By Aberdeen Insider - August 20, 2026 in BROWN COUNTY
AUGUST 11, 2026
GENERAL MEETING
Meeting called to order by Chairman Sutton at 8:45 A.M. in the Commission Chambers, Courthouse Annex, Brown County, SD. Present were Commissioners Dennert, Dinger, Gage and Sutton. Commissioner Wiese was absent. Commissioner Gage led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Dinger to approve the agenda. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Dennis Jones met with the Commission to ask if there was some common ground that they could come to an agreement and save the Women’s Building at the Brown County Fairgrounds. He informed them that they had stickers made that state ‘It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over’ – Save the Building because by demolishing the building you are destroying too much history. All the people that they surveyed stated they want the building saved. He feels the money they are going to use to demolish the building and build a new one should be put towards preserving the current building.
Jim Hundstad was in attendance with Dennis Jones and would also like to see the building saved. He commented that you need to see where you are at and where you are going. This is a historic building that was not built cheaply. Mr. Hundstad also stated that you need to think about what it means to the 4-Her’s, preserve it instead of building something cheaply to replace it.
Dave Ochs was also in attendance with Dennis Jones. He questioned what the building was going to be used for because the name keeps changing. Chairman Sutton stated that it will be for 4-H and informed them that during Public Comment the Commission can not engage in discussion. Mr. Ochs believes it will cost $100,000 just to tear the building down and shared there is a new vinyl tile roof material that could be used to preserve the roof of the current building.
Dennis Jones shared some postcards that people had returned from their survey and comments that were written on them.
RICHMOND DAM UPDATE: Chairman Sutton shared the information he received from Emergency Management Director, Scott Meints: SFC is maintaining the lake elevation at 1349’; they are continuing to drive sheet piling on the upstream cofferdam; there has been approximately 350’ of sheet piling drove in the upstream cofferdam with roughly 175’ remaining; Foothills Contracting started building the upstream cofferdam, this should be done early next week and they will remove the existing bridge and spillway after the upstream cofferdam is complete; Bauer Foundation started production of the seepage cutoff wall on August 3rd, they will start on the south end and work their way north digging out earth material and filling the void with self-hardening slurry. Bauer started the 24 hr. work schedule on August 4th, and this will continue until the seepage cutoff wall is complete. Interstate Drilling is monitoring the piezometers daily to ensure there is no movement of the dam.
SUBRECIPIENT CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH FOREIGN NATIONAL VETTING REQUIREMENTS FOR BR. CO. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT:
Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Dinger to authorize Chairman Sutton to sign the Certification of Compliance with Foreign National Vetting requirements for the Brown County Emergency Management Performance Grant. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
RECONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY TO THE OWNER OF RECORD: Commissioner Dennert offered the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION #2026-34
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING RECONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY
TO THE OWNER OF RECORD
WHEREAS, On June 1, 2026 Brown County accepted a Tax Deed for real property located at:
Lot 3, together with the West 17 feet of vacated North Congress Street, lying adjacent to said Lot 3, Block 23, Howard and Dedger’s Replat of the Northwestern Addition to Aberdeen, being a part of the West Half of the Northwest Quarter (W1/2 of NW 1/4) of Section 18, Township 123, Range 63, according to the plat thereof of record, Brown County, South Dakota
; and
WHEREAS, Alvin Doerr, record owner, wishes to enter into an agreement for reconveyance of said property from Brown County; and
WHEREAS, South Dakota Codified Law 10-25-41 to 44 permits county commissioners to authorize a reconveyance by quitclaim deed to the record owner on payment in cash of the price fixed by the resolution of the county commissioners, which amount shall not be less than the total principal, interest, and costs of all taxed represented in the tax deed and any other taxes and interest which are unpaid on the real property; and
WHEREAS, the total amount due and owing Brown County calculated through August 2026 is $4,042.63.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in consideration for the amount due and owing of $4,042.62 the Board of Brown County Commissioners does hereby authorize the reconveyance by quitclaim deed to Alvin Doerr:
Lot 3, together with the West 17 feet of vacated North Congress Street, lying adjacent to said Lot 3, Block 23, Howard and Dedger’s Replat of the Northwestern Addition to Aberdeen, being a part of the West Half of the Northwest Quarter (W1/2 of NW 1/4) of Section 18, Township 123, Range 63, according to the plat thereof of record, Brown County, South Dakota
Dated at Aberdeen, South Dakota, this 11th day of August, 2026
Seconded by Commissioner Gage.
Roll Call Vote: Dennert-aye; Dinger-aye; Gage-aye; Sutton-aye; Wiese-absent. Resolution adopted.
APPLICATION FOR OCCUPANCY: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Dennert to approve the following application submitted by Northern Electric for occupancy of Brown County Highway 16 & 7 in Section 8, NE ¼ & SE ¼, Township 126N, Range 62W for primary electrical. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Dirk Rogers, Highway Superintendent, informed the Commissioners that they had some equipment fall through the road, so they abandoned the County 14 project. Bituminous Paving will be doing 6 miles on Co, Rd. 27 and 7 miles on Co. Rd. 14. Dirk plans to do the Hall Bridget the 1st year and then the road the second year to match up to the bridge which is better when doing it with concrete. The Cold-In-Place project will start on August 19th. Paving on County 9 will finish this week and they will chip seal it in a couple of weeks.
Chairman Sutton shared with Dirk that he received compliments on work done on Co. Rd. 14. Dirk commented that he would like to have the money the county will receive for the detour go back to the Highway Budget.
BROWN COUNTY FAIR PROMOTIONAL TICKET LIST-AMENDED: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Dinger to approve the promotional ticket list for the 2026 Brown County Fair as amended. All members present voting aye. Motion carried. (The full list is on file at the Brown County Fair Office).
MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Gage to approve the General Meeting Minutes of August 4, 2026. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Dennert to approve the Post Election Audit Minutes of August 6, 2026. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIMS/PAYROLL: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Dinger to approve the following claims/payroll. Claims: Insurance: SD Public Assurance Alliance $1,283.47. Professional Fees: Aberdeen Advanced Care Ambulance $711.52; Carrels & Bain Family Dental Care, LLC $2,811.24; CGI, LLC $1,425.00; Cogley Law Office, Prof LLC $1,073.60; County of Edmunds $11,220.00; Dohrer Law Office, PC $1,087.60; Helms & Associates $42,656.80; Kuck Law Office $805.20; Kylee Boomsma $7,515.20; Language Line Services, Inc $970.31; LexisNexis Risk Data Mgt, LLC $200.00; Northern Plains Animal Health $341.78; PharmChem, Inc $2,080.80; Sanford Health Occupational Medicine $638.00; Sara Zahn $169.30; Taliaferro Law Firm, PC $2,084.50; Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota & Montana $250.00; Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association $1,200.00; Aleda Tollefson $50.00; Ann Gibbs $50.00; Ashley Seeklander $50.00; Becky Erickson $50.00; BJ Clocksene $50.00; Brian Sharp $50.00; Brown County Treasurer $4,645.00; Caitlyn Oleson $50.00; Cara Dennert $50.00; Cathy Jorgenson $50.00; Cindy Schnabel $50.00; Courtney Wolff $50.00; Gretchen Sharp $50.00; Heather Wells $50.00; Janet Wright $50.00; Janice Bohling $50.00; Jean Hommel Kessler $150.00; Karin Porter Bartell $50.00; Kathy Novstrup $50.00; Kim Kipp $50.00; Linda Huettl $50.00; Lisa McNeely $50.00; Lisa Stamm $100.00; Mary Anne Whitman $50.00; Michelle Johnson $50.00; Michelle Olson $50.00; Nancy Klungseth $50.00; Nicole Hoines $50.00; Ric Dias $50.00; Rosalie Schumacher $50.00; Samantha Bowman $50.00; Sarah Koepke $50.00; Stephanie Denise Sombke $50.00; Susan Gerlach $50.00; Tayler Wolff $50.00; Vicki Nash $50.00; 4-H Performing Arts $200.00; Aberdeen Amateur Hockey Association $550.00; Aberdeen Cyling Association $10,000.00; ACBMSJPK LLC $1,000.00; Addie Schnabel $150.00; Addison K Design $1,575.00; Brandon Hooth $1,350.00; Brooke Hendrickx $150.00; Brown County Fair Foundation $900.00; Carolina Boy, Inc $113,500.00; CASA of the Fifth Judicial Circuit $350.00; Craig Zimprich $150.00; Drew Pederson $200.00; Elizabeth Hofer $2,900.00; Frederick Area Cross Country $1,000.00; George Birge, LLC $30,000.00; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church $4,000.00; Greenbroke, Inc. $50,000.00; Groton Area School District HOSA $7,850.00; Groton Lions Club $2,400.00; Halley Becking $250.00; Home Clean Home by Maria LLC $20,710.00; Hub Area Habitat for Humanity $2,000.00; Hunter Miller $250.00; Jan Zuidema $300.00; Jodie Smalley $5,000.00; Jyl Graves $50.00; Keith Raymond $1,650.00; Knights of Columbus Council 820 $950.00; Lakefront Entertainment, LLC $24,999.99; Logan Schlim $275.00; Michael Grann $100.00; Monte Beringer $6,500.00; NSU Swim Team $8,250.00; Pauer Sound, LLC $20,100.00; Pete J. Burckhard $450.00; Phil Baker $750.00; Raesa Zelinsky $100.00; Recooped Touring, LLC $42,500.00; Renegade Photography $1,000.00; Robert Kent VanMeter $2,580.00; SD Nurses Association $1,000.00; Sevendust Touring Inc $45,000.00; Show On, Inc $112,000.00; Sideline Productions $18,500.00; Sprocket Ventures, LLC $675.00; T & K Rentals, LLC $19,400.00; The Last Outlaws, Inc $25,000.00; Theory of a Deadman LLC $56,001.00; TMS Production Integration $22,460.00; Venessa Elizabeth Carpenter $1,000.00; Wayne Fischer $150.00; Wow Talent & Entertainment LLC $5,600.00. Publishing: Dakota Broadcasting, LLC $795.00; Groton Daily Independent $554.85; Hub City Radio $350.00; i3G Media $1,410.00; McQuillen Creative Group, Inc $2,550.42; The Watertown Current $286.20. Rentals: Linde Gas & Equipment Inc $65.45; Dakota Portable Toilets, Inc $20,500.00; Radio One $2,400.00; TLM Holdings LLC $21,088.00. Repairs & Maintenance: Big Scoop Snow Removal $180.00; City of Aberdeen Finance Office $6,477.50; Dakota Doors Inc $153.58; Dakota Fluid Power, Inc $38.32; Diesel Machinery, Inc $16,000.00; EcoLab Pest Elimination Division $296.57; Graham Tire Inc $3,353.74; Hoven Auto Repair, Inc $15.00; Matt’s Tree Service $3,200.00; Olson’s Pest Technicians $455.00; RDO Equipment Co $3,498.45; Runnings $307.80; Transource Truck & Equipment, Inc $5,015.82; Valvoline Inc. $186.17. Supplies & Materials: Advance Auto Parts $18.38; Agtegra Cooperative $40,074.89; Amazon Capital Services, Inc $1,858.45; Auto Value Aberdeen $502.31; Avera LTC Pharmacy Aberdeen $401.90; Butler Machinery Company $425.00; Central Network Retail Group LLC $667.70; Century Business Products $408.30; Christina M. Flack $1,000.00; Cole Paper Inc $2,277.26; Crawford Trucks & Equipment $569.21; Dakota Doors Inc $225.50; Dakota Fluid Power, Inc $1,369.13; Diesel Machinery, Inc $321.17; Doll Distributing LLC $20,239.92; East Side Jersey Dairy Inc $2,173.80; Hoven Auto Repair, Inc $56.00; Interstate Battery System of South Dakota $216.90; Jensen Rock & Sand Inc $66,870.90; Kessler’s $137.48; Kuck Law Office $16.52; Lewis Family Drug LLC $74.65; Lien Transportation Company $120,625.20; Linde Gas & Equipment Inc $530.18; Menards $430.46; Nippon Sanso Matheson, Inc. $1,152.58; NVC $29.50; Pantorium Cleaners Inc $60.00; Pierson Ford Lincoln, Inc $32.11; RDO Equipment Co $4,043.44; Runnings $1,105.83; Share Corporation $378.65; Shop 4-H/National 4-H Council $125.50; Sprocket Ventures, LLC $85.75; Tri-State Water $35.00; US Foods $12,894.09; Valvoline Inc $328.47; Joe Simon Enterprises Inc $35,000.00; Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association $27,000.00; Ashely E Productions, LLC $5,800.00; Brandon Hooth $1,350.00; Carolina Boy, Inc $36,500.00; Christina Marlene Case $10,000.00; Dakota Kids Pedal Pulls $825.00; Daniel Pollreisz $2,400.00; Danielle Haugan $2,000.00; Elizabeth Hofer $3,100.00; John Mogen $2,000.00; Keith Raymond $4,200.00; Recooped Touring, LLC $7,500.00; RKM Fireworks, Inc $4,000.00; Show On, Inc $13,000.00; Sierra Weiland $650.00; Steve Russell $4,600.00; Theory of a Deadman LLC $21,999.00; TMS Production Integration $18,600.00; Wow Talent & Entertainment LLC $5,400.00. Travel & Conference: Austin Ball $38.00; CGI, LLC $23.04; Neil Bittner $19.00; Scott Kolb $19.00; Cathy Jorgenson $42.05; Courtney Wolff $80.77; Heather Wells $99.41; Jean Hommel Kessler $23.37; Karin Porter Bartell $60.51; Lisa Stamm $280.02; Nicole Hoines $68.83; Rosalie Schumacher $88.81; Sarah Koepke $143.26; Tayler Wolff $80.77; Addie Schnabel $114.01; Brooke Hendrickx $263.76; Craig Zimprich $213.76; Drew Pederson $299.78; Halley Becking $209.97; Hunter Miller $367.74; Jan Zuidema $275.43; Logan Schlim $197.10; Michael Grann $106.18; Raesa Zelinsky $233.68; Wayne Fischer $190.56. Utilities: AT&T Mobility $43.73; City of Aberdeen Treasurer $2,642.74; Dakota Electronics LLC $626.50; Northwestern Energy $2,738.57; NVC $542.74; Town of Frederick $77.00; WEB Water Development Association, Inc $137.37. Other: SD Assoc of County Officials $1,120.00; SD Dept of Agriculture & Natural Resources $6,541.78. Payroll: Commission $5,165.81; Elections $20,493.01; Auditor/Welfare $9,128.44; Treasurer $19,962.97; SA $38,966.19; Public Defender $14,449.33; Maintenance $12,590.52; Assessor $17,506.93; Register of Deeds $12,672.04; VSO $5,259.85; GIS $3,110.76; IT $10,616.94; HR $5,631.70; Sheriff $58,792.13; Jail $74,388.02; Coroner (Voucher) $2,250.00; Court Security $7,981.99; JDC $33,358.52; Museum $15,264.85; Parks/Fairgrounds $10,313.36; Fair Board $5,662.43; 4-H $1,921.65; Weed $6,436.08; Planning & Zoning $8,575.57; Highway $59,830.23; Dispatch $38,811.82; Emergency $5,641.78; 24/7 Sobriety $2,774.12; Landfill $14,510.83; Meal Benefits $76.00; FICA $30,250.81; Medicare $7,074.86; HSA $2,463.36; Health Insurance-Wellmark BCBS $153,340.27; Dental Insurance-Delta $9,991.20; Life Insurance-Dearborn $1,127.44; Retirement-SDRS $65,324.59. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
HR REPORT: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Dinger to approve the following Human Resource Report submitted by Human Resources Director, Allison Tunheim:
- Retirement of Cynthia Mitchell as Brown County Sheriff Office Jail Sergeant, FT; effective August 31, 2026. Request to fill.
- Hiring of Jared Bourdon as Brown County Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator, FT; starting wage $24.93/hr. – effective August 10, 2026.
- Hiring of Taylor Sime as Brown County Seasonal Weed & Pest Control Technician; starting wage $24.93/hr. – effective August 10, 206.
- Promotion of Sheila Haugen from Brown County Sheriff Office Administrative Assistant to Brown County Sheriff Office Administration Coordinator; starting wage $24.32/hr. – effective August 16, 2026.
- Job description and title update for Senior Deputy Auditor – Lien Specialist.
All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
LANDFILL TONNAGE REPORT: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Dennert to acknowledge the Landfill Tonnage Report for July 2026. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
TRAVEL REQUESTS: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Gage to approve the following Travel Requests: Josh Lee, Sheriff’s Office to attend NRA Law Enforcement Handgun with PMO Instructor Development School. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Dinger to go into Executive Session per SDCL 1-25-2 for Personnel and Legal. All member present voting aye. Motion carried.
Chairman Sutton declared the Executive Session closed with No Action taken.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Dinger to adjourn the Brown County Commission at 9:39 A.M. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Lynn Heupel, Brown County Auditor
Published once on August 20, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $171.07 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com