Grant County Commission Proceedings • February 1, 2022

      February 1, 2022

The Grant County Commission met at 8 AM with Commissioners Buttke, Mach, Stengel, Street and Tostenson. Chairman Stengel called the meeting to order. Motion by Mach and seconded by Buttke to approve the minutes of the January 18, 2022, meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Minutes filed. Motion by Buttke and seconded by Tostenson to approve the agenda with adding a discussion with Treasurer DeVaal on payment plan for delinquent taxes. Motion carried 5-0.

Members from the public present: None. Staff members present were Drainage Officer Berkner and States Attorney Schwandt.

Chairman Stengel called for public comment for any items not listed on the agenda. There was none. Chairman Stengel closed the public comment period.

Highway: Supt. Schultz and the Commission discussed the denial of the Agri-Business grant for the 2 miles of County Road 18 into LaBolt from Hwy 15. Commissioner Street reported he had spoken with the grant office and was told the grant did not meet the requirement of adding five new jobs. Supt Schultz reported the cost for a complete rebuild of the two miles is $1.7 million. The cost for a leveling course and a three-inch overlay would be approximately $750,000. Currently the road has five inches of asphalt. Commissioner Tostenson suggested applying this year for a complete rebuild of this two-mile section of county road. The deadline for this grant period is April 1st. The item will be added to the February 15 meeting. Rumble Strips: Supt. Schultz reported he has received notification that five county roads qualify for rumble strips due to the volume of traffic. This is a State funded program and will be installed during 2022 with no cost to the County. A site map is available at the Hwy Shop or the Auditor’s Office.

VSO: Scott Malimanek informed the Commission on the difficulty of getting drivers certified to drive the DAV van. He asked if the DAV chapter could manage the program rather than the VS officer. Commissioner Tostenson and VSO will meet with members of the DAV chapter and report back at a future meeting.

Tiling Seminar: Commissioner Mach and Drainage Officer Berkner reported on a tiling seminar they attended in Sioux Falls. Commissioner Mach stated he found the information very informative and would recommend inviting the company to hold a seminar in Grant County. The company will be contacted, and the response will be brought back to the Commission.

Treasurer: Karla DeVaal discussed delinquent property tax. She stated she had discussed a payment plan with a property owner who has agreed to pay $200 per month with a final payment in November of 2022 to clear up the back taxes and the tax certificate. She asked if the Commission would consent to allow her to move forward with working with the taxpayer on the plan. It was the consensus of the Commission to move forward with final approval of the signed agreement at the next meeting.

First District Appointment: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Buttke to approve the appointment of Jody Kuper for the at-large position on the First District Board for 2022. Motion carried 5-0.

Capitalization Policy: Auditor Layher presented an amendment to the capitalization policy to amend tracking assets with a value over $300 instead of $100. Motion by Mach and seconded by Tostenson to approve the change from $100 to $300 for tracking purchased assets. Motion carried 5-0.

Range Fire Suppression: A letter from the SD Dept. of Agriculture Wild Land Fire Suppression was received. The request is for the Commission to provide the department with a list of individuals who would be authorized to request assistance from the State of South Dakota, under the County Rangeland Fire Protection Agreement. Motion by Mach and seconded by Tostenson to approve the following resolution for appointing designees authorized to request state fire assistance. Motion carried 5-0. Resolution adopted.

RESOLUTION 2022-03

A Resolution for selecting designees authorized to request firefighting resources on behalf of the County Board of Commissioners:

“BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the list of individuals set forth below, are hereby authorized to request rangeland fire assistance, on behalf of the County of Grant as specified in SDCL 41-20A-11. The authority to request assistance as provided shall continue in full force and effect until terminated or modified by resolution of the County of Grant Board of Commissioners.”

County Fire Assistance Authorization List Through March 1, 2023.

Name of Individual, Position

Kevin Schuelke Milbank Fire Chief / EM Director

Joe Wiik Big Stone City Fire Chief

Tim Meyer Revillo Fire Chief

Rodney Thaden Marvin Fire Chief

Ryan Pekelder Stockholm Fire Chief

Mike Mach Commissioner

William Tostenson Commissioner

Marty Buttke Commissioner

Doug Stengel Commissioner

William Street Commissioner

Kevin Owen Sheriff

Ryan Bakeberg Deputy Sheriff

Jeremy Steffensen Deputy Sheriff

Orville Folk Deputy Sheriff

Dated this 1st day of February, 2022.

Doug Stengel, Chairman

Board of Commissioners

ATTEST:

Karen M. Layher, Auditor

Executive Session: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Mach to enter executive session at 9:23 AM for the purpose of a personnel issue pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2 (1). Motion carried 5-0. Auditor Layher and States Attorney Schwandt were present. Chairman Stengel declared the meeting open to the public at 9:29 AM. No action taken because of the executive session.

Consent: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Buttke to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried 5-0.

1. Declare surplus HP Office Jet Pro 8740, fixed asset 15189, unrepairable; Treasurer computer, fixed asset 10459, serial number 18102209, not compatible with Windows 10

Unfinished Business: A discussion on grant writing with the consensus of the Commission that all grants should be drafted by employees or completed with the assistance of First District Association of Local Governments. Commissioner Mach and Tostenson reported they had toured the county to look at roads, culverts, drainage and new construction.

New Business: ARP funding webinar on Feb. 17 sponsored by SDACC. COVID tests kits available for employees and their families through EM Office.

Correspondence: None

Claims: Motion by Mach and seconded by Buttke to approve the claims. Motion carried 5-0. 15 HOTEL GROUP, motel 178.00; ADVANTAGE ARCHIVES, contract proj 460.00; AUTOVALUE, supplies 1,145.06; BANNER, hwy proj 34,984.46; BLUETARP FINANCIAL, supplies 233.23; BOYER FORD TRUCKS, repairs & maint 588.94; BUTLER, supplies & repairs 243.25; CENTER POINT, books 485.66; CITY OF MILBANK, water & sewer 516.67; COLEPAPERS, supplies 280.10; COLONIAL RESEARCH CHEMICAL, supplies 190.83; FARM & HOME PUBLISHERS, ref books 375.00; FIRST DISTRICT, prof services 8,500.00; FREMAREK, supplies 526.40; G & R CONTROLS, repairs & maint 2,180.62; FOOD-N-FUEL, inmate meals 147.00; GRANT CO SOIL CONSERVATION, allocation 12,000.00; GRANT CO REVIEW, publishing 98.00; GRANT/ROBERTS AMBULANCE, prof services 273.00; HARTMAN’S, inmate groceries 226.32; INTER-LAKES COMM ACT, service worker 2,605.25; JOSHUA FIEDLER, prof services 2,915.00; KRISTIN WOODALL, prof services 662.60; LEWIS, supplies 152.34; MCLEOD’S, supplies 99.97; MICROMARKETING, dvd 30.04; MIDCO, internet 85.00; MILBANK AREA HOSPITAL AVERA, blabs 625.00; MILBANK AUTO PARTS, supplies & repairs 1,711.39; MINNEHAHA CO, inmate housing 630.00; NORTHWESTERN ENERGY, natural gas 2,595.59; OFFICE PEEPS, supplies 8.75; PETERS DISTRIBUTING, minor equip, repairs 1,297.50; PETTY CASH -DC, postage 9.00; QUICK PRO LUBE, repairs & maint 328.38; R.D. OFFUTT, supplies & repairs 3,147.74; RC TECHNOLOGIES, 911 transport & tower rent 95.96; RIVER STREET PETROLEUM, diesel fuel & gas 7,485.82; ROBERTS CO SHERIFF, inmate housing 2,270.00; SCANTRON, prof services 79.99; MATT SCOTT, prof services 52.00; SD DEPT OF HEALTH, blabs 250.00; SDML WORKERS’ COMP FUND, insurance 35,537.00; ST WILLIAMS, inmate laundry 92.00; STAR LAUNDRY, prof services 98.81; STATE OF SD, supplies 373.00; THE PENWORTHY COMP, books 167.92; TWIN VALLEY TIRE, repairs & supplies 351.45; UNITED DEVELOPMENT, CUP refund 350.00; XEROX, copier rent 106.76; ZEM’S, minor equip & furniture 998.95. TOTAL: $128,845.75.

Payroll for the following departments and offices for the January 28, 2022, payroll are as follows: COMMISSIONERS 3,335.90; AUDITOR 8,692.79; ELECTION 592.14; TREASURER 5,227.75; STATES ATTORNEY 7,116.60; CUSTODIANS 3,111.05; DIR. OF EQUALIZATION 4,245.71; REG. OF DEEDS 4,208.06; VET. SERV. OFFICER 1,211.10; SHERIFF 14,454.02; COMMUNICATION CTR 7,208.14; PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE 814.14; ICAP 58.50; VISITING NEIGHBOR 1,761.45; LIBRARY 7,719.28; 4-H 3,761.40; WEED CONTROL 2,023.40; P&Z 1,455.03; DRAINAGE 356.13; ROAD & BRIDGE 39,439.42; EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2,430.00. TOTAL: $119,222.01.

Payroll Claims: FIRST BANK & TRUST, Fed WH 9,452.30; FIRST BANK & TRUST, FICA WH & Match 14,482.00; FIRST BANK & TRUST, Medicare WH & Match 3,387.00; AAA COLLECTIONS, deduction 34.08; ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT, deduction 100.00; AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE, AFLAC ins. 1,465.06; WELLMARK-BLUE CROSS OF SD, Employee and Commission health ins. 51,205.54; COLONIAL LIFE, ins 37.98; DEARBORN NATIONAL, life ins. 269.54; LEGAL SHIELD, deduction 76.70; OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, child support 210.00; OPTILEGRA, ins 413.71; SDRS SUPPLEMENTAL, deduction 1,369.33; SDRS, retire 13,380.70. TOTAL: $95,883.94.

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 February 15 and March 1 and 15, 2022 at 8 AM. Motion by Mach and seconded by Buttke to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned.

 /s/ Douglas Stengel, Chairman,

Grant County Commission

/s/ Karen M. Layher, 

Grant County Auditor