Grant County Commission Proceedings
Grant County Commission Proceedings
February 17, 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 Tostenson and seconded by Street to approve February 3 and 11, 2026, minutes. Motion carried 5-0. Motion by Hoff and seconded by Stengel to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
Present from the public were Ben Wollschlager, Tim Scherer, Ryan Magedanz, Lucas Loeschke, Bert Loehrer, Amy Loehrer, Steve January, Mary Nosbush, Joe Uckert, Jaclyn Van Lith, Matt Van Lith, Doug Schweer, Jerry Bury, Austin Hunt, Lance Frogner, Tom Frogner, Adam Hunt, Ryan Wollschlager, Joelie Hicks and Todd Kays. Staff members present were Deputy Commissioner Assistant Layher, Commissioner Assistant Owen, P & Z Officer Berkner, States Attorney Schwandt, Hwy Supt Peterson, Sheriff Steffensen and EM Director Schuelke.
Public Comment: Chairman Mach called for public comment three times. Ryan Magedanz, Bert Loehrer, Steve January, Mary Nosbush, Jaclyn Van Lith and Joelie Hicks stated they are not in favor of the Power on Midwest transmission line coming into Grant, Deuel and Brookings County. Ben Wollschlager spoke on his drainage permit DR2025-54. There were no more comments. Chairman Mach closed the public comment.
The Register of Deeds fees for the month of January were $11,730.50. The Clerk of Courts fees for the month of January were $5,840.27. The Sheriff fees for the month of January were $12,569.25 with $2,513.85 received into the General Fund.
First District: Manager Todd Kays presented the Annual report. Our 2025 Annual dues were $29,056. Grants they assisted with for Grant County were $346,764 giving us an $11.59 return on investment. Our average return on investment from FY 08 to 25 was $26.04.
HWY: Supt Peterson said the road graders have been out trying to get the ripples out of the roads. They have also been crack sealing the roads. Supt Peterson also stated a new border bridge has been added to the County’s inventory in Vernon Township on 487th Avenue.
P & Z: Officer Berkner reported on the Otter Tail open house he attended for the Big Stone South to Hankinson to Bison (BSSHB) project of a 345-kilovolt transmission line that is under development. Berkner also gave an update on the Drainage Committee meeting.
4-H Complex: Commissioner Assistant Owen reported an additional stand-alone system had to be added to the FOB system at the 4-H Complex to connect to the SDSU server for $1,134.40.
Travel: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to approve the travel expenses for Sheriff Steffensen to attend the annual Sheriff Conference in Deadwood, Steffensen, Deputy Bowsher and Jail Administrator Burns to attend jail controls training in Ripen, Wisconsin and Deputy Bowsher to attend sex offender conference in Deadwood. Chairman Mach called for the vote. Motion carried 5-0
County Assistance: None
Unfinished Business: None
New Business: Deputy Commissioner Assistant Layher stated SB 240 to allocate five million dollars to the counties for the RAIF funding with an emergency clause will be heard by the Joint Appropriations Committee tomorrow in Pierre. Commissioner Assistant Owen stated the quote from Hasslen Construction to install a handrail along the first-floor ramp incline is $3,700. Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to approve quote of $3,700 to install the handrail. Motion carried 5-0.
Correspondence: Commissioner Assistant Owen said he received a letter from a Deuel County resident about Deuel County’s proposed Planning & Zoning ordinance. Owen also read an email from Milbank School Superintendent Justin Downes thanking the Sheriff, Deputies and EM Director for their excellent response to the school lockdown.
Executive Session: Motion by Tostenson and seconded by Stengel to enter executive session at 10:27 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 10:32 a.m. No action was taken because of the executive session.
Claims: Motion by Stengel and seconded by Street to approve the claims as presented. Motion carried 5-0. AARON BRUCE ANDERSON, prof services 2,025.00; AARON SWAN & ASSOC, prof services 1,920.00; ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, supplies 34.99; AGTEGRA, diesel & ethanol 6,450.30; AVERA MCKENNAN, health services 267.90; AVERA MEDICAL GROUP MILBANK, health services 186.00; BERENS MARKET, inmate groceries 170.35; BORNS GROUP, mailing expense 987.96; CENTER POINT, books 642.42; CRAIG DEBOER, car wash card 43.20; DAKOTA POWER EQUIPMENT, supplies 263.60; FIRST BANK & TRUST/VISA, mounting bracket, flags, supplies 3,217.82; FIRST DISTRICT, prof services 350.00; FOOD & FUEL, inmate meals 104.00; GRANT COUNTY REVIEW, publishing 785.83; GRANT-ROBERTS RURAL WATER, water usage 84.80; HMN ARCHITECTS, prof services 7,893.00; INGRAM, books 1,620.75; INNOVATIVE BENEFIT CONSULTANTS, insurance 572.00; INTER-LAKES COMMUNITY ACTION, service worker 2,333.33; ITC, phone & internet 2,059.44; JASON SACKREITER, garbage service 360.00; KEVIN MEYER, supplies 44.71; KIBBLE EQUIPMENT, repair & maint 179.50; KING MIDAS, prof services 2,575.00; LEWIS FAMILY DRUG, supplies 74.41; MICROFILM IMAGING SYSTEMS, rentals 862.00; MILBANK AREA HOSPITAL AVERA, blabs 292.00; MILBANK WINWATER WORKS, supplies 7.90; MITCHELL PRINTING COMPANY, supplies 150.00; NATIONAL SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION, dues 125.00; NORTHWESTERN ENERGY, natural gas 243.43; OTTER TAIL POWER, electricity 2,001.91; QUICK PRO LUBE, repair & maint 1,592.93; RC TECHNOLOGIES, 911 transport & tower rent 95.96; RUNNINGS, supplies 872.77; SECUR SERV, prof services 2,117.00; SD ASSN COUNTY HWY SUPTS, registration 200.00; SD BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION, supplies 448.38; SD DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, teletype 2,340.00; SDACES, dues 45.00; SIOUX VALLEY COOP, diesel & ethanol 3,005.86; SYRCO ENTERPRISES, rentals 23.25; VALLEY OFFICE PRODUCTS, supplies 1,025.03; VERIZON, hotspot 40.01; WASTE CONNECTIONS OF SOUTH DAKOTA, shredding service 120.62; WHETSTONE HOME CENTER, supplies 119.62; WHETSTONE VALLEY ELECTRIC, electricity 1,313.82; ZEM’S, contracted proj 9,548.35. TOTAL: $61,837.15.
Payroll for the following departments and offices for February 13, 2026, payroll is as follows: COMMISSIONERS 11,891.15; AUDITOR 11,550.52; ELECTION 752.48; TREASURER 8,052.22; STATES ATTORNEY 9,016.12; CUSTODIANS 4,350.18; DIR. OF EQUALIZATION 4,935.82; REG. OF DEEDS 6,894.71; VET. SERV. OFFICER 832.20; SHERIFF 16,021.61; COMMUNICATION CTR 11,329.72; VISITING NEIGHBOR 1,897.75; LIBRARY 9,139.05; 4-H 4,497.99; WEED CONTROL 2,357.80; P&Z 1,764.00; DRAINAGE 360.00; ROAD & BRIDGE 35,875.39; EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2,713.50. TOTAL: $144,232.21.
Payroll Claims: FIRST BANK & TRUST, Fed WH 8,755.10; FIRST BANK & TRUST, FICA WH & Match 17,455.64; FIRST BANK & TRUST, Medicare WH & Match 4,082.32; ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT, deduction 114.47; US DEPT OF TREASURY, deduction 133.80; AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE, AFLAC ins. 1,991.22; RELIANCE STANDARD LIFE DENTAL, ins. 503.50; WELLMARK-BLUE CROSS OF SD, Employee health ins. 1,874.12; RELIANCE STANDARD SUPPLEMENTAL, life ins. 120.13; OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, child support 1,200.00; SDRS SUPPLEMENTAL, deduction 2,485.83; SDRS, retire 16,498.23. TOTAL: $55,214.36.
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: None
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 25 and March 3 and 17, 2026, at 8 a.m. in the basement Commissioner room. Please use the elevator. Motion by Stengel and seconded by Hoff to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned.
/s/Michael J. Mach,
Chairman,
Grant County Commissioners
/s/ Kathy Folk,
Grant County Auditor
