April 9, 2013
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session April 9, 2013, in the Miner County Courthouse. Members present: Roger Wentland, Don Bowman and Pat Maroney. Absent: Voni Durant. Chairman Wentland called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Motion by Maroney, seconded by Bowman and carried to approve the agenda as amended.
The Auditor’s account with the County Treasurer showed a March 31, 2013 balance of $3,818,997.81 in all state, county, civil, school, and trust accounts.
Miner County States Attorney Greg Protsch joined the meeting. Protsch reported on the process in which counties located downstream will file objections to the setting of the Lake Thompson outlet elevation. Motion by Bowman, seconded by Maroney to authorize Greg Protsch to sign the motion pleadings to intervene and a motion to reconsider the decision to establish the outlet elevation of Lake Thompson joining the downstream counties in their objection.
Motion by Maroney, seconded by Bowman and carried to authorize payment of $8026.29 to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital for settlement of poor relief cases 06-13 and 07-01 and to authorize State’s Attorney Greg Protsch to sign the legal documents dismissing the above mentioned cases.
Motion by Maroney, seconded by Bowman and carried to rescind the policy dated 1/18/11 for costs associated with providing assessment information to companies or individuals making a request for such information.
Motion by Maroney, seconded by Bowman and carried to set the assembly fee for assessment information out of the director of equalization office at $25/hour with a minimum charge of $25 plus any additional paper copying charges (black & white .25/page; color .50/page).
Patrick Maroney was appointed as the designee to attend the SDACC Veterans Affairs Committee meetings to be held in conjunction with the commissioners’ spring workshops and fall conventions.
Motion by Maroney and seconded by Bowman to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 13-10
WHEREAS, the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds is nearly a century old and is vital to funding local infrastructure and economic development; and
WHEREAS, of the $1.65 trillion of local infrastructure investment over the last decade using tax-exempt bonds, nearly all of it was in six categories: $514 billion for primary and secondary schools; $288 billion for hospitals; $258 billion for water and sewer facilities; $178 billion for roads, highways and streets; $147 billion for public power projects; and $106 billion for mass transit.
WHEREAS, any move to change the current tax treatment of local government bonds would lead to higher borrowing costs for local governments; and
WHEREAS, without tax-exempt financing much-needed infrastructure improvements would likely be delayed; and
WHEREAS, tax-exempt bonds are a critical tool for South Dakota counties to facilitate budgeting and financing of long-term investments in the infrastructure and facilities necessary to meet public demand for government services; and
WHEREAS, at a time when infrastructure demands are great, increasing the cost of local government borrowing could have serious impacts on the national, state and local economies; and
WHEREAS, without the tax-exemption, the effectiveness of the bond market would be significantly dampened, creating higher borrowing costs for county governments, less investment in infrastructure, and fewer jobs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Miner County does hereby support maintaining the current tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.
Voting aye: Maroney, Bowman and Wentland. Voting nay: none. Resolution adopted this 9th day of April, 2013.
__________________________________________
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: _______________________________
Susan R. Connor, Miner County Auditor
No action was taken on application for court security grant funds available through the Unified Judicial System.
Motion by Maroney seconded by Bowman and carried to appoint Travis Voeltz to the Miner County Rural Fire Protection District board as required by SDCL 34-31A-15.1 -Filling of vacancy on board of Directors.
Motion by Maroney, seconded by Bowman and carried to approve the prisoner housing agreement with Lake County at the rate of $65/prisoner day and $35/work release/prisoner day.
The hearing to consider the renewal of the franchise for Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. to construct, maintain and operate along, upon and over all the public highways of the county was held. No official from Central Electric was present for the hearing. Motion by Bowman and seconded by Maroney that the following resolution be approved.
RESOLUTION 13-11
WHEREAS, CENTRAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC., organized and doing business as an electric cooperative did on the 18th day of March, 2013, file in the office of the County Auditor in the County of Miner, State of South Dakota, an application requesting the right and franchise to construct, maintain electrical transmission and distribution lines, and
WHEREAS, said application came on for hearing before the County Commissioners of Miner County on the 9th day of April, 2013, at 9:45 a.m. in the Commissioners room of the Courthouse in the city of Howard, SD and it appearing that due and timely notice of said hearing having been given by mail by the County Auditor to all persons, firms and corporations owning or operating electric transmission, telegraph, or telephone lines on or along any part of the public highways and roads of the County, all in accordance with the laws and statues of the State of South Dakota pertaining thereto, and
WHEREAS, the matter having been heard and considered by the Board of County Commissioners, and it appearing to the satisfaction of said Board that Central Electric Cooperative, Inc., is in compliance with and willing to comply with the provisions of SDCL 31-26 and good cause appearing therefore,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Miner County Board of Commissioners that the Application of Central Electric Cooperative, be and the same is hereby granted, and the right and franchise to construct, operate and maintain electric lines in said county, be and the same is hereby granted to said Central Electric Cooperative, for a period of twenty (20) years from and after the date hereof; said franchise being subject to the conditions set forth in SDCL 31-26 and such further reasonable regulations as this County or the Legislature may hereafter prescribe.
Voting aye: Bowman, Maroney and Wentland. Voting nay: none. Absent: Durant. One open commission seat. Resolution approved this 9th day of April, 2013.
_____________________________________
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest:______________________________
Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges and Jerry Adler of the City of Howard reported on an offer from the city to transfer use of a Case IH 135 tractor from O’Kieffe Implement. This lease is a “free use” lease for a governmental entity. Miner County would be required to insure the tractor while it is in possession of the unit. Motion by Maroney, seconded by Bowman and carried to assume the lease contract from the City of Howard.
Krempges also reported on the Gravel Road Maintenance Seminar that was recently held at the Miner County 4-H grounds, bridge replacement schedule and other highway matters.
The board adjourned as a board of commissioners and reconvened as a board of equalization. Members took their oaths. Director of Equalization Tami Severson and Treasurer Debbie Eggert, were also present.
Motion by Bowman, seconded by Maroney and carried to authorize the Director of Equalization to make changes on the assessment rolls to reflect the qualifying applications for the freeze on assessments of dwellings of the disabled and senior citizens.
Motion by Bowman, seconded by Maroney and carried to approve the annual applications for tax exempt status, as previously published in the legal newspaper.
The board recessed until April 30th. The board reconvened as the Board of Commissioners.
Claims: Alliance Communications $300.00 911 charges; Interlakes Community Action $527.65 community action payment; SD Dept of Transportation $549.94; Philip R. Parent $403.60 court-appointed attorney; Midstates Organized $100.00 dues; Xcel Energy $16.78 electric service; Ultra $1,035.00 Lake County International $2500.00; equipment; Hoffman Diesel $69.78, Howard Farmers Coop $5498.15, Stan Houston Equipment $9.90, Sturdevant’s $45.48 fuel; Northwestern Energy $581.37 gas service; SD Assn of County Commissioners $841.08 judicial legal exp relief fund; Miner County Pioneer $42.00 publishing; Aramark $142.22 rent; Office Peeps $100.08, Ultra $750.00 repairs; Brock White $6500.00, Dakotagas Propane $385.00, Homestead Building Supply $39.21, Lyle Signs $213.16, Spencer Quarries $653.38, Sturdevant’s $29.40, Tom’s Hardware $32.97 road materials; A-Ox $140.00, Auto Body Specialities $10.00, Boyer Ford $692.73, Brock White $2633.19, Central Business $94.25, Cummins Central Power $560.37, Dakota Data Shred $136.01, Dust-Tex $114.98, Joe Erpenbach $55.00, GCR Tire $345.26, Hoffman Diesel $2999.73, Homestead Building Supply $111.95, Howard Farmers Coop $104.09, James River Equipment $1028.55, Kimball Midwest $289.93, Office Peeps $3486.60, Pomp’s Tire Service $40.00, Rafferty-Robbins $7.47, Rusty’s $92.21, Schwaab $68.25, Scott Supply $43.30, SD Federal Property Agency $588.20, Stan Houston Equipment $539.95, Sturdevant’s $768.47, Titan Machinery $40.73, Tom’s Hardware $98.35, Ultra $590.00, Van’s Auto $250.00, Wheelco $1532.48, Gary’s Bakery $59.52, supplies; Susan Connor $44.40, SD Assn of County Officials $195.00, Tami Severson $72.15 travel; City of Howard $1467.07 utilities; Dakota Fire Equipment $473.00, Howard Farmers Coop $42.20, Titan Machinery $129.00 vehicle/equip repairs; Avera Queen of Peace $8026.29 poor relief.
The meeting adjourned to April 16, 2013. Dated this 9th day of April 2013.
____________________________________________
Roger Wentland, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: _______________________________
Susan R. Connor, Miner County Auditor