This is the first article in a series featuring our local librarians. Our first story is about Sara Beahler.
Sara Beahler
Beahler is 56 years old and was born in Blue Earth, MN, but raised in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
“I have a degree in Early Childhood Education from Iowa State University,” she said. “I have raised 3 children with my husband, Blake. We moved to the Garretson area in 2017 from northwest Iowa and love living on an acreage where we enjoy gardening, our dogs, and chickens.”
“I have worked for Siouxland Libraries for over 8 years, but just recently transferred to the east side of the county which includes Garretson! I live in the country halfway between Garretson and Baltic, so I am thrilled to be able to work in the community I call home. Hopefully, I will meet you at the library this spring.”
Beahler is very passionate about books and about reading, which would make a job as a librarian ideal.
“My favorite hobby is reading!” she exclaimed. “I enjoy all sorts of books and my favorite author is Ann Patchett. I am usually reading a physical book as well as listening to a second book while I commute. I have belonged to many book clubs over the years and love to talk about and recommend books.”
She’s not only good at reading books, she’s really good at finding them.
“Every day at the library is different,” she said. “It is fun to find the perfect book for a customer, whether they have read just about everything or are just getting started with exploring the library.”
Being an early childhood educator, Beahler is very professionally satisfied during story-time and working with young readers.
“I have used my education to enhance my love and appreciation for picture books,” she said. “I am a storyteller in the library and taught preschool for many years before becoming a library employee. I hope to begin leading the Garretson story-time in June. My storytimes are filled with books, silly songs, lots of jumping and dancing and sometimes even an art project. Reading to small children is the best way to get them ready for school and life in general. The library has so many picture books to enjoy for their wide range of stories as well as their amazing artwork.”
As was previously stated, Beahler’s profile is only the first of the articles we will be featuring in the Garretson Gazette about our local staff of librarians. Watch for more upcoming articles in the following weeks.
Eliza Potter, right, received an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. as part of the EmPOWER program through Sioux Valley Energy. //photo courtesy Blue Ink
Sioux Valley Energy sponsors the EmPOWER Youth Leadership Program. This program gives upcoming juniors a chance to focus on youth leadership, building personal strengths, exploring career paths, increasing communication skills, and builds networking connections as well. Eliza Potter attended an EmPOWER youth leadership camp this past summer.
Potter chose to give the EmPOWER camp a try “to gain leadership skills and have more opportunities.”
In addition to a camp during the summer, the participants are eligible to apply for scholarships as well as a trip to Washington D.C. Participants had the ability to apply for the Washington D.C. trip if interested with only a select few being chosen. Potter was surprised earlier this week with an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C.
“I’m excited…nervous but excited,” stated Potter. She will travel to D.C. this summer with other students to continue to expand her leadership skills, networking opportunities, and career path options. In addition to being surprised in class, Potter’s parents were in attendance to cap off the award.
SIOUX FALLS – The Minnehaha County Director of Equalization Chris Lilla went through several trends his office has seen over the past year during this week’s county commission meeting.
While many people are seeing their tax bills go up, he pointed out that it is not his office that sets the tax, but, instead, determines the value of any property in the county.
Lilla explained that valuation is set based on a variety of different factors, but two of the biggest deal with improvements made and what neighboring properties sell for.
If property has a higher valuation, that means that, when sold, the Office of Equalization has found that the property will be worth more.
Even then, when property is “equalized,” the amount that office comes up with only represents 90 to 94% of its total worth, according to Lilla.
And, despite complaints, Lilla’s must be doing something right, as he said that currently there were only five people contesting their property’s valuation (valuation notices were sent out last month).
Commission chair Dean Karsky said that some years he has had to sit through hundreds of assessment complaints as part of the Board of Equalization.
Lilla said that when people have complaints, the first stop is usually to his office, and people in the office go into detail about how assessment are arrived at, and they that they look at a variety of aspects about the property.
After that, he said, people usually go away satisfied and with more knowledge.
In some of the charts he had. Lilla showed that while the number of building permits in the county has remained about the same for years, the income from those permits has risen greatly since 2021, due to much larger building projects happening, such as Amazon, apartment buildings, and other major office buildings.
In 2023, Lilla said, there were 8,000 building permits issued in the county.
Also in 2023, there were a total of 6,170 property transfers, which was down from 8,000 transfers in 2022.
During 2023, the equalization office re-assessed five neighborhoods in Sioux Falls, two in smaller county towns, and four townships.
Lilla explained that the constant re-appraising of neighborhoods is an ongoing pat of the job to keep up with building permits. Whenever a building permit is issued, the property tied to that permit eventually has to be re-assessed.
The next county commission meeting will be at 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 19 on the third floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building.
The Garretson School board had their regular meeting on March 11, 2024. The meeting was mostly routine, but there were a few key items that our readers will want to make note of. After the executive session, the board decided not to renew a contract as funding for the REACH counselor has run out, and they passed a motion to renew administrative contracts over the objections of a board member.
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The next regular meeting of the school board will be held on Monday, April 8 at 6:00 p.m. at the Garretson School Library. All members of the public are invited to attend.
UPDATE 3/14/24: Information received from sources on 3/14/24 have now called into question whether the agenda was posted on the door of the school building by the proper time. We will update our readers when we know more.
Lois Wiese (left) is honored for her service on the Legion Auxiliary
The Garretson American Legion Auxiliary is honored to select Lois Wiese as our 2024 Member of the Year. She was recently honored for 70 years of service to the Auxiliary. Her current activities in the Auxiliary include serving as historian, serving bingo at Palisade HealthCare as well as helping judge Americanism poems and essays for our local school. She currently works with a Legion work team for serving a breakfast and doing valuable preparation work which she has done for over 20 years. In past years, she has held offices of secretary and chaplain.
Lois had an outstanding teaching career in Baltic and Larchwood before retiring in 1996. She received a “Teacher of the Year” award in 1995. Following her retirement, she continued to do some substitute teaching in Garretson.
She has served Zion Lutheran Church as President of the ZLCW as well as doing service work, serving on committees and attending bible studies.
Lois’ husband, Owen, served in Korea and for many years in the Army Reserves and retired as a Colonel.
Lois is highly respected for all her fine family and friends’ relationships as well as for her excellent cooking. She is noted for sending cards to many people to lift their spirits. In conversation, she shows much interest in other peoples’ lives and activities as she shares her own.
Henry G Fix Post #23 American Legion Commander Beth Welch presents Norinda Northrup a check from the American Legion to support the Angel Fund at the Garretson School.
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY – MARCH, 2024
The American Legion Auxiliary met on March 7, beginning with a salad meal at 7:00. Then, Cheryl opened the meeting as usual. Chaplain, Sue, led us in prayer and the preamble was recited and the Star Spangled Banner was sung.
Roll call of officers indicated one absent. The secretary’s report was read, approved and placed on file. The treasurer’s report was read, approved and placed on file for audit. Cheryl stated that our membership is at 190 with more to come in soon. Our goal is 192. She also reported that a number of cards have been sent this past month.
The secretary read a letter from the South Dakota auxiliary president which stated that a new state secretary, Kayla Kennedy, has been hired. The monthly district newsletter was also read. It was noted that the Spring District meeting is in Sioux Falls at the Alliance on April 7. Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 12:00 and the meeting is at 1:00.
Lois Wiese was honored as our member of the year. Liz Bennett and Ethel Kurtz did the presenting.
Many Americanism poems and essays were judged on February 19. Denise Schmidt chaired that committee.
Three delegates have been chosen for Girls’ State. There was a motion by Kelly to sponsor a table for $250.00 for the Girls’ State Banquet in Vermillion. The motion was seconded by Denise and it carried. Kathy stated that the unit scholarship applications are on the website and at the school.
Bingo at Palisade HealthCare is March 12 at 2:15. Volunteers will be contacted for that.
Our next meeting is April 4 with a steak meal served at 6:30and a meeting at 8:00.
Chaplain, Sue, closed with prayer and Kelly Schleuter won the door prize.
Essays-Class 1 Grades 3 and 4 – 1. Mitchell Christensen, 2. Lincoln Collins
Class 2 Grades 5 and 6- 1. Tenley Siemonsma, 2. Hailey Anderson. Class 3- Grades 7 and 8 – 1. Colton Buchholz, 2. Brielle Weir, 3. Brenna Smith
Scholarship Opportunity
The Garretson American Legion Auxiliary is awarding annually two (2) $300.00 scholarship applicable to all college, and technical school or post--high school training to assist Auxiliary or Legion members' child/step-child or grandchild/step-grandchild to secure an education beyond the high school level. Eligibility is the applicant must be a child or grandchild of an Auxiliary or Legion member of the Henry G. Fix Unit or Post. The applicant must not be under sixteen (16) years of age or over twenty-two (22) years of age. The applicant who has previously been awarded this scholarship is ineligible.
Please contact Kathy Evenson at 605 941-4699 for an application. The deadline for submission is April 1, 2024.
MC Farmers Union: Minnehaha County
Farmers Union held its annual meeting at the Ed and Wanda Artz home at Touchmark in Sioux Falls, SD on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Meeting was called to order at 2 p.m. and those present recited the flag salute. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and the treasurer's report was given. Both were approved as read. Tentative plans were presented to host a day camp on June 26, 2024 at Hartford City Park, with lunch and snacks provided as in previous years. The camp theme this summer is "Forging Cooperatives and Animal Digestion." Delegates were chosen to attend the quarterly meeting of District 2 SDFU on March 19, 2024 at Mitchell, SD. Officers were elected to serve another year. Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m. -Wanda Artz, Secretary
Splitrock Bowling:
The Splitrock Ladies bowled on March 5th, 2024, with the following results: High Team Game & Series - Rock River Ag, LLC - 894 & 2530. High Individual Game & Series - Marcia Bork - 185 & 502. Arlys Johnson picked up the 3-7-10 split. Cindy Hennings picked up the 4-5 split. Ann Behrend picked up the 3-4-10 split. Diane Fueston picked up the 3-9-10 split.
Pictured, back row (L to R): Rylee H, Alaina L, Elsa J, Brieanna R. Middle row: Quinn W. Front row: Madi J and Kennedy F. Not pictured: Kendra H.
We want to congratulate the 4th grade girls' basketball team for getting first place at the Conference Tournament on Saturday. The girls defeated Canton and two Sioux Falls Christian teams to take the top spot. We also want to thank coaches Jason Williamson and Laura Lentsch. Great job girls!
Years of debate about a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline came to a head Wednesday at the state Capitol as lawmakers passed three bills intended to strengthen landowner protections while maintaining a regulatory path forward for the project.
The bills passed the state House of Representatives and Senate and now head to the governor’s desk for final consideration.
Governor Kristi Noem issued a statement saying she plans to sign the bills to “provide new protections for landowners and allow for economic growth to move forward through a transparent process.”
Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, who voted against all three bills, said lawmakers should do more to protect landowners. He pointed to Democratic-dominated Minnesota, where he said carbon sequestration pipelines can’t use eminent domain to access land.
Eminent domain is a legal power the pipeline company could use to cross land if landowners don’t grant voluntary easements. Legislative efforts to block the use of eminent domain failed each of the last two sessions.
“We should be ashamed by that,” Hansen said.
He alleged the bills’ proponents are “paving the golden road” for the project.
House Majority Leader Will Mortenson, R-Fort Pierre, was the prime sponsor of the bills with Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree, R-Madison. Mortenson said lawmakers opposing the legislation were offering a “do nothing solution.”
“They’d rather give speeches and go get likes on Facebook than roll up your sleeves, get everyone around the table and put the policies in place that help our farmers,” Mortenson said.
Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, speaks on the House floor during the 2024 Legislative Session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
The bills are related to an $8 billion pipeline proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions, which is headquartered in Iowa. It would collect carbon dioxide from 57 ethanol plants in South Dakota and neighboring states and pipe it to North Dakota for underground storage.
The project would take advantage of up to $18 billion in federal tax credits that incentivize the removal of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Some ethanol backers have said the project is needed to reduce carbon emissions from ethanol production and keep the corn-based fuel viable in a future where governments and consumers are demanding lower climate impacts.
Summit plans to apply again for a permit in South Dakota after its initial application was denied by the Public Utilities Commission, in part due to conflicts with county ordinances that require minimum distances known as “setbacks” between pipelines and other features. The commission of three elected officials is responsible for pipeline permitting in the state.
The project has faced opposition from landowners concerned about property rights and safety, including health risks associated with potential leaks.
The three bills that passed Wednesday address issues including surveying, easement agreements, and compensation for landowners.
What the bills say
What the bills’ backers have dubbed a “Landowner Bill of Rights” was recently added to the bottom of one of the bills. It lays out the new landowner benefits and protections offered by the three pieces of legislation.
Carbon capture pipeline operators will have to pay $500 for access to survey land. Counties through which the pipelines run could collect a surcharge of up to $1 per linear foot, with at least half of the surcharge allocated for property tax relief for affected landowners. The remaining funds could be used at the county’s discretion.
The bills ensure the pipeline companies, rather than landowners, are liable for damages caused by the projects. Companies also must submit an impact mitigation plan and bury pipelines at least 4 feet deep. One of the bills mandates public disclosure of modeling to gauge the impact of a pipeline rupture.
The bills restrict easement durations, terminating them if a pipeline does not secure a Public Utilities Commission permit within five years or if the easement goes unused for the same period. Additionally, easements cannot extend beyond 99 years and must be documented in writing and recorded in a county register of deeds office.
In response to controversy about out-of-state contractors working for the pipeline company, one of the bills says a land agent acting on behalf of a carbon pipeline project must be a pipeline facility employee, a resident of the state, or a real estate agent licensed in the state.
Current law says the Public Utilities Commission may overrule counties’ pipeline setbacks (although the commission has so far declined to do so). Earlier versions of one bill would have altered that power, first giving setback authority solely to the state, and then in a later version leaving it with counties but saying the commission would have to overrule any overly burdensome setbacks.
The final, approved version of the legislation says the commission’s permitting process overrules local setbacks and other local rules regarding pipelines, unless the commission requires compliance with any of those local regulations.
Reaction
Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, said the Summit project alone would not change the global temperature; therefore, “the reason for CO2 capture fails.” He said diverting would-be federal tax revenue to incentivize the project will only worsen the national debt, and he encouraged fellow lawmakers to “say no to a Washington, D.C., boondoggle.”
The tax credits for the project have been around since at least 2008 and were expanded under former President Donald Trump. Congress and President Joe Biden upped the credits to $85 per metric ton of carbon sequestered annually.
Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, on the Senate floor during the 2024 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
Some opponents outside the Legislature are also unhappy.
South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke said the legislation does not put landowners in a better position. He said the state is dominated by large special interest groups, to the detriment of family farmers whose land could be crossed by the pipeline.
“Unless this state can elect 15 or more Democrats to balance the political powers in Pierre, we will never stop this abuse of our legislative system,” he said. There are 11 Democrats in the 105-member Legislature.
Meanwhile, the South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association applauded the bills and said they will “provide the nation’s first Landowner Bill of Rights along with needed regulatory certainty for CO2 pipelines.”
“We applaud the South Dakota legislators who supported farmers, landowners and ethanol with this compromise,” said Walt Wendland, the association’s board president. “This legislation is pro-landowner, pro-business, pro-farmer and pro-ethanol. It’s a win-win for all South Dakotans.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated with a clarification since its initial publication to more accurately reflect Sen. Al Novstrup’s comments.
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence.
Most of the county officials who administer elections in South Dakota don’t consider hand counting to be an effective or efficient method of tabulating votes.
That’s the result of a South Dakota News Watch survey that saw input from 49 of the state’s 66 county auditors. Auditors are elected officials who supervise county, state and federal elections as well as maintain financial records and other duties.
Nearly 90% of those who responded (43 of 49) answered “no” to the question of whether hand counting is an “effective and efficient method of tabulating ballots.” One auditor responded “yes” and four were uncommitted. There was one “no comment.”
“(Counting votes by hand) increases the chances of human error and is extremely time-consuming,” said Douglas County Auditor Phyllis Barker, echoing the concerns of many of her peers. “I have complete trust in the tabulation machines we currently use.”
Many of the auditors noted that South Dakota passed a law in 2023 requiring post-election audits using hand counts of randomly selected precincts to make sure results match up with machine tabulations. There are also test decks used to evaluate the accuracy of electronic vote counters before each election.
Machine vote tabulators must have an error rate no worse than 1 in 500,000 to be certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. A Nevada election official in Nye County, with more than 10,000 voters, recruited hundreds of volunteers to hand-count ballots in November 2022 after expressing skepticism about machines. He estimated a human error rate of 25% after the first day.
"Hand counting has its place," said Spink County Auditor Theresa Hodges. "For small municipal and school elections, with generally one to two contests on their ballots, it is doable and the most responsible decision fiscally for those entities. For larger elections with multiple contests, hand counting leaves too much room for human error and is not the most efficient way to tabulate results."
Minnehaha County auditor voices support
The most steadfast support of hand counts came from the state’s most populous county: Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson. She has clashed with county commissioners by expressing distrust of election technology and advocating hand counting, a position held by South Dakota Canvassing Group, a grassroots organization pushing for election reform.
Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson has pushed for hand counting ballots as opposed to using vote tabulators. (Photo: KELO-TV file photo)
“If done properly with a good system in place and training ahead of time, (hand counting) can definitely be effective and efficient, especially in smaller counties,” Anderson told News Watch. “In Minnehaha County, we would need a larger volume of volunteers with equal party representation to make it happen effectively and efficiently.”
Anderson said she is not formally involved with South Dakota Canvassing, the citizen group behind a campaign to lobby counties to adopt hand counting for 2024 or bypass county commissions by forcing a public vote through petitions.
She has engaged in hand counting demonstrations and research with computer analyst Rick Weible, a "friend and ally" of South Dakota Canvassing who has been instrumental in urging South Dakota legislators for stronger election security.
“(South Dakota Canvassing) does not have membership and I am not formally involved other than consideration of research they provide,” said Anderson, who ousted incumbent Republican Ben Kyte in the 2022 primary. “I am friends with some of the founders and I appreciate all of the work they do in researching topics.”
Fall River, Gregory will hand count for 2024 elections
The hand count debate comes as South Dakota is viewed as a proving ground by election reformists who claim that recent elections across the county were marred by hacking or fraud, allegations repeatedly rejected by courts of law as well as Democratic and Republican election leaders.
One of the most prominent voices is My Pillow founder and Donald Trump supporter Mike Lindell, whose 2021 "cyber symposium" in Sioux Falls inspired South Dakota Canvassing founders Jessica Pollema and Cindy Meyer to scrutinize what they see as voting system vulnerabilities.
The group first drew attention in 2022 by filing lawsuits and freedom-of-information requests seeking to acquire cast vote records from the 2020 presidential election, in which Democratic candidate Joe Biden defeated Trump, a Republican.
Lindell had Pollema as a guest on his web show in late February and praised the use of citizen petitions and public pressure at county commission meetings to try to restore the use of hand counting for the 2024 election cycle.
Jessica Pollema (left) is a co-founder of South Dakota Canvassing and a leading advocate of "getting rid of the machines" in favor of hand counting ballots in South Dakota. She recently appeared on Mike Lindell's web show to discuss the issue. (Photo: Stu Whitney / South Dakota News Watch)
County commissions in Fall River and Gregory counties already have voted to use hand counting in 2024 after hearing public comment. Petitions with the required number of signatures have been submitted in Lawrence and McPherson counties, which will likely trigger public votes on the issue.
'Purveyors of false claims' spread doubts, official says
The South Dakota Canvassing website lists more than a dozen counties in which requests for petitions or signature collection have occurred. Pollema, who ran unsuccessfully for Lincoln County auditor in 2022, didn't respond to a request from News Watch to clarify how many counties are seeing active signature collection.
“This is the chance we have to blaze the trail for our whole country to get rid of these machines,” Lindell said during the Feb. 22 web show. “This is the plan I had (a while ago), and South Dakota is just out in front of everybody. They have the perfect prototype.”
South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, who made statements during her 2022 campaign that connected her to election denialism, has been critical of some of the South Dakota Canvassing's activities as well as Weible's efforts to impact state election law.
In a statement to News Watch from Johnson's office, state elections director Rachel Soulek expressed confidence in the optical scan paper ballots with high-speed counters used statewide in South Dakota for nearly two decades.
“Many voters are unfamiliar with how elections are run in South Dakota, and in recent years, purveyors of false claims have taken advantage of that lack of knowledge to spread doubts about certain aspects of the voting process," Soulek said.
“Secretary Johnson and the South Dakota Election Team are confident in tabulation machines used in South Dakota, the safeguards built in throughout the process and the post-election audit on the machines after the primary and general election to ensure they are working properly."
'Are their concerns overblown?'
South Dakota Canvassing has provided a template for county initiative petitions calling for elections to be conducted by paper ballots only, with no electronic voting devices or tabulators. Residents need to gather signatures from 5% of registered voters in the county, based on the total number of registered voters (active and inactive) in the last general election.
T-shirts for sale at a South Dakota Canvassing event at the Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Oct. 19, 2023. The group was formed after My Pillow founder Mike Lindell held his cyber symposium in Sioux Falls in August 2021. (Photo: Stu Whitney / South Dakota News Watch)
Advocacy at county commission meetings is also strongly encouraged by the group, as evidenced by Matthew Monfore's successful push to get Fall River county commissioners to approve hand counting for the 2024 primary election on June 4.
Monfore, an evangelist and election skeptic from the West River town of Oral, is associated with South Dakota Canvassing. He's running for a state House seat in District 30.
“Some of these people are doing everything they can to try to make sure that every ballot is counted,” said Fall River State’s Attorney Lance Russell, a former state legislator who also served as executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party. “From that standpoint, I don't feel that it was inappropriate to have the discussion. Are some of their concerns overblown? I believe they probably are. But maybe making sure that the public has confidence in our elections outweighs that.”
In south-central South Dakota, where former Democratic legislator Julie Bartling serves as Gregory County's election official, the county commission voted March 6 to switch to hand counting for the 2024 primary and general elections after hearing concerns about election security from residents.
“I am disappointed that (the commission) would not give the procedure of the post-election audit an opportunity to squelch any concerns of the individuals who pushed for the hand count," Bartling told News Watch.
South Dakota mandated machine counting in 2005
South Dakota purchased Election Systems & Software voting systems in the aftermath of the contentious presidential election of 2000, when a U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding vote recounts in Florida elevated Republican George Bush over Democrat Al Gore.
Confusion surrounding Florida’s punch-card ballots led Congress to pass the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002. The law established standards for federal elections through the Election Assistance Commission, paving the way for South Dakota to adopt automatic tabulating and electronic ballot marking as state law in 2005.
Chris Nelson, a Republican who was secretary of state from 2003 to 2011, worked with county auditors to choose optical scan ballots with high-speed counters as the standard for South Dakota.
“One of the key reasons we went to that is because we have a paper backup,” said Nelson, who currently serves on the Public Utilities Commission.
“We’re going to use the high-speed counters so we can get a quick, accurate count on election night. But that’s the unofficial result. We know that if there’s a question about the legitimacy of that, we’ve got the paper ballots, and we can go back through a recount or audit procedure. There’s no need for cast vote records. We can go back through the paper and see exactly how each person voted.”
Tired election workers not as accurate as machines
Before 2005, South Dakota counties were using four different types of balloting systems – punch cards, hand counting, optical scan ballots that were hand-fed into a counter and optical scan ballots with high-speed counters.
“I lived through hand counting,” Nelson told News Watch. “You had election workers who would be at the polling place at 6 in the morning, they would work until the polls closed at 7 at night, and then they would begin counting ballots by hand. And if you've got a general election ballot with maybe a dozen different candidate races and half a dozen ballot questions, you've got hundreds and hundreds of ballots, maybe even thousands of ballots, in your precinct. You've got these folks working until 2 or 3 in the morning, trying desperately to accurately count ballots, and the accuracy just falls away. It's not there.”
Asked about bringing in a different crew to count ballots, Nelson said that “the difficulty lies in simply finding that many people, especially since you've literally doubled the number of people that you need to operate your polls.”
Poll workers are typically paid. In Minnehaha County, for example, precinct superintendents make $250 a day and precinct deputies make $200 a day. The advent of automated counting machines allowed precincts to become consolidated, with the statewide number reduced to 687 for the 2022 general election.
“Back when I started there were probably three times that many (precincts),” Nelson said. “With the machines, you could reduce the number of precincts and make it a whole lot more efficient and cheaper because you have less people working. And if we were to go back to hand counting, with some of these precincts you're talking thousands and thousands of ballots. You would have to make your precincts smaller to handle the number of ballots with humans doing the counting.”
Rick Weible, shown speaking to a County of Board of Commissioners in Minnesota in 2022, moved to South Dakota as a "tax refugee" and has become a fierce advocate for changing election laws due to what he calls a lack of transparency and security. (Photo: Elizabeth Flores / Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Hand count demo held in Pierre
Making precincts smaller and adding poll workers is part of the plan advocated by Weible, a small business owner and former small-town mayor from Minnesota who now lives in the eastern South Dakota town of Elkton.
Weible supervised a hand counting demonstration at the South Dakota Capitol on Feb. 23, using a method that he and Minnehaha County’s Anderson promote as an effective way to replace machine tabulations.
It involves teams of four, with two people looking at the ballot and calling the race and two people tallying the results. The theory is that it can count 250 ballots of one race in under 10 minutes.
“So for a county that has 2,500 or fewer ballots, it would take about 1.5 hours per race or ballot question with four people on the counting board. With more counting boards of four people, that estimate would decrease,” Anderson said.
News Watch asked Weible about his past appeals for post-election audits, which South Dakota legislators adopted in 2023. The new law requires 5% of randomly selected precincts in a county to manually count votes in two contests.
"Here's the problem: We're doing less than half a percent of ovals (filled-in votes) in the election," Weible said. "Would the IRS accept an audit of your bank accounts if you only gave them the December statement?"
Nelson counters that South Dakota has had "dozens and dozens" of recounts since machine tabulators were adopted in 2005, with no major discrepancies found.
"They might move one or two votes this way or that way, based on how an oval was filled in or not filled in," Nelson said. "But in those 20 years, nobody in any of those recounts uncovered any kind of fraud or error in a counting machine. So any suggestion that we ought to go back and do it some other way that is proven to be less accurate just doesn't make sense to me."
Bill to rein in petitions falls short in legislature
The petition drive for hand counting encountered friction in Pierre when concerns were raised about federal election laws being violated, likely leading to county governments being sued.
The original petitions that circulated stated that “electronic voting machines and electronic tabulation devices of any kind” would be prohibited.
Such action would violate the Help America Vote Act, according to Rapid City attorney and election law expert Sara Frankenstein. She sent a message to lawmakers noting that states are obligated in federal elections to provide “at least one direct recording electronic voting system or other voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities at each polling place.”
To comply with HAVA, South Dakota uses ExpressVote machines to help the visually impaired, those who cannot hold a pen and those with other disabilities mark a paper ballot.
Legislators amended a vehicle bill (House Bill 1140) to allow county commissions to keep a petition from reaching public vote if it violates state or federal law, adding an emergency clause to allow it to take effect immediately. The House rejected that amendment, prompting new language that removed the emergency clause and allowed petition sponsors to withdraw the petition prior to the election being scheduled. That amendment also failed, killing the bill and its amendments.
Rick Weible and Jessica Pollema give a presentation to Concerned Citizens of Lincoln County at an October 2023 event in Sioux Falls, S.D. “If you want to get rid of election deniers, you have to let them be part of the process,” Weible said. (Photo: Stu Whitney / South Dakota News Watch)
"So we're stuck with ordinance language our legal counsel states is in direct violation of state and federal law," said McPherson County Auditor Lindley Howard, also a member of the State Board of Elections. "If the voters vote for this ordinance we will have lawsuits. If we illegally deny the petition, then the petitioners will file a lawsuit. I feel like counties were left swimming in an ocean without a lifejacket."
Prior to the House vote, Pollema disputed Frankenstein’s legal conclusions in an email addressed to "every elected official in the state of South Dakota," asserting that federal election laws contain separate provisions for states with paper ballot voting systems.
"Federal and state laws clearly have protections for machine-free voting and counting," Pollema wrote in the email, which was obtained by News Watch. "Any lawyer who is promoting an opinion to the opposite is unethically and immorally weaponizing the law to fit a politically motivated agenda, and is in clear violation of the code of conduct for lawyers per State Bar Association rules."
Despite this stance, South Dakota Canvassing changed the wording on its sample petitions to say that electronic voting machines are prohibited "with the exception of devices for those with disabilities." The original wording still stands on the petitions submitted to McPherson and Lawrence counties.
'Guess it didn't fit their narrative'
Jim Eschenbaum, a semi-retired farmer from Miller who serves as a Hand County commissioner, thinks some of the election reformists have gone too far.
At first, he attended South Dakota Canvassing meetings to hear more about claims that the 2020 and 2022 elections were susceptible to hacking or fraud.
He heard concerns from fellow residents in his central South Dakota county, where voters gave Trump 62% of the vote in 2016 and 2020 and favored a Democratic candidate for president just once in the past 90 years – Lyndon Johnson over ultra-conservative Barry Goldwater in 1964.
"I told the South Dakota Canvassing Group on a regular basis, 'Thank you for what you are doing. You have definitely awakened the people of South Dakota,'" Eschenbaum said.
Along with Hand County Auditor Doug DeBoer, Eschenbaum received permission from the secretary of state’s office to pull the ballots from the 2020 election and perform a hand-counted audit to test out the county’s machine tabulators. The process was videotaped and later posted to YouTube.
“We had two election judges from the county, one Republican and one Democrat, and we randomly chose two precincts from the 2020 general election,” Eschenbaum told News Watch. “We found that all the ballots that went through the tabulators were counted 100% correctly.”
Four mail-in ballots had not gone through the machines in one precinct, which they traced to human error. When they did another audit for the 2022 primary election, the machine count came out accurate once more.
Eschenbaum and DeBoer said they reported their audit to South Dakota Canvassing but that the group did not include the findings as part of its online reports or presentations at community gatherings across the state.
“Transparency appears to be a one-way mirror," said DeBoer, who also served as Hand County sheriff for 17 years. "I guess it didn't fit their narrative."
For Eschenbaum, the experience showed that the current wave of electoral activism in South Dakota is more about tearing down the system than finding common ground in an effort to maintain election integrity.
"The state passed a law to mandate post-election audits after South Dakota Canvassing pushed for that," Eschenbaum said. "That's what they wanted, and when they got that, now they want to get rid of all the machines. I cannot speak for any other tabulators. I cannot speak for any other county. I will just assure people in Hand County that we've done our due diligence in making sure that the election count was correct. That's what we wanted to know."
Notices Summary
## **Minutes of the Minnehaha County Commissioners for March 5, 2024**
## **NOTICE OF AUDIT OF THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE EAST DAKOTA WATER DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT**
## **NOTICE OF VACANCIES AND FILING DEADLINE**
East Dakota Water Development District
## **NOTICE TO CREDITORS**
49 PRO 24-000071
## **NOTICE OF MEETING OF LOCAL EQUALIZATION BOARD**
## **NOTICE OF VOTER REGISTRATION**
## **Minutes of the Town of Sherman**
## **Town of Sherman: NOTICE OF MEETING OF LOCAL EQUALIZATION BOARD**
## **NOTICE OF HEARING**
## **Minutes of the City Council of Garretson for March 4, 2024**
## **ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS**
## **Notice to Bidders**
## **NOTICE OF HEARING**
Minutes of the Minnehaha County Commissioners for March 5, 2024
THE MINNEHAHA COUNTY COMMISSION CONVENED AT 9:00 AM on March 5, 2024, pursuant to adjournment on February 27, 2024. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT WERE: Bender, Bleyenberg, Karsky, and Kippley. Commissioner Beninga was absent. Also, present were Kym Christiansen, Commission Recorder, and Maggie Gillespie, Senior Deputy State's Attorney.
Chair Karsky called the meeting to order.
MOTION by Bleyenberg, seconded by Kippley, to Approve the Agenda. 4 ayes
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Kippley, seconded by Bleyenberg, to Approve the Consent Agenda. By roll call vote: 4 ayes. The consent agenda includes the following items:
Commission Meeting Minutes for February 27, 2024
Joint City of Sioux Falls/Minnehaha County Minutes from February 27, 2024
Bills to be Paid $1,420,892.06
A&B BUSINESS SOLUT Lease-Rental Agreement $184.99, A&B BUSINESS SOLUT Maintenance Contracts $295.9, A&B BUSINESS SOLUT Office Supplies $36.95, AB PROPANE INC Gas Oil & Diesel $69.42, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS Automotive/Small Equipment $29.94, ADVANCED PEST SOLUTI Maintenance Contracts $70, AIRWAY SERVICE INC Automotive/Small Equipment $146.73, AIRWAY SERVICE INC Gas Oil & Diesel $205.35, ALICE PECKSKAMP Office Supplies $65, ALL NATIONS INTERPRE Interpreters $5153.47, AMERICAN ENGINEERING Architects & Engineers $20863.5, ANDERSON, AUBREY Business Travel $52.53, ARCHITECTURE INC Jail Repairs & Maintenance $5510, ASH LAW OFFICE PLLC Attorney Fees $2381.7, AVERA MCKENNAN Hospitals $13906.51, AXIS FORENSIC TOXICO Lab Costs $822, BECK MOTORS INC Automobiles $22522.5, BIRMINGHAM & CWACH L Attorney Fees $454.16, BOB BARKER COMPANY I Child Care Food $440.33, BOB BARKER COMPANY I Child Care Items $214.91, BOB BARKER COMPANY I Child Care Uniforms $207.15, BUTLER MACHINERY COM Heavy Equip Repairs & Maint $153.33, CARROLL INSTITUTE Professional Services $768, CENTER FOR FAMILY ME Professional Services $231, CENTURY BUSINESS PRO Maintenance Contracts $361.81, CHAGOLLA, ALBERT Interpreters $150, CHARMTEX INC Child Care Items $495.71, CHARMTEX INC Child Care Uniforms $751.76, CHRIS BRYAN Uniform Allowance $121.03, CINTAS CORPORATION Janitorial Chemical Supplies $344.02, CINTAS CORPORATION Uniform Allowance $64.92, COMPUTER FORENSIC RE Professional Services $2980, CORRECTIONAL MEDICAL Contract Services $280703.3, DACOTAH PAPER CO Program Activities $95.22, DAKOTA AUTO PARTS Small Tools & Shop Supplies $10.56, DAKOTA LETTERING ETC Uniform Allowance $3376.25, DALSIN INC Fairgrounds $819.3, DGR ENGINEERING Architects & Engineers $12652.22, DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS Memberships $200, DUCKS UNLIMITED INC Architects & Engineers $12224, DUST TEX SERVICE INC Janitorial Chemical Supplies $42.9, DYNAMIC SERVICES LLC Welfare Rent $700, EH HOSPITALITY LLC Motels $700, ELECTRIC SUPPLY CO I Bldg/Yard Repair & Maintenance $15630, ETTERMAN ENTERPRISES Small Tools & Shop Supplies $379.87, EXHAUST PROS OF SIOU Truck Repairs & Maintenance $590.18, FASTENAL COMPANY Sign Supply Inventory $79.6, FERGUSON ENTERPRISES Small Tools & Shop Supplies $368.41, FULLER & WILLIAMSON, Attorney Fees $4205.1, G & R CONTROLS INC Heat, Vent & AC Repairs $150, GOEBEL PRINTING INC Printing/Forms $182, GOLDEN WEST Telephone $69.95, GRAHAM TIRE CO NORTH Automotive/Small Equipment $584, GRAINGER Heat, Vent & AC Repairs $8.08, GRIESE LAW FIRM Attorney Fees $1350.1, GRIESE LAW FIRM Child Defense Attorney $662, GROMER, JEFF Uniform Allowance $550, GUARDIAN Inmate Supplies $12750, GUARDIAN Other Supplies $455, GUARDRAIL ENTERPRISE Road Maint & Material $4943.94, GUARDRAIL ENTERPRISE Road Material Inventory $204, GUZMAN, SANDRA V Interpreters $300, H2OSE IT CAR WASH Truck Repairs & Maintenance $70.55, HEARTLAND FUNERAL HO Burials $2000, HEATHER MYERS Uniform Allowance $352.16, HEIDEPRIEM PURTELL Attorney Fees $3230.62, HERCULIFT INC Motor/Machine/Equipment Repair $132.64, HERITAGE FUNERAL HOM Burials $3500, HYDRAULIC WORLD INC Parts Inventory $548.22, HYDRAULIC WORLD INC Truck Repairs & Maintenance $261.08, I STATE TRUCK CENTER Truck Repairs & Maintenance $37.4, I STATE TRUCK CENTER Trucks/Tractors/Trailers $254608, INNOVATIVE OFFICE SO Janitorial Chemical Supplies $15660.74, INTEK Contract Services $1323.97, INTERSTATE ALL BATTE Automotive/Small Equipment $118.94, INTERSTATE ALL BATTE Truck Repairs & Maintenance $62.95, ISI LLC Interpreters $100, KAUFFMAN, DAVID W PH Psych Evals $2700, KOCH HAZARD ARCHITEC Communication Equipment $1575.74, KRAYCO WINDOW TREATM Automobiles $2976, LACEY RENTALS INC Lease-Rental Agreement $135, LAUGHLIN LAW LLC Child Defense Attorney $1545, LAWSON PRODUCTS INC Small Tools & Shop Supplies $31.27, LINEV SYSTEMS US INC Maintenance Contracts $18609.61, LISA CARLSON REPORTI Court Reporters $98, LOCKWOOD & ZAHRBOCK Child Defense Attorney $984.4, LOPEZ, REBECA Interpreters $360.79, LOVING, PHILIP Bd Evaluations (Minnehaha) $1063.34, LUTHERAN SOCIAL SVCS Shelter Care/Reception Center $93319.45, MAC'S HARDWARE Building Repairs & Maintenance $9.39, MAC'S HARDWARE Small Tools & Shop Supplies $1.39, MALLOY ELECTRIC Heat, Vent & AC Repairs $81.68, MALLOY ELECTRIC Plumbing & Welding $382.22, MAPLETON TOWNSHIP Miscellaneous Expense $14180.38, MEDSTAR PARAMEDIC IN Transportation $2000, MELLETTE COUNTY Board of Prisoners-Housing $1088, MENARD INC Small Tools & Shop Supplies $107.64, MIDAMERICAN ENERGY C Natural Gas $6594.78, MIDCONTINENT COMMUNI Amounts Held For Others $272.78, MIDLAND INC Heat, Vent & AC Repairs $57.34, MIDWEST BOILER INC Heat, Vent & AC Repairs $561.23, MIDWEST CONTRACTING Contracted Construction $56613.76, MINNEHAHA COMMUNITY Water - Sewer $60, MORGAN BOECKHOLT Taxable Meal Allowances $18, NAPA AUTO PARTS Automotive/Small Equipment $92.05, NAVEX GLOBAL INC Maintenance Contracts $7254.85, NORDSTROMS AUTOMOTIV Automotive/Small Equipment $250, NORTHERN TRUCK EQUIP Heavy Equipment $198190, NORTHERN TRUCK EQUIP Truck Repairs & Maintenance $961.25, NOVAK Trash Removal $537.44, NYBERGS ACE HARDWARE JDC Maintenance $86.39, O R CLYNE LAW OFFICE Attorney Fees $5147.7, OREILLY AUTOMOTIVE S Automotive/Small Equipment $626.82, PANTHER GRAPHICS LLC Publishing Fees $917, PENNING, LESLIE A Bd Exp Fees (Minnehaha) $448, PEVITTS, WILLIAM J Business Travel $500, PEVITTS, WILLIAM J Homeland Security $6000, PFEIFER IMPLEMENT CO Heavy Equip Repairs & Maint $4915, PFEIFER IMPLEMENT CO Heavy Equipment $6260, PFEIFER IMPLEMENT CO Lease-Rental Agreement $450, PHOENIX SUPPLY LLC Child Care Uniforms $210.74, PRICE, THOMAS L Professional Services $2400, PRIDE NEON, INC Automotive/Small Equipment $745, PRIDE NEON, INC Small Tools & Shop Supplies $375, QUALIFIED PRESORT SE Postage $223.22, R&L SUPPLY LTD Jail Repairs & Maintenance $70.41, R&L SUPPLY LTD Plumbing & Welding $47.04, RACHEL RASMUSSEN Business Travel $1831.48, RAM CONSULTING Education & Training $450, RENTOKIL NORTH AMERI Contract Services $325.84, RESOLUTE LAW FIRM IN Attorney Fees $11633.97, RESOLUTE LAW FIRM IN Child Defense Attorney $10255.95, REYNOLDS LAW LLC Child Defense Attorney $4379.9, ROBERT MASON Taxable Meal Allowances $18, ROTOROOTER Trash Removal $170, RUNNING SUPPLY INC Small Tools & Shop Supplies $39.98, RUNNING SUPPLY INC Uniform Allowance $125, SALEM, KARLA R Bd Evaluations (Minnehaha) $3520, SALLY FRITZ Court Reporters $162.25, SAMS CLUB - MEMBERSH Child Care Items $121.42, SAMS CLUB - MEMBERSH Clinics - Auxiliary Services $53.92, SAMS CLUB - MEMBERSH Other Supplies $119.9, SAMS CLUB - MEMBERSH Professional Services $373.94, SD ASSOC OF COUNTY O Education & Training $20, SD ASSOC OF COUNTY O Memberships $14368.64, SD HUMAN SERVICES CE Clinics - Auxiliary Services $10.8, SD PUBLIC ASSURANCE Comprehensive Gen Liability $3108.3, SHERWIN WILLIAMS Building Repairs & Maintenance $38.54, SIOUX FALLS CITY Water - Sewer $5818.59, SIOUX FALLS FORD INC Automotive/Small Equipment $247.68, SIOUX FALLS RUBBER S Office Supplies $125.5, SRF CONSULTING GROUP Architects & Engineers $15051.99, STAN HOUSTON EQUIPME Lease-Rental Agreement $125, STAN HOUSTON EQUIPME Small Tools & Shop Supplies $369, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Amts Held-Daily Scram $4100, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Amts Held-Remote Breath $824, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Bridge Repair & Maintenance $1117.98, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Contracted Construction $1238.35, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Extension Background Checks $50, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT MacArthur SJC Grant $66000, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Miscellaneous Expense $28, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Outside Repair $1.05, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Printing/Forms $119.51, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOT Sign Supply Inventory $257.52, STREICHERS INC Uniform Allowance $1644.94, SUMMIT FOOD SERVICE Board Of Prisoners-Meals $56408.29, SUMMIT FOOD SERVICE Child Care Food $1286.65, SUMMIT FOOD SERVICE Inmate Supplies $190.43, SUMMIT FOOD SERVICE School Lunch Program $2954.24, TOMACELLI'S TOO Jury Fees $139.76, TRANSOURCE TRUCK & E Truck Repairs & Maintenance $1087.55, TSCHETTER & ADAMS LA Attorney Fees $1423.04, TYLER TECHNOLOGIES I Software $2400, TZADIK SIOUX FALLS P Welfare Rent $670.18, U.S. VENTURE HOLDING Parts Inventory $1219.09, US FOODS INC Professional Services $869.27, VB FALLS PARK LIMITE Welfare Rent $450, VER BEEK, KELSEY Bd Exp Fees (Minnehaha) $80.5, VER BEEK, KELSEY Child Defense Attorney $712.86, VITAL RECORDS Archive/Preservation Supplies $1200, VOGEL MOTORS LLC Automotive/Small Equipment $2, VOGEL MOTORS LLC Gas Oil & Diesel $57, WEERHEIM LAW OFFICE Bd Exp Fees (Minnehaha) $6759.6, WEERHEIM LAW OFFICE Crisis Intervention Program $92, WHITTIER APARTMENTS Welfare Rent $384, XCEL ENERGY Electricity $34469.05, XCEL ENERGY Road Maint & Material $35.05, XCEL ENERGY INC Welfare Utilities $500, ZABEL STEEL Sign Supply Inventory $71.59.
Routine Personnel Actions
New Hires
1. Clarissa Sickles-Harr, Juvenile Correctional Officer I for the Juvenile Detention Center, at $24.13/hour (13/1) effective 3/2/2024.
2. Samuel Alvine, Deputy State's Attorney for the State's Attorney's Officer, at $3,492.00/biweekly (22/2) effective 3/1/2024.
3. Awor Arop, Deputy State's Attorney for the State's Attorney's Office, at $3,667.20/biweekly (22/3) effective 3/1/20204.
Promotions
1. Patrick Kaiser, Deputy Sheriff to Sergeant for the Sheriff's Office, at $40.51/hour (20/6) effective 3/16/2024.
Step Increases
1. Alexander Suurmeyer, Air Guard Shift Supervisor for the Air Guard, at $33.25/hour (17/4) effective 3/7/2024.
2. Craig Wittrock, Air Guard Shift Supervisor for the Air Guard, at $40.51/hour (17/12) effective 3/7/2024.
3. Mark Russell, Air Guard Shift Supervisor for the Air Guard, at $41.55/hour (17/13) effective 3/7/2024.
4. Julie Anderson, Administrative Secretary for the Juvenile Detention Center, at $25.98/hour (10/8) effective 2/18/2024.
To record significant employee anniversaries for March 2024: 5 years-Tyrell Bertsch, Chad Boelhower, Katheryn Ryan; 20 years-Joshua Phillips.
To record volunteers in County Departments for February 2024. This list is on file at Human Resources.
Abatement Applications
Recommended for Approval by the Director of Equalization
Parcel-70516, Aaron or Ashley Hoefert, 2023 Property Taxes, $337.38
Items within Policy Guidelines
Approve Special Event Consume & Blend Beverage License Number C&B 24-01 for an Event on June 29, 2024
PROCLAMATION
The Greater Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and the St. Patrick's Committee have requested a Proclamation from the Minnehaha County Commission for the annual St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza. Shawn Cleary, head of the St. Patrick's Day committee was in attendance to read and receive the proclamation. MOTION by Kippley, seconded by Bleyenberg, to Issue a Proclamation Declaring March 16, 2024, as St. Patrick's Day in Minnehaha County. 4 ayes.
PRESENTATION
Nathan Skadsen, 4-H Advisor, and Aubrey Anderson, 4-H Youth Program Advisor, gave a briefing on the Minnehaha County 4-H Program highlighting the purpose of the 4-H program and the Chicks in the Classroom program. The presentation went on to highlight the shooting sports program and provided an overview on the preparation on the 2024 summer program plans.
PLANNING & ZONING NOTICES
Kevin Hoekman, Planner, gave the first reading and requested authorization for the Auditor to publish a Notice of Hearing on March 26, 2024, to consider a text amendment to the Revised Joint Zoning Ordinance for Minnehaha County and the City of Sioux Falls to provide regulations for intermodal shipping/storage containers. MOTION by Bender, seconded by Kippley, to Authorize the Auditor to Publish a Notice of Public Hearing on a Text Amendment to the Revised Joint Zoning Ordinance for Minnehaha County and the City of Sioux Falls to be held on March 26, 2024, at or after 5:00 p.m. at a Joint Meeting of the Minnehaha County Commission and Sioux Falls City Council. 4 ayes.
Scott Anderson, Planning Director, gave the first reading and requested authorization for the Auditor to publish a Notice of Hearing on March 26, 2024, to consider a zoning ordinance text amendment for the addition of Article 12.19 Long Term Lease or Rental. MOTION by Kippley, seconded by Bleyenberg, to Authorize the Auditor to Publish a Notice Hearing at or after 9:00 a.m. on March 26, 2024, to Consider a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to Add Long Term Lease or Rental. 4 ayes.
PRESENTATION
Chris Lilla, Director of Equalization, provided an annual presentation for the Equalization Department. The presentation highlighted the following: maintain and update county data, previous year sales, real estate assessment and market adjustment for Minnehaha County properties; approaches to value types, and track the development and growth of the County. The Equalization Department administers various exemption and benefit programs including owner occupied, elderly freeze, discretionary, disabled veteran, renewable energy credit, religious/educational/charitable exemptions, and agricultural exemption. The 2023 accomplishments were highlighted, as were the 2024 agenda and goals for the Equalization Department.
RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT
Steve Groen, Highway Superintendent, presented a right-of-way purchase agreement with Steven and Deanne Wrage. The Highway Department has opened bids for the replacement of Structure 50-144-020 on County Highway 104 over Skunk Creek. Additional property is required for the construction and maintenance of the bridge on the south side of Hwy 104. MOTION by Bender, seconded by Kippley, to Authorize the Chair to Sign a Right-of-Way Purchase Agreement with Steven and Deanne Wrage, for the Construction and Maintenance of the Bridge South of Hwy 104 for the Amount of $5,700 and Legally Described as Lot H-2 in the Northwest Quarter (NW1/4) and the West Half of the Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (W1/2NE1/4NW1/4) of Section 16-Townships 104 N-Range 50W of the 5th P.M., Minnehaha County, South Dakota for a total of 0.57 acres, more or less. By roll call vote: 4 ayes.
BID RESULTS
Steve Groen, Highway Superintendent, reported on the bid opening for MC22-09 Structure 50-144-020 Replacement held on February 21, 2024. The following bids were received: Prahm Construction with a total bid of $1,295.661.83; Grave Construction with a total bid of $1,569,391.00; Nolz Dragline and Construction with a total bid of $1,732.334.34; Robert R. Schroeder Construction with a total bid of $1,782,016.74; Icon Construction with total bid of $2,110,714.45; and Kea Construction with a total bid of $2,527.188.10. MOTION by Kippley, seconded by Bleyenberg, to Approve Bid Results and Award Recommendation for MC22-09 Structure 50-144-020 Replacement and Authorize the Chair Sign an Agreement with Prahm Construction, Inc. By roll call vote: 4 ayes.
EQUIPMENT PURCHASE
Upon the request of Steve Groen, Highway Superintendent, MOTION by Bleyenberg, seconded by Kippley, to Authorize the Highway Department to Purchase a Doosan P250/MHP 185 Air Compressor Utilizing the Sourcewell Procurement Contract in amount of $32,351.70. 4 ayes.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Tom Greco, Commission Administrative Officer, provided an update for the 2024 Legislative Session and a status report on the bills that impact Minnehaha County. The following County Funding Summer Study bill have passed included HB 1007, which helps counties in the provision of veteran services; HB 1194, which provides some additional funding related to the work that goes into TIF districts; and SB 4, which provides additional bidding flexibility for townships. Legislation related to indigent legal services has passed both chambers and will help to reduce the cost that counties face in providing legal services to indigent defendants. Commission Administrative Officer Greco also provided an update on status of additional bills with a potential impact on Minnehaha County.
COMMISSIONER LIAISON REPORTS
Commissioner Bleyenberg reported on the upcoming Minnehaha County Water Festival as well as the various transportation studies being completed by Urbanized Development Committee.
MOTION by Bleyenberg, seconded by Bender, to Adjourn at 9:51 a.m. 4 ayes.
The Commission adjourned until 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024.
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION:
Dean Karsky
Chair
ATTEST:
Kym Christiansen
Commission Recorder
Published at the total approximate cost of $195.53 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
Minutes of the Minnehaha County Building Committee
THE MINNEHAHA COUNTY BUILDING COMMITTEE CONVENED AT 8:00 AM on March 5, 2024, pursuant to adjournment on February 6, 2024. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT WERE: Bender, Karsky, and Kippley; Auditor Anderson, Facilities Director Kriens, and Commission Administrative Officer Greco. Also present was Kym Christiansen, Commission Recorder and Maggie Gillespie, Senior Deputy State's Attorney.
MOTION by Bender, seconded by Kippley, to correct the February 6th meeting minutes to say Juvenile Justice Center start date instead of Juvenile Justice Center state date. 6 ayes.
MOTION by Bender, seconded by Kippley, to Approve the Amended Meeting Minutes from February 6, 2024. 6 ayes.
JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER UPDATE
Commissioner Bleyenberg arrived at 8:02 a.m.
Representatives from Tegra, Juvenile Detention Center, Henry Carlson, and Architecture Incorporated provided an update on the Juvenile Justice Center project. The project update included the following: phase 1 and phase 2 construction schedules, budget including the bidding progress, and operational policies during construction. The briefing went on to highlight the design development cost model.
MINNESOTA AVE PHASE 2
CONSTRUCTION BRIEFING
Tom Greco, Commission Administrative Officer, provided a presentation regarding the overview of real estate actions requested of the County relating to the City's Minnesota Avenue Phase 2 Construction project. A construction easement would be provided for the purposes of grading, backsloping, landscaping, excavation work, and related construction. The presentation went on to highlight the various changes to Parking Lot I and Parking Lot A.
IT DISASTER RECOVERY SITE
The briefing to consider the relocation of the IT Disaster Recovery Site from Monte Watembach will be moved to a future meeting.
MOTION by Bender, seconded by Bleyenberg, to Adjourn at 8:50 a.m. 7 ayes.
APPROVED BY THE BUILDING COMMITTEE:
Dean Karsky
Building Committee Chair
ATTEST:
Kym Christiansen
Commission Recorder
Published at the total approximate cost of $29.96 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
NOTICE OF AUDIT OF THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE EAST DAKOTA WATER DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
Notice is hereby given that the records and books of the East Dakota Water Development District have been audited by ELO CPAs & Advisors, Certified Public Accountants of Huron, South Dakota, for the years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022. Detailed reports thereon are filed with the East Dakota Water Development District in Brookings, South Dakota, and the Department of Legislative Audit in Pierre, South Dakota, for public inspection.
This notice is published in compliance with the provisions of SDCL 46A-3D-4.
Jay Gilbertson, Manager/Treasurer
East Dakota Water Development District
Published twice at the total approximate cost of $19.17 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-2tc
NOTICE OF VACANCIES AND FILING DEADLINE
East Dakota Water Development District
The following office will become vacant on December 31, 2024, due to the expiration of the present term of office of the elective director.
Director 4 (4-year Term) representing the cities of Baltic, Colton, Garretson, Hartford, Humboldt, Valley Springs, and Sherman in Minnehaha County; and Buffalo, Clear Lake, Edison, Grand Meadow, Hartford, Humboldt, Lyons, Palisade, Red Rock, Sverdrup, Taopi, Valley Springs, Wall Lake, and Wellington townships in Minnehaha County; and voting districts 4-11, VP 02, VP03, VP 05, VP 15, and VP 16 in Minnehaha County.
Nominating petitions may be obtained from:
1. Secretary of State, State Capitol Building, 500 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 204, Pierre, SD 57501-5070, (605) 773-3537;
2. East Dakota Water Development District, 132B Airport Avenue, Brookings, SD 57006, (605) 688-6741; and
3. Minnehaha County Auditor, 415 North Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, (605) 367-4220.
The petitions must be filed with the Secretary of State's office no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Petitions which are mailed by REGISTERED MAIL prior to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26,2024, will be considered timely filed. Certified mail received after the deadline will NOT be considered filed on a timely basis.
Published twice at the total approximate cost of $32.59 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
49 PRO 24-000071
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA ): SS
COUNTY OF
MINNEHAHA )
IN CIRCUIT COURT SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
In the Matter of the ESTATE OF
SHARON FLORENCE STOLL, Deceased.
Notice is given that on March 4, 2024, Tracey Richard Stoll, whose address is 201 E. Lotta St #4 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was appointed as Personal Representative of the Estate of Sharon Florence Stoll.
Creditors of decedent must file their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or their claims may be barred.
Claims must be filed with the Personal Representative or may be filed with the clerk, and a copy of the claim mailed to the Personal Representative.
Tracey Richard Stoll 201 E. Lotta St #4 Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Personal Representative
Mary R. Ash
Ash Law Office, PLLC
5101 S. Nevada Ave., Suite #130 Sioux Falls, SD 57108
(605) 800-1071
Attorney for Personal Representative
Angelia M. Gries
Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts 425 North Dakota Ave
Sioux Falls SD 57104
(605) 367-5900
Published four times at the total approximate cost of $47.09 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-2tc
NOTICE OF MEETING OF LOCAL EQUALIZATION BOARD
SDCL 10-11-13
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the governing body, sitting as a Review Board of Equalization for The Municipality of Garretson, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, will meet at the Garretson City Hall in said taxing jurisdiction on the 20th day of March 2024 for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the assessment of said taxing district for the year, 2024.
All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment, are required to notify the municipal finance officer no later than March 14th, 2024, of their intention to appeal their assessment.
Paetyn Dreckman
Finance Officer
City of Garretson
Published twice at the total approximate cost of $17.89 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-7-24-1tc
NOTICE OF VOTER REGISTRATION
Voter registration for the City of Garretson General Election to be held on April 9th, 2024, will close on March 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm. Failure to register by this date will cause forfeiture of voting rights for this election. If you are in doubt about whether you are registered, call the County Auditor at 605-367-4220.
Registration may be completed during regular business hours at the county auditor’s office, municipal finance office, and those locations which provide driver’s licenses, food stamps, TANF, WIC, military recruitment, and assistance to the disabled as provided by the Department of Human Services.
Voters with disabilities may contact the county auditor for information and special assistance in voter registration, absentee voting, or polling place accessibility.
Paetyn Dreckman
Finance Officer
City of Garretson
Published twice at the total approximate cost of $21.73 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-7-24-1tc
Minutes of the Town of Sherman
March 5, 2024
The Sherman Town Board met in regular session Tuesday March 5, 2024 @ 7:30pm
Members Present: Gerry Karpen, Dawn Williams, Darrin Trower and Cheryl Swenson
Others Present: Robin Berg, Larry Sutton Jr, Kristy Trower.
Karpen called the meeting to order.
Routine Business:
Approval of the agenda- Motion by Trower to approve the agenda, 2nd by Williams-all ayes, motion carried.
Minutes of the February 6, 2023 meeting were read—Trower made a motion to approve the minutes, 2nd by Williams—all Ayes, motion carried.
The Treasurer’s report was read—Trower made a motion to approve the Treasurers report as read, 2nd by Williams—all Ayes, motion carried
Claims Approved to be paid:
Minnehaha Community Water $60.00 water, Excel Energy $289.59 for street lights, $58.43 for town hall lights, $33.39 for park lights, Garretson Gazette $25.24 for Jan. minutes, $10.22 for notice of vacancy, Gerry Karpen $10.61 for ice melt, Jesse James $87.91 for 27.5 gal of gas.
Old Business:
1. Board Of Equalization—will be March 19th, 2024 @7:30pm. Swenson will pick up the book from Equalization Office. Residents may pick up a form from the clerk and get it back to her by the14th of March.
2. Robin Berg—Berg wanted to know what was in park fund and CD’s, she also wanted to do Christmas for the kids of the town, hang Christmas lights on poles, sign for Tiger Park and check on getting a slide for Strom Park. Discussion followed. Williams will make a sign out of cedar for Tiger Park, and have further discussion of Christmas for kids in October meeting.
New Business:
1. Petitions—Received only 1 petition so there will be no election.
2. Annual Report-Clerk presented the annual report with a few corrections to be added—Motion by Trower to accept Annual Report, 2nd by Williams—all ayes motion approved.
3. Mowing bids—mowing bids need to be in for the April meeting, can pick up a bid sheet from clerk.
4. Grants- Williams presented some grants that the town could apply for.
Trower made a motion to adjourn, 2nd by Williams—all ayes. Next regular meeting will be April 2, 2024 @ 7:30pm. Cheryl Swenson Town Clerk
Published at the total approximate cost of $27.80 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
Town of Sherman: NOTICE OF MEETING OF LOCAL EQUALIZATION BOARD
SDCL10-11-13
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the governing body, sitting as a Review Board of Equalization for Sherman Township/Municipality, Minnehaha County, SD, will meet at the City Town Hall in said taxing jurisdiction on 19th day of March, 2024 for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the Assessment of said taxing district for the year, 2024.
All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment, are required to notify the clerk
Of the local board no later than March 12th, 2024 of their intention to appeal their assessment.
Sherman Township
Cheryl Swenson Town Clerk
Published at the total approximate cost of $9.23 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
NOTICE OF HEARING
Notice is hereby given that on March 26, 2024 at or after 5:00 p.m. the Minnehaha County Board of County Commissioners will conduct a joint public hearing with the City of Sioux Falls to consider the following amendments to MC30-02, the Revised Joint Zoning Ordinance for Minnehaha County and City of Sioux Falls. Such hearing will be part of the regularly scheduled meeting to be held in Carnegie Town Hall, 235 W. 10th Street, Sioux Falls, SD.
ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT related to the following:
Article 15.07 – Accessory Building and Uses – to add Intermodal Shipping/Storage Containers as an Allowed Accessory Building with requirements
Article 15.16 – Temporary Use – to add Intermodal Shipping/Storage Containers as an Allowed Temporary Use with requirements
Article 24.02 – Definitions – to add a definition for Intermodal Shipping/Storage Container
All interested persons may appear and be heard.
Meeting Assistance: Accommodations for meetings will be provided for persons with disabilities upon request. Please contact the County Commission Office at (605) 367-4206 (Voice or TDD) 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
Dated: March 5, 2024
Published at the total approximate cost of $15.98 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
Minutes of the City Council of Garretson for March 4, 2024
City of Garretson
March 4th, 2024
The City Council of the City of Garretson, Minnehaha County, South Dakota met in regular session on Monday, March 4th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at Garretson American Legion with Mayor Beaner presiding.
6:30 P.M. Mayor Beaner called the regular meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Greg Beaner – Mayor
Greg Franka – Ward I
William Hoskins – Ward I
Dave Bonte – Ward II
Tom Godbey – Ward II
Jackie Rotert – Ward III
Bruce Brown -- Ward III
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Paetyn Dreckman, Jordan Doane, JR Hofer, Sonya Swanson, Carrie Moritz, Colleen Collier, Thad Roberts, Cole Gebhart, Sophie Johnson, Dane Ekdom, Parker Hamann, Kimberly Konda, James Donaldson, Leroy Austin, Markus Staeffler, Leslie Black
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL:
A. Agenda – 3-04-2024 Regular Meeting
B. Claims Approved Dated 3-04-2024
C. Minutes Regular Meeting 2-05-2024
Council member Franka made a motion to consent to the agenda, Brown 2nd. 6 ayes, 0 nays. Motion passed.
VANDERSNICK EXCAVATING, LLC Water Leak Repairs $265.31
A&B BUSINESS EQUIPMENT Printer Contract $217.21
MC&R POOLS, INC CPO Course $730.00
STEVE S ELECTRIC Booster Pump $1,962.16
DANR NPDES-DANR Fees $1,880.00
GARRETSON FOOD CENTER Office Supplies $48.84
GROEBNER & ASSOCIATES, Inc Nat Gas Equipment $106.64
BADGER METER, INC. Utility Meters $316.08
DANIELSON, LINDA Cleaning Services $300.00
ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS Phones/Internet $598.00
FIRST BANK & TRUST Utility Bill Collection $100.00
MINNEHAHA COUNTY SHERIFF Sheriff Contract $23,450.05
QUILL CORPORATION Office Supplies $287.07
CITY OF CROOKS Dekatherms-Jan $3,284.82
DELTA DENTAL Dental Insurance $401.90
VERIZON WIRELESS Phone Lines/iPad $346.56
MINNEHAHA COMMUNITY WATER Bulk Water Jan Usage $8,624.60
XCEL Streetlights $5,280.54
SCHOENFISH & COMPANY Bi-Annual Audit $13,000.00
GAS TRAINING SPECIALTIES Nat. Gas Training $1,163.75
PURCHASE POWER Postage $405.50
GARBAGE-N-MORE Waste Removal $415.00
SD MUNICIPAL LEAGUE SDML District Annual Meeting $32.00
BRANDON ACE HARDWARE Equipment Repairs $426.83
MENARDS - EAST Shop Supplies $1,732.06
GARRETSON GAZETTE Publishing $181.27
THE TREASURE CHEST Rental $80.00
METERING & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS Nat Gas Meters $1,490.13
TRI-STATE DOOR Shop Supplies $140.00
ALL AROUND WELDING Snow Equipment Repairs $405.00
BJM ENTERPRISE, INC. Equipment Repair-Payloader $614.11
ALTERNATIVE HR, LLC HR Services $465.00
AMERICAN LEGAL PUBLISHING Ord-Res Updates $495.00
ISG CIP $3,000.00
DIRECT TECHNOLOGIES IT Services $1,946.15
HEALTH POOL OF SD Health Insurance $11,614.17
LOWE CONSTRUCTION 5th Street Shop $41,558.24
CLAYTON ENERGY Jan Commodity $73,416.36
US BANK DW #2 Drinking Water $7,593.31
NUSSBAUM, RYAN PTO/ESL Payout $11,339.78
DAKOTA RESOURCES Econ. Development Annual Dues $1,500.00
SIOUX VALLEY ENERGY Rubble Site Electric $56.54
EFTPS/IRS (FED/FICA TAXES FED/FICA TAX $5,171.28
SD DEPT OF HEALTH Water Testing $60.00
FIRST BANK & TRUST CC NG Repair on Equipment $2,813.28
US BANK CW#3 Clean Water $13,769.41
US BANK DW #3 Drinking Water $5,177.06
US BANK CW#4 Clean Water 4 $10,354.12
PILOT ROCK Picnic Tables '23 $4,728.00
DRECKMAN, PAETYN Tuition Reimbursement $1,166.50
CONTINENTAL WESTERN GROUP Liability Insurance $328.00
CNH INDUSTRIAL RETAIL Equipment $26.19
AMERICAN TRUST INSURANCE City Insurance $18.38
AVERA OCCUPATIONAL MEDIC DOT-Drug Screen $167.38
JJ'S ELECTRIC Exterior Lights on City Hall $1,725.00
AMAZON BUSINESS Flame Resistant - NG $444.15
EMBE WSI Registration $900.00
SODAK SHRM STATE COUNCIL SHRM Conference $300.00
PAYROLL CHECKS PAYROLL CHECKS ON 02/09/2024 $9,284.36
PAYROLL CHECKS PAYROLL CHECKS ON 02/23/2024 $9,492.87
CLAIMS TOTAL $299,880.45
GENERAL FUND $99,709.96
WATER DEPT FUND $39,008.65
SEWER DEPT FUND $49,564.95
NATURAL GAS FUND $111,596.89
Public Comments: none
Committee Reports
• Natural Gas Reports - Swanson presented gas prices at $1.47 per ccf. No discussion. Council member Rotert motioned to approve Natural Gas prices as presented with a second from Bonte. 6 ayes, 0 nays. Motion passed. Dreckman gave an update on utility billing migration and issues that have been experienced and plans going forward.
• Finance – Dreckman presented balances for city finances. Working with ELO to complete annual report for 2023 and an update on changes to HR related items including new hire onboarding policy, purchase policy, employee uniform policy, and implementing the Traction model. No discussion.
• Streets/Maintenance/Parks – Doane advised council he and Hofer are enrolled in pool operations course this spring and looking into resurfacing of 5th street east of the bridge. Collier advised council of parks board meeting March 14th 4:30pm at City Hall.
• Economic Development – Fueston was not in attendance but provided council with an update included in their packets
Ordinances & Resolutions
Ordinance 695 – Amending General Organization; Appointments – Dreckman advised council of the amendment needed to correct the titles of council appointments given each May after elections. First reading, no action was taken.
ORDINANCE NO. 695
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND/OR REPEALING CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE EXISTING GARRETSON MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 31, AND THE STATUTES CONTAINED THEREIN, RELATING TO “GENERAL ORGANIZATION; APPOINTMENTS”
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF GARRETSON, MINNEHAHA COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA:
GARRETSON MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 3-31-01 SECTONS (A) & (B) IS HEREBY AMENDED TO READ:
Appointive Officers and Terms of Office: At the first regular meeting of the City Council after the annual city election in each year, the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council, shall appoint the following city officers, who shall hold their offices for one (1) year, except as herein otherwise provided, and until their successors are appointed and qualified, to-wit:
Council Officers Appointments: Personnel & Policy, Planning & Zoning, Finance & Professional, Natural Gas, Water, Sewer, Streets, Parks
Other Appointments: Attorney, Official Depository, Official Newspaper, SMGA Rep.
That this ordinance is necessary for the preservation and support of the municipal government and its existing public institutions and shall take effect immediately upon the passage and publication hereof.
Dated this 4th day of March, 2024. First Reading: March 4th, 2024.
Second Reading and Adoption:
Effective Date:
Published:
Greg Beaner, Mayor
ATTEST:
Paetyn Dreckman, Finance Officer
(SEAL)
Published at the total approximate cost of $19.53 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
Resolution 2024-10 Donaldson Variance – Donaldson was in attendance and requested a variance to allow placing a garage on his property, with the entrance facing Canyon rather than the ally. Donaldson resides on a corner lot on Canyon and 5th and would like to align a garage with structures that have been grandfathered in along Canyon for setbacks. Hofer assured council that Donaldson’s request was not out of line and recommended the variance. Hoskins motioned to approve the variance as requested with a second from Brown. 6 ayes 0 nays, motion passed.
RESOLUTION 2024-10
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A VARIANCE
WHEREAS, Chapter 15.04 of the Municipal Zoning Regulations of the City of Garretson authorizes a variance for property in the residential district; and
WHEREAS, James Donaldson owns the property described as Parcel 22977 LOT 8 and 9 Block 1 GARRETSON CITY ORIGINAL SUBD, City of Garretson, Minnehaha County, South Dakota (800 5th Street) and has applied for a variance on said property. The variance will allow placement of garage structure on the northwest corner of said property with city street access rather than alley to align with similar structures on Canyon Avenue.
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Garretson, that a variance is hereby granted for the above-described property under the following conditions:
1. Parcel 22977 LOT 8 and 9 Block 1 GARRETSON CITY ORIGINAL SUBD, City of Garretson, Minnehaha County, South Dakota (800 4th Street) and has applied for a variance on said property as set forth in the zoning regulations 4.10 to allow placement of a garage structure 25 feet from the curb with city street access rather than alley to align with similar structures on Canyon Avenue.
2. Any other ordinances or sections of the Municipal Code of the City of Garretson that may apply, will be complied with
3. This variance will apply to any subsequent owner as it relates to said construction permitted by this resolution.
Adopted this 4th day of March, 2024.
Greg Beaner
Mayor, City of Garretson
(SEAL)
ATTEST:
Paetyn Dreckman
Municipal Finance Officer
Publication:
Effective Date:
Published at the total approximate cost of $22.01 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
Resolution 2024-11 SDDOT Bridge Inspection – Dreckman advised council DOT requires biannual bridge inspections and provides a list of engineering firms on retainer. DOT requires the city to request a firm from the provided list to complete the inspection. Council discussed. Godbey motioned to approve resolution as presented with a second from Bonte. 6 ayes 0 nays, motion passed.
RESOLUTION 2024-11 BRIDGE REINSPECTION PROGRAM
RESOLUTION FOR USE WITH SDDOT RETAINER CONTRACTS
WHEREAS, 23 CFR 650, Subpart C, requires initial inspection of all bridges and reinspection at intervals not to exceed two years with the exception of reinforced concrete box culverts that meet specific criteria. These culverts are reinspected at intervals not to exceed four years.
THEREFORE, the City of Garretson is desirous of participating in the Bridge Inspection Program using Bridge Replacement funds.
The City requests SDDOT to hire HDR Engineering Inc. for the inspection work. SDDOT will secure Federal approvals, make payments to the Consulting Engineer for inspection services rendered, and bill the City for 20% of the cost. The City will be responsible for the required 20% matching funds.
Dated this 4th day of March, 2024, at Garretson, South Dakota.
Greg Beaner, Mayor
ATTEST:
Paetyn Dreckman, Finance Officer
Published at the total approximate cost of $12.07 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
New Business:
• Liquor License Transfer-Malt Beverage/SD Wines License – Konda will be taking over ownership of The Treasure Chest and requested the current malt beverage license to be transferred. Current owner filed affidavit with Dreckman to transfer the license. Council discussed and Godbey motioned to approve the transfer with a second from Bonte. 6 ayes 0 nays. Motion passed.
• 2024 Equalization Meeting Date -Council set date for March 20th 6:30 pm at City Hall. Council moved April Regular Meeting to April 8th 6:30pm at the Legion due to Easter weekend.
• Street Maintenance Traffic Control Device Grant – Doane requested council approval to apply for the grant for the purchase of traffic speed signs at designated locations in town. Bonte motioned to apply for the grant with a second from Rotert. 6 ayes 0 nays, motion passed.
• Approval of Community Access Grant – City was awarded $600,000.00 to go towards the 4th street project. Council is required to acknowledge and approve the award with requirements outlined in the agreement. Brown motioned to approve with a second from Bonte. 6 ayes 0 nays, motion passed.
• 4th Street Update and Request for Bid Notice – Gebhart gave an update on the project. Advised comments from DANR and DOT were approved and able to move to bid. Sayre will be advertising and bids to be at City Hall by 2pm April 3rd and opened at 2:15. Hoping to start the project late May/early June.
• Participation in regional Safety Action Plan through SECOG – Johnson advised council of ability to participate in safety action plan allowing for federal grants in the future. Plan will look at safety concerns throughout the city and a plan of action. Council discussed and Bonte motioned to participate with a second from Hoskins. 6 ayes 0 nays. Motion passed.
Old Business:
• CIP Updates with ISG – Ekdom presented Final Draft of the CIP and what to expect going forward. Council discussed and no action was taken. Plan to adopt or motion for changes in April once council and staff has a chance to review.
Other Items Brought Before Council: Austin requesting to close off a portion of Main Avenue, likely 4th to just north of Garretson Food Center, over Jesse James Days for a street dance. Planning for 7:30/8 to 11pm with set up beginning midday to midafternoon. Council discussed but item was not included on the agenda. Tabled until the next meeting. Beaner advised council the changes to the water study have been completed and currently waiting on approval from the state for reimbursement.
7:20 PM Rotert motioned to move into executive session with a second from Brown. 6 ayes 0 nays. Motion passed.
8:02 PM Hoskins made a motion to adjourn with a second from Bonte. 6 ayes 0 nays, motion passed.
Meeting adjourned.
Greg Beaner, Mayor
ATTEST
Paetyn Dreckman
Finance Officer
(Unapproved)
Published at the total approximate cost of $115.34 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
The City of Garretson requests formal bids for the Fourth Street Improvements Project. Major work items are Removals, Sanitary Sewer, Water Main, Storm Sewer, Grading and Surfacing. Sealed bids shall be received at Garretson City Hall, 705 N. Main Avenue, Garretson, South Dakota 57030, not later than 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Bids shall be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:15 P.M.
This project is partially funded using the State Revolving Fund (SRF). As a condition of the SRF funding guidelines, the Contractor shall meet the following minimum requirements:
A. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246 as amended, 11518 and 11625 as amended. The requirements for bidders and contractors under these orders are explained in the specifications.
Bidders on this work will be required to comply with Title 40 CFR 33 and Executive Order 12138. The requirements for bidders and contractors under this regulation which concerns utilization of Disadvantaged/Minority Business Enterprises (DBE/MBE) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE) are explained in the specifications. The DBE/MBE and WBE goals for participation in this contract in terms of percentage of contract value are as follows: MBE 1.0 percent; WBE 4.0 percent.
All bidders shall provide documentation of the effort to solicit bids from qualified entities upon request.
1. A copy of the DBE Subcontractor Solicitation Information Form shall be included with the original bid submission documents. If a bid does not include MBE/WBE solicitation it may not be accepted.
2. The South Dakota DBE directory can be found at the following link:
B. The low responsive bidder will be required to certify to compliance the American Iron and Steel provision of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014. This certification form may be found on page AIS-21 of the State Revolving Fund (SRF) General Conditions and must be included in the bid proposal.
Please be advised that waivers or exemptions from the American Iron and Steel provision that cite International Trade Agreements DO NOT comply with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 as it applies to the SRF programs. Claims from suppliers that the American Iron and Steel provision does not apply to certain products based on the International Trade Agreement exemptions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 will not be accepted.
C. Davis Bacon and Related Acts wages apply to this project. All provisions relative to those acts must be met.
D. Public Law 115-232 Section 889. Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment: The low responsive bidder must assure compliance with the requirements of Public Law 115-232, Section 889, Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. Contractors must assure that telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities), and video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities) WILL NOT be supplied for the project.
E. If a contract exists of $10,000 or more, the contractor is subject to Executive Order 11246 and have the responsibility to not discriminate against job applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, and national origin. You also have the responsibility to not discriminate against job applicants or employees who ask about, discuss or disclose their compensation or that of other employees, subject to certain limitations.”
Plans, specifications and bid forms that must be used are available online at www.sayreassociates.com. Select the Bid Info tab and refer to the bid documents under the Fourth Street Improvements box. Sayre Associates, Inc. will also provide paper copies of the plans, specifications and bid forms to any South Dakota contractor free of charge.
The City of Garretson reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive technicalities, and make award(s) as deemed to be in the best interest of Garretson, SD.
Published twice at the total approximate cost of $94.57 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-2tc
Notice to Bidders
Minnehaha County Highway Department requests formal proposals (bids) for “2024-2025 Annual Highway Materials.”
These five separate contracts will consist of furnishing specified materials for the annual term of the contract, generally including:
Bids may be submitted either through QuestCDN vBid or in paper form (see specific requirements hereinafter). All bids, whether submitted electronically through QuestCDN vBid online bidding or, alternatively, submitted by sealed paper copy must be received by the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office, 415 N Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, not later than 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Bids shall be publicly opened and read at the Auditor’s Office at 10:30am on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
For these contracts, bidding information can be obtained in either of the following ways:
1. By download at www.questcdn.com; or
2. In paper form from the Minnehaha County Highway Department located at 2124 E. 60th Street North, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104.
Electronic Bids: Electronic bids will only be received and accepted via the online electronic bid service QuestCDN vBid. Reference QuestCDN project number 9014484. QuestCDN will charge non- refundable fees to download the Request for Proposal and also to place a vBid. Contact QuestCDN Customer Support at 952-233-1632 or for assistance in membership registration, downloading digital Request for Proposal information and vBid online bid submittal. Downloading bid documents from QuestCDN will add your company to the Plan Holder List and allow you access to vBid online bidding for the submittal of your proposal (bid).
Sealed Paper Bids: Sealed paper bids must be submitted to the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office, 415 N Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, using only the proposal forms available at the Minnehaha County Highway Department located at 2124 E 60th Street North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Paper bids submitted on forms other than the proposal forms provided by the Minnehaha County Highway Department will be deemed irregular and will not be considered.
Minnehaha County reserves the right to reject any or all formal Proposals (Bids), waive technicalities, and make award(s) as deemed to be in the best interest of the County.
Published at the total approximate cost of $31.95 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
NOTICE OF HEARING
Notice is hereby given that on March 26, 2024 at or after 9:00 a.m. the Minnehaha County Board of County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing to consider the following amendment to MC16-90, the 1990 Revised Zoning Ordinance for Minnehaha County. Such hearing will be part of the regularly scheduled meeting to be held in the Commission Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 415 N Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD.
ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS related to the following:
1) Amending Section12 adding Section 12.19 Long Term Lease or Rental.
All interested persons may appear and be heard.
Meeting Assistance: Accommodations for meetings will be provided for persons with disabilities upon request. Please contact the County Commission Office at (605) 367-4206 (Voice or TDD) 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
Dated: March 5, 2024
Published at the total approximate cost of $13.14 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 3-14-24-1tc
