Grant County Commission Proceedings
Grant County Commission Proceedings
June 4, 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 Street and seconded by Tostenson to approve May 19, 2026, minutes. States Attorney Schwandt stated the maintenance agreement for the approach easement should state it is contingent of the signing of the maintenance agreement. Chairman Mach requested adding more details of the State Auditor findings. Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to table the approval of the May 19 minutes until the June 16 meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Motion by Stengel and seconded by Hoff to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
Present from the public was Kirk Phinney. Staff members present were Commissioner Assistant Owen, Drainage Officer Berkner, States Attorney Schwandt, Sheriff Steffensen and Sheriff’s Secretary Folk.
Public Comment: Chairman Mach called for public comment three times. There were none. Chairman Mach closed the public comment.
Drainage: Chairman Mach adjourned the Board of Commissioners and convened the Commission acting as the Drainage Board.
Permit DR2026-08 for Greg Bohn for land located with the SE1⁄4 of Section 1 in Twin Brooks Township was approved at the June 2nd meeting.
Permit DR2026-09a and DR2026-09b for the Marilynn Baillie Irrevocable Trust for land located within the N1/2 of Section 27 in Vernon West Township.
Chairman Mach called for a motion to continue discussion for permit DR2026-09a and 09b for the Marilynn Baille Irrevocable Trust which was tabled on June 2nd after its public hearing. Motion by Stengel and seconded by Street to bring back to the table discussion of permits DR2026-09a and 09b.
Drainage Officer Berkner briefed the Drainage Board of their discussion at the June 2nd meeting. The Drainage Board instructed States Attorney Schwandt to begin investigating if a penalty would be necessary for the missing drainage permits. This is the first time this type of investigative request has been made by the Drainage Board since the County Drainage Ordinance was updated to include that language earlier this year.
During Drainage Board discussion, topics included the responsibility of landowners, as well as local governments, not to make drainage changes that cause harm from flooding which was supported by Schwandt. Board discussion drew attention to the fact that some of the township sponsored drainage improvements described by David Street were made outside of their road right-of-ways. Tostenson wondered if proper considerations were given by the participating landowners, the former owner of David Street’s land, of the long-term impact of those participation agreements and who would be responsible for ongoing waterway maintenance.
The board also discussed other downstream landowners who made drainage improvements. Over the years those designs may have worked earlier, but today they may need to be reconsidered or maintained to help restore original water flows so as not to cause upstream flooding problems. Berkner brought up another issue discussed during the public hearing. There was a concern by David Street if an inlet had been added to either the new drainage project, or the older permitted projects. Berkner inspected the site under scrutiny and had determined it was a longtime existing inlet. Berkner explained when those original drainage permits were granted over 10 years ago, the county’s permitting process didn’t always document whether an inlet was installed. But after speaking with the current tiling contractor, as well as Hertz Farm Management, the inlet existed prior to the recent tiling activity.
Schwandt was asked to further explain the penalty phase of DR2026-09a and 09b being completed without a permit. Schwandt said it was easy in this case to determine fault as Hertz Farm Management has already admitted to Berkner, as well as publicly during the earlier public hearing, they take full responsibility for not doing their due diligence of getting the necessary drainage permit. Schwandt said this takes away the need for an investigation.
Tostenson made an intervening motion requesting the States Attorney proceed directly to determining a penalty for DR2026-09a and 09b being completed without the proper drainage permit. The original motion to consider a penalty passed earlier was for Schwandt to begin investigating if there was a need for a penalty. Bill Street seconded the intervening motion. Chairman Mach called for the vote. Motion carried 5-0.
This concluded the business of the Drainage Board. Chairman Mach adjourned the Drainage Board and reconvened as the Board of Commissioners.
Travel: Commissioner Assistant Owen requested travel approval for Deputy Auditors Vicki Karrasch and Jennie Carrino to attend Deputy Auditor Conference in Pierre. Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Street to approve the travel requests. Motion carried 5-0.
County Assistance: None
Unfinished Business: States Attorney Schwandt stated he added to the easement agreement for Gravel Pit #39 a maintenance agreement clause for only the current adjacent landowner. The cleaning out of trees and rocks in the township ditches was discussed. Discussion was held on SB 96, SB 245 and HB1245.
New Business: None
Elderly/Disabled Tax Freeze: Commissioner Assistant Owen reported Treasurer DeVaal received an additional application that qualifies for the elderly tax freeze. Motion by Street and seconded by Tostenson to approve application AF2026-03 for the 2026 pay 2027 tax year Assessment Freeze for the Elderly as the applicant missed the deadline and qualified for the Assessment Freeze as per SDCL 10-6A-4. Chairman Mach called for a vote. Motion carried 5-0.
ROD: Motion by Street and seconded by Stengel to approve Register of Deeds Vickie Gulley’s wage at $30.00 per hour effective 6-1-2026. Chairman Mach called for the vote. Motion carried 5-0.
Correspondence: SecureSD: Commissioner Assistant Owen said he was in contact with Mike Waldner of SecureSD, which is a South Dakota program with Dakota State University, that is working with counties and municipalities in South Dakota to reduce cybersecurity risks by performing assessments, offer secure email systems and enhance cybersecurity resilience through security tools. There isn’t a fee for the SecureSD assessment, and they would work with our current managed service provider, Secur-Serv, to implement changes if needed. The Commission asked Owen to schedule Waldner to come to one of their meetings. Meetings: Commissioner Assistant Owen also informed the Commission of a Public Utilities Commission meeting regarding the Crowned Ridge Energy Storage and a First District meeting for the highway STIP review later this month. BX Civil: Commissioner Assistant Owen stated we are waiting for their contract to arrive in the mail to sign the contract to start the two bridge projects in July.
Otter Tail: Kirk Phinney with Otter Tail was in attendance. He is with the Power On project with the real estate side. They are starting to have meetings with the landowners. Phinney said more energy is needed for growth and reliability of power.
Primary Election Canvass: The Board canvassed the results of the June 2nd Primary Election. The results are as follows:
Milbank 1-1
Ballots Counted 108 Voters 108
Milbank 1-2
Ballots Counted 35 Voters 35
Milbank 2-1
Ballots Counted 38 Voters 39
Milbank 2-2
Ballots Counted 128 Voters 127
Milbank 3-1
Ballot Counted 18 Voters 18
Milbank 3-2
Ballots Counted 21 Voters 21
Milbank 3-3
Ballots Counted 172 Voters 172
41 Adams-Albee-Revillo-Vernon
Ballots Counted 83 Voters 83
42 Alban
Ballots Counted 132 Voters 132
43 Big Stone City & Twp
Ballots Counted 135 Voters 135
44 Blooming Valley-Farmington-Lura
Ballots Counted 54 Voters 54
45 Georgia-Madison-Troy-LaBolt- Strandburg
Ballots Counted 81 Voters 81
46 Grant Center
Ballots Counted 86 Voters 86
47 Melrose
Ballots Counted 104 Voters 104
49 Mazeppa-Osceola-Marvin
Ballots Counted 43 Voters 43
52 Stockholm Town & Twp
Ballots Counted 26 Voters 26
54 Twin Brooks Town, Twp & Kilborn
Ballots Counted 56 Voters 56
Total ballots cast were 1,320 with a 28% turnout of total voters. Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to certify the canvass of votes as correct and to sign the canvass certificate for the Secretary of State’s Office. Motion carried 5-0.
Post Election Audit Selection: Auditor Folk explained the Post Election Audit process to the Commissioners and conducted the Post Election Audit selection of the precincts to be hand counted. Precincts 31 Milbank and 46 Grant Center were selected by random draw to meet the minimum requirement of 100 ballots to be hand counted. The statewide race of the State Representative, District 04 candidates will be hand counted. All the other contests on the ballot were included in the random draw for the other race to be hand counted. The United States Representative contest was selected. The Post Election Audit will be held on June 10, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the basement Commission room of the courthouse.
Claims: Motion by Stengel and seconded by Tostenson to approve the claims. Motion carried 5-0. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, supplies 202.54; AUTOVALUE, supplies 98.08; BANNER ASSOCIATES, contracted proj 1,192.00; CENTER POINT, books 272.07; CENTURY BUSINESS PRODUCTS, copier rent 144.85; CITY OF MILBANK, water & sewer 362.71; CITY OF WATERTOWN, 911 surcharge 10,668.18; CONSOLIDATED READY MIX, gravel 8,976.64; DEADWOOD RESORTS, motel 606.00; ELECTION SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE, supplies 390.73; FIRST BANK & TRUST/VISA, printer ink, battery backup, popcorn machine, postage 5,114.73; FISHER SAND & GRAVEL, gravel 5,936.34; FLAT RATE, gravel 16,589.81; G A JOHNSON CONSTRUCTION, prof services 202,982.93; GONSOR TRANSPORTATION, prof services 160.00; GRAJCZYK LAW OFFICE, court appt atty 3,700.00; JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL, parts 408.37; KEVIN MEYER, supplies 99.99; KING MIDAS, prof services 13,100.00; MICHELLE GAIKOWSKI, prof services 11.70; MIDCO, lib internet 131.31; MILBANK WINWATER WORKS, supplies 312.40; NORTHWESTERN ENERGY, natural gas 477.06; PETERS DISTRIBUTING, repair & maint 5,383.73; RELX, online charges 801.00; ROBERTS CO SHERIFF, inmate housing 11,620.00; RYAN MAGEDANZ, prof services 785.56; SCANTRON, prof services 8,431.69; SD ASSN COUNTY OFFICIALS, registration 200.00; SD DEPT TRANSPORTATION, hwy projects 2,980.67; ST WILLIAMS CARE CENTER, inmate laundry 177.00; TRAPP PLUMBING COMPANY, repair & maint 551.65; TRUENORTH STEEL, culverts 23,680.80; YALE MECHANICAL, repair & maint 3,653.00. TOTAL: $330, 203.54.
Payroll for the following departments and offices for June 14, 2026, payroll is as follows: COMMISSIONERS 8,038.32; AUDITOR 12,821.75; ELECTION 2,067.83; TREASURER 6,910.46; STATES ATTORNEY 6,629.32; CUSTODIANS 4,130.40; DIR. OF EQUALIZATION 4,798.33; REG. OF DEEDS 4,331.20; VET. SERV. OFFICER 832.20; SHERIFF 16,860.21; COMMUNICATION CTR 12,193.87; VISITING NEIGHBOR 2,317.63; LIBRARY 10,221.53; 4-H 4,581.21; WEED CONTROL 2,305.10; P&Z 1,224.00; DRAINAGE 744.0; ROAD & BRIDGE 32,506.48; EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2,732.40. TOTAL: $136,246.24.
Payroll Claims: FIRST BANK & TRUST, Fed WH 9,528.28; FIRST BANK & TRUST, FICA WH & Match 16,412.26; FIRST BANK & TRUST, Medicare WH & Match 3,838.20; ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT, deduction 96.88; AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE, AFLAC ins. 1,902.85; RELIANCE STANDARD LIFE DENTAL, ins. 503.50; WELLMARK-BLUE CROSS OF SD, Employee health ins. 2,360.64; RELIANCE STANDARD SUPPLEMENTAL, life ins. 120.13; OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, child support 1,200.00; SDRS SUPPLEMENTAL, deduction 1,352.50; SDRS, retire 15,210.34. TOTAL: $52,525.58.
Consent Agenda: None
Executive Session: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to enter executive session at 10:38 a.m. for the purpose of personnel issue(s) pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2 (1). Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Assistant Owen, States Attorney Schwandt, and Auditor Folk were present. Chairman Mach declared the meeting open to the public at 12:31 p.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 June 16, and July 7 and 8, 2026 at 8 a.m. in the basement Commissioner room. Please use the elevator. Motion by Hoff and seconded by Tostenson to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned.
/s/Michael J. Mach,
Chairman,
Grant County Commissioners
/s/ Kathy Folk,
Grant County Auditor
