February 1, 2022
The Miner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on February 1, 2022 in the Miner County Courthouse Commission room. Members present: Alex Protsch, Tom Reisch and Joe Bechen. Absent: Kathy Faber & Kari Jo Carlson. The flag pledge was recited. Motion by Bechen, seconded by Reisch and carried to approve the agenda. No Commissioner report of meetings attended was given.
The minutes of the January 18th meeting were approved. Director of Equalization Tami Severson, Sheriff Rob Eggert, and Treasurer Jessica Charles joined the meeting.
No persons appeared for Public Comment.
It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Bechen and carried to approve the following claims for payment Road & Bridge $35,400.79 (includes Ron Krempges at $5,310.25/mo), Wellmark $50,915.84, Delta Dental $1,548.39, Kansas City Life $457.22, Retirement $6,383.76, OASI $8,955.99, Commissioners $4,519.75, Auditor $7,797.34 (includes Susan Connor at $4,818.00/mo), Treasurer $7,096.99 (includes Jessica Charles at $4,311.50/mo), States Attorney $5,708.75 (includes Kristian Ellendorf at $4,008.75/mo), Govt Building $2,415.00, Director of Equalization $7,437.89 (includes Tami Severson at $4,311.50/mo), Register of Deeds $6,899.12 (includes Karla Neises at 4,534.75/mo), Vet Service $911.00, Tax Deed Property HHCC $1,000.00 (includes Tami Severson at $1,000/mo), Sheriff $11,501.64 (includes Rob Eggert at $4,499.25/mo and Cora Schwader at $3,511.00/mo), Contract Law $4,413.20 (includes Rob Eggert at $237.00/mo), Welfare $482.40, Co Nurse $1,371.50, Ambulance $12,144.26, WIC $93.25, Extension $1,371.50, Weed $1,332.50 (includes Kent Terwilliger at $1,307.50/mo), Dispatch $11,308.23 (includes Cora Schwader at $390.00/mo), Emergency Mgt $2,428.50 (includes Kent Terwilliger at $2,428.50/mo) JAN PAYROLL; Rob Eggert $20.00, Josh Esser $180.00, Garret Werkmeister $20.00 AMBULANCE ATTENDANT FEES SDSU Extension $9,915.53 4-H PMT TO STATE; Triotel Communications $187.53 911 CHARGES; Jencks Law $1,819.95 ABUSED/NEGLECTED CHILD DEFENSE ATTYS; ICAP $1,201.92 COMMUNITY ACTION PAYMENT; Verizon $56.26 CONFERENCING; SD DOT $2,685.04 CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE; Miner Co Treasurer $15.00 DOMESTIC ABUSE ADMIN EXPENSE; Assn of SD Co Weed & Pest Boards $150.00 DUES; Ultra $625.00 EQUIPMENT; Northwestern Energy $2,740.35 GAS SERVICE; Domestic Violence Network $650.00, Mitchell Area Safehouse $650.00 GRANTS; City of Howard $3,641.40 HOTEL UTILITIES; Domestic Violence Network $67.50, Mitchell Area Safehouse $67.50 PAY TO OTHERS; Miner County Pioneer $474.66 PUBLISHING; Bender’s Sewer & Drain $1,119.00, Mobile Electronic Service $117.15, Ultra $70.00 REPAIRS; Kristian Ellendorf $900.00 STATE’S ATTY OFFICE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE; County Wide Directory $544.00, Emergency Medical Products $213.28, Fox Promo $53.51, Gall’s $77.74, Homestead Building Supply $164.35, Modern Marketing $287.21, Office Peeps $10,477.00, Redwood Toxicology Lab $247.50, Tami Severson $20.00, Stryker Sales Corp $76.58, Sunset Law Enforcement $490.00, Thomson Reuters-West $563.47, Brittany Yanish $53.22 SUPPLIES; Colleen Arens $30.00, AT&T $360.93, Susan Connor $30.00, Tami Severson $30.00 TELEPHONE, Assn of SD Co Weed & Pest Boards $275.00, Kent Terwilliger $119.28 TRAVEL; City of Howard $2,931.23, Xcel Energy $91.95 UTILITIES.
Commissioners acknowledge receipt of the following correspondence: County Farm Soil Test Report-Travis Voeltz; Oct.-Dec. Minutes and Financial Reports-Miner Conservation District; PDM Plan Update Application Submitted to FEMA-SD Dept. Public Safety; National Historic Preservation Act-US Dept. of Agriculture.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Reisch and carried to appoint Alex Protsch as the commission’s point of contact for Interlakes Community Action Program.
It was moved by Reisch and seconded by Bechen to adopt the following resolution.
RESOLUTION 22-06
WHEREAS, the South Dakota Wildland Fire Coordinator is authorized to assist in fighting range fires through the State, and
WHEREAS, a county must formally request his assistance pursuant to SDCL 41-20-8.1;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Miner County Commissioners do hereby designate the following persons with the authority to request assistance from the State Wildland Fire Coordinator in fighting range fires: Emergency Management Director Kent Terwilliger & Commissioner Alex Protsch.
Voting aye: Bechen, Reisch and Protsch. Voting nay: none. Resolution approved this 1st day of February, 2022. Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor
4-H Youth Extension Educator Jill Calmus joined the meeting. The board reviewed the following Declaration of Vacancy. Miner County, South Dakota, owner of Lots Eight to Fourteen, inclusive, in Block Three, Otter’s Second Addition to the City of Howard, Miner County, South Dakota; and Lot Six of the Northwest Quarter of Section Eleven, Township One Hundred Six North, Range Fifty-six, West of the 5th P.M., Miner County, South Dakota, and pursuant to SDCL 11-3-16, does hereby vacate Minnie Street laying between Lots Eight to Fourteen, inclusive, in Block Three, Otter’s Second Addition to the City of Howard, Miner County, South Dakota, on the East side, and Lot six of the Northwest Quarter of Section Eleven, Township One Hundred Six North, Range Fifty-six , West of the 5th P.M., Miner County, South Dakota, on the West side; said roadway laying south of Wilson Street, as the same is designated on the attached plat of Otter’s Second Addition to Howard, South Dakota, marked “Exhibit A’ and made a part of this Declaration as if set forth in full herein.
The execution and recording of this Declaration of Vacancy shall operate to destroy the force and effect of the specific roadway dedicated and recorded on the plat so specifically vacated, and to divest all public rights in Minnie Street that lays south of Wilson Street, laid out as described in such plat. The reason for this vacation of a portion of said street is that the street has never been utilized as a street, and the public interest will be better served by vacating said roadway.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Reisch and carried to authorize Chairman Protsch to sign the above stated Declaration of Vacancy and file with the Miner County Register of Deeds.
State’s Attorney Kristian Ellendorf and Welfare Director Gibi Page joined the meeting to present Poor Relief Case 22-01. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Bechen and carried unanimously to deny Poor Relief Case 22-01 on the basis the individual is indigent by design.
It was moved by Bechen, seconded by Reisch and carried to enter into executive session (SDCL 1-25-2 (1) & (3). The board returned to regular session at 10:17.
Highway Superintendent Ron Krempges asked the board to consider granting an $1.00/hour raise for highway workers. The board assured Krempges that this matter will be studied and considered at a future meeting. Krempges reported on securing gravel from Ron Ecklein gravel pit in 2022. Other matters reviewed included: spring weight limit implementation; bridge bid letting to be held on February 9th and progress on crack sealing of county oil roads.
Director of 911 & Dispatch Services Cora Schwader joined the meeting. Schwader reported that these services are in peril. Dispatchers are dissatisfied with their hourly wages, current working conditions and conditions during the courthouse remodel project. These employees are part-time and do not receive additional benefits except for SD Retirement (for those that work over 20/week) and paid time off. Several advertisements have been put out to hire new dispatchers with no successful applicants. Newly hired must spend 2 weeks in Pierre attending classes for certification. Schwader informed the board that if something isn’t done to increase wages by the end of February, the department will lose 2 dispatchers. If this occurs, the department will not have enough employees to cover the shifts. Schwader asked for an across the board $2 increase for all dispatchers. Currently the starting wage is $17.99 with 8 levels of .23/level to $19.58 at level 8. Commissioners stated they did not appreciate being given an ultimatum. The board set a special commission meeting for February 8th at 8:00 a.m. Entities that receive dispatching services through this department will be invited and encouraged to attend to develop a solution to the problem.
Director of Equalization Tami Severson presented an application request for GIS Parcel Layer information from TRC Companies. It was moved by Reisch, seconded by Bechen and carried to authorize Chairman Protsch to sign the application and instructed Severson to provide the information after receiving the application fee ($2500 + sales tax) from TRC Companies.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned to the special meeting date of February 8th. Dated this 1st day of February, 2022.
Alex Protsch, Chairman
Miner County Board of Commissioners
Attest: Susan Connor, Miner County Auditor