offices General Fund, $656.00; Sp. Revenue, $1,701,831.05; Sp. Revenue restricted cash, $0.00; Ambulance District, $113.93; Henze Road District, $0.00; Temporary Offage, $2,285.41; TIF Rosewood Mil-3, $0.00; TIF Koch, $0.00; Special Assessment Land Rent, $0.00; Trust & Agency, $1,995,961.47; (schools 94,401.60, twps 22,343.04, city/town 20,281.37).
TOTAL GENERAL LEDGER CASH
$7,644,445.76
Dated the 18th day of February, 2026
Kathy Folk
County Auditor
Sheriff Office Update: Sheriff Steffensen stated they will be implementing a new radio procedure for better communication during situations like the school lockdown a few weeks ago. The new jail construction is on schedule. Jail Administrator Burns, Deputy Bowsher and Steffensen will be attending security system training in Wisconsin for the new jail. Steffensen and the deputies recently attended training for less than lethal weapons. They also discussed juvenile inmate housing costs at other facilities and the county’s fee for housing other counties adult inmates once the new jail is ready.
Drainage Ordinance: Drainage Officer Berkner discussed the amendments for proposed Drainage Ordinance 1997-1G. The Drainage Committee will meet on March 6th to discuss revising the drainage fee schedule.
HWY: Call for Hwy Bids: Hwy Supt Peterson asked the Commission for permission to call for bids for highway materials for 2026. Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Hoff to approve Hwy Supt Peterson to call for bids for 2026 highway materials. Chairman Mach called for the vote. Motion carried 5-0. BIG Grants: Supt Peterson provided the Commission with the list of 2026 awards for the BIG Bridge Replacement Grant awards indicating the score per application. Of all the 2026 preliminary engineering applications, only 10 projects were approved.
Two of the 10 projects are for Grant County. Coming in at the number 6 spot is Grant County’s structure 26-310-149, located 2 miles west and 4.1 north of Albee on 480th Avenue. Structure 26-277-230, located 4.7 miles east and 4 south of Strandburg on 165th Street came in at the number 7 spot. State Line Bridge: Supt Peterson received the first draft of the State Line Bridge contract from Lac qui Parle County. They will inspect the bridge; Grant County will maintain the structure and Vernon Township will maintain the road and surface.
Travel: None
County Assistance: None
Web Hosting Contract: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to approve the annual contract from Production Monkeys for web hosting and maintenance for $85 per month/$1,020 annually. Motion carried 5-0.
Health Services: Motion by Stengel and seconded by Street to approve contract with SD Dept of Health for community health services for 2026 in the amount of $8,385.30. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance: Chairman Mach stated the Board of County Commissioners will now have the first reading by title only of Ordinance 1997-1G. Mach read the title:
ORDINANCE # 1997-1G
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED, AN
ORDINANCE TO AMEND
ORDINANCE 1997-1, AS AMENDED, OF THE DRAINAGE ORDINANCE
OF GRANT COUNTY
Chairman Mach called for a motion to set the second reading and public hearing. Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to set the second reading and public hearing for Ordinance 1997-1G for March 17, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Chairman Mach called for the vote. Motion carried 5-0.
Unfinished Business: Setbacks: Commissioner Street stated he would like the P & Z Board to discuss the huge powerline setbacks. Chairman Mach stated he doesn’t want the county to put the cart before the horse on these setbacks and the PUC will determine what the setbacks will be anyway. Otter Tail Update: George Vinson with the Otter Tail Big Stone South to Hankinson project stated Otter Tail will do their best to work with the landowners and hope to narrow the corridors to two 500 feet corridors. Otter Tail doesn’t want to take out trees and wants to be conscientious with funds and the environment. HMN Architects: Adam Keuhl with HMN Architects gave an update on the jail project. Construction is going smoothly and there are a couple of roof penetrations left to do. GCDC: Traci Stein with the Grant County Development Corporation gave an update from the Governor’s Conference of Economic Development last week in Pierre.
New Business: Commissioner Assistant Owen presented an estimate from Hasslen Construction for replacing the sewer pump lift and lid in the basement of the courthouse for $10,600. The estimate includes all the electronics and an alarm for it. Motion by Street and seconded by Hoff to approve the estimate of $10,600 from Hasslen Construction for the replacement of the sewer pump lift and lid. Motion carried 5-0.
Correspondence: None
Claims: Motion by Street and seconded by Hoff to approve the claims as presented. Motion carried 5-0. AUTOVALUE, supplies 71.97; BAN-KOE COMPANIES, prof services 724.00; BANNER ASSOCIATES, contracted proj 679.00; CENTER POINT, books 73.71; CITY OF MILBANK, water & sewer 295.75; CITY OF WATERTOWN, 911 surcharge 10,666.37 CLEAR CHOICE CLEANING, prof services 4,800.00; D-WARE, repair & maint 5,470.00; G A JOHNSON CONSTRUCTION, prof services 260,451.48; GRAJCZYK LAW OFFICE, court appt atty 3,700.00; ISTATE TRUCK CENTER, auto equip 142,811.00; MIDCO, lib internet 131.31; MORPHO USA, computer maint 3,199.00; MUNDWILER FUNERAL HOME, prof services 5,000.00; NORTHWESTERN ENERGY, natural gas 2,196.01; QUALIFIED PRESORT, prof services 3,397.05; QUICK PRO LUBE, repair & maint 76.49; RELX, online charges 801.00; SECUR SERV, prof services 7,506.63; SD ASSN CO COMMISSIONERS, clerp 3,991.00; SD DEPT OF HEALTH, blabs 100.00; SD DEPT TRANSPORTATION, hwy projects 717.38; SD POLICE CHIEF’S ASSOC, registration 135.00; ST WILLIAMS, inmate laundry 68.00; TRAPP PLUMBING, repair & maint 555.59; TROY HOYLES, prof services 700.00; TWIN VALLEY TIRE, repair & maint 2,795.80; WARNE CHEMICAL & EQUIPMENT, supplies 265.60; XEROX, copier rent 1,057.09; Juror Fees 495.20. TOTAL: $462,931.43.
Payroll for the following departments and offices for FEBRUARY 27, 2026 payroll is as follows: COMMISSIONERS 11,891.15; AUDITOR 11,754.06; ELECTION 515.48; TREASURER 7,307.87; STATES ATTORNEY 9,016.12; CUSTODIANS 4,324.00; DIR. OF EQUALIZATION 5,542.99; REG. OF DEEDS 6,829.53; VET. SERV. OFFICER 832.20; SHERIFF 17,195.61; COMMUNICATION CTR 13,956.80; VISITING NEIGHBOR 1,944.61; LIBRARY 9,488.73; 4-H 4,788.23; WEED CONTROL 2,357.80; P&Z 1,776.00; DRAINAGE 336.00; ROAD & BRIDGE 35,888.84; EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2,623.05. TOTAL: $148,369.07.
Payroll Claims: FIRST BANK & TRUST, Fed WH 10,506.28; FIRST BANK & TRUST, FICA WH & Match 17,922.08; FIRST BANK & TRUST, Medicare WH & Match 4,191.42; ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT, deduction 114.47; AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE, AFLAC ins. 1,991.22; RELIANCE STANDARD LIFE DENTAL & VISION, ins. 873.15; WELLMARK-BLUE CROSS OF SD, Employee health ins. 53,739.50; RELIANCE STANDARD SUPPLEMENTAL, life ins. 500.97; MASA, air ambulance 344.00; LEGAL SHIELD, deduction 38.85; OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, child support 2,708.00; SDRS SUPPLEMENTAL, deduction 2,485.83; SDRS, retire 16,930.26. TOTAL: $112,346.03.
JANUARY 2026 MONTHLY FEES: SD DEPT OF HEALTH, SDACO, ROD modernization fee 298.00; SD DEPT OF REVENUE, monthly fees 179,772.78. TOTAL: $180,070.78.
Consent Agenda: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
1. Step increase for Vicki Karrasch to $23.10 per hour effective 2-19-2026.
2. Step increase for Wendy Boerger to $23.80 per hour effective 2-13-2026.
3. Declare surplus list of items that are broken or no longer needed.
4. South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance intergovernmental agreement update.
Executive Session: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to enter executive session at 9:54 a.m. for the purpose of a personnel issue(s), per SDCL 1- 25-2 (1). Motion carried 5-0. States Attorney Schwandt, Deputy Commissioner Assistant Layher, Commissioner Assistant Owen and Auditor Folk were present. Chairman Mach declared the meeting open to the public at 11:32 a.m. No action was taken because of the executive session.
It is the policy of Grant County, South Dakota, not to discriminate against the handicapped in employment or the provision of service.
The next scheduled meeting dates will be March 17, and April 7, 14 (Equalization) and 21, 2026, at 8 a.m. in the basement Commissioner room. Please use the elevator. Motion by Hoff and seconded by Stengel to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned.
/s/Michael J. Mach,
Chairman,
Grant County Commissioners
/s/ Kathy Folk,
Grant County Auditor
