By Aberdeen Insider - August 7, 2025 in BROWN COUNTY COMMISSION
JULY 29, 2025 – 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, Sutton and Wiese. Commissioner Gage led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to approve the agenda. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: Dirk Rogers, Highway Superintendent, informed the Commission that the gates are currently closed. The James River has gone up 21 inches; being 81” below the crest and Crow Creek is 83” below the crest. They are keeping an eye on both of them.
FY2026 PROVISIONAL BUDGET: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Gage to approve FY2026 Provisional Budget and to authorize advertising public hearing for September 2, 2025 for the purpose of considering the foregoing Provisional Budget for the fiscal year of 2026 and the various items, schedules, amounts and appropriations set forth therein and as many days thereafter as is deemed necessary until the final adoption of the budget. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #304 – SECOND READING/POSSIBLE ADOPTION: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to adopt Ordinance #304. Applicant Dawn Weismantel to rezone from Agriculture Preservation District (AG-P) to Mini-Agriculture District (M-AG) to bring these parcels into compliance for their current use: Description of property: Proposed Lots 1 & 2, “Weismantel Farm First Addition” in the E 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 33-T126N-R62W of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota (11747 397th Avenue; Shelby Twp.). All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #305 – SECOND READING/POSSIBLE ADOPTION: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Wiese to adopt Ordinance #305. Applicants Earl & Amanda Maier to rezone from Agriculture Preservation District (AG-P) to Mini-Agriculture District (M-AG) to bring this parcel into compliance for its current use: Description of property: Proposed Lot 1, “Maier’s First Addition” in the SW 1/4 of Section 17-T126N-R63W of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota (11450 389th Avenue; Brainard Twp.). All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #306 – SECOND READING/POSSIBLE ADOPTION: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Wiese to adopt Ordinance #306. Applicant Matthew Olsen to rezone from Agriculture Preservation District (AG-P) to Mini-Agriculture District (M-AG) to bring these parcels into compliance for their current use: Description of property: Lots 2A & 2B, “Lockheed Replat of Lot 2 of 2nd Subdivision of O’Dea’s Outlot 1” in the SW 1/4 of Section 34-T122N-R64W of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota (38518 & 38534 142nd Street; Warner Twp.). All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve the General Meeting Minutes of July 22, 2025. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIMS/PAYROLL: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Dinger to approve the following claims/payroll: CLAIMS: Professional Fees: Angel Feiock $100.00; Becky Erickson $40.00; Brick’s TV and Appliance $2,456.25; Christy Griffin-Serr Law Office $3,450.00; Cogley Law Office, Prof LLC $5,436.50; Dependable Sanitation, Inc $43,833.33; Dohrer Law Office, PC $2,688.00; Kuck Law Office $7,866.00; Lenling Law Office, Prof. LLC $2,670.00; Rochelle Jensen $80.00; Saber Shred Solutions $7,344.48; Taliaferro Law Firm, PC $2,622.00; Tayler Bell $199.75; Tyler Technologies, Inc $6,483.00; Yellow Robe Consulting $1,800.00; US Bank $139.09. Publishing: Mcquillen Creative Group, Inc $1,250.42; Midstates Group $6,246.06; US Bank $300.00. Rentals: Pantorium Cleaners Inc $207.36. Repairs & Maintenance: Electrical Engineering & Equip $642.54; Huff Construction Inc $26,391.00; Jake’s Heating & Cooling $1,688.75; K&S Plumbing, Inc $1,843.30; Leidholt Electric, LLC $290.82; Mack’s Auto, Inc $272.00; Meyers Tractor Salvage, LLC $110.00; Ultimate Upholstery Solutions, LLC $540.00; Wally’s Skidsteer Service $ 958.80; US Bank $3,028.80. Supplies: Amazon Capital Services, Inc $3,130.17; Auto Zone, Inc $67.56; Avera LTC Pharmacy Aberdeen $656.63; Cartney Bearing $74.04; Central Network Retail Group LLC $35.04; Century Business Products $627.62; Cogley Law Office, Prof LLC $65.60; Cole Paper Inc $935.94; Farm Power Mfg $1,537.34; FedEx $24.93; Graham Tire Inc $167.00; Hillyard Sioux Falls $342.67; Integrated Weed Control Inc $2,000.00; Jensen Rock & Sand Inc $28,149.30; Kuck Law Office $167.04; Leidholdt Tool Sales, LLC $17.08; Lien Transportation Company $68,342.40; Mack’s Auto, Inc $38.00; Menards $874.73; Midstates Group $52.45; Performance Oil $445.36; Runnings $194.54; Safe Life Defense $720.10; Safety Service $440.20; Titan Machinery $8.99; Ultimate Upholstery Solutions, LLC $359.50; US Bank $9,493.36. Travel & Conference: Bryan Gordon $14.00; Cogley Law Office, Prof LLC $420.00; Joe Kretchman $14.00; Neil Bittner $14.00; Patricia VanMeter $84.00; Scott Kolb $14.00; SDSU Extension $180.00; US Bank $3,960.00. Utilities: Amazon Capital Services, Inc $58.43; City of Aberdeen Treasurer $1,824.73; Montana-Dakota Utilities Co $38.22; Northwestern Energy $7,563.02; Sewer Duck, Inc $458.00; US Bank $3,285.55. Machinery & Equipment: Karl Chevrolet $157,392.60.
PAYROLL: Commission $4,896.51; Elections $1,936.80; Auditor/Welfare $11,854.97; Treasurer $18,666.81; SA $36,551.63; Public Defender $5,384.61; Maintenance $12,208.87; Assessor $16,581.76; Register of Deeds $10,905.91; VSO $4,728.51; GIS $2,946.49; IT $10,005.68; HR $5,419.29; Sheriff $60,609.57; Jail $71,999.63; Coroner (Voucher) $750.00; Court Security $6,114.08; JDC $29,593.23; Museum $13,397.80; Parks/Fairgrounds $10,616.08; Fair Board $4,696.97; 4-H $1,677.39; Weed $6,146.25; Planning & Zoning $8,253.92; Highway $59,011.39; Dispatch $34,332.89; Emergency $5,266.20; 24/7 Sobriety $2,724.63; Landfill $18,197.26; Mileage Benefits :$1,343.30; Meal Benefits $296.00; FICA $28,132.20; Medicare $6,579.30; HSA $2,309.40; Health Insurance-Wellmark BCBS $134,004.11; Dental Insurance-Delta $9,430.44; Life Insurance-Dearborn $1,106.70; Retirement-SDRS $61,371.68. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
HR REPORT: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Dennert to approve the following Human Resource Report submitted by Human Resources Director, Allison Tunheim:
- Resignation of Stacey Usselman as Brown County Fair/4-H Office Administrative Assistant, FT; effective August 17, 2025. Request to fill.
- Job description, title, and grade for Paralegal to be placed at grade 15 with Senior Level qualifications to be placed at grade 16.
- Hiring of Terrance Dosch as Brown County Fairgrounds seasonal worker, PT; starting wage $14.50/hr. – effective July 24, 2025.
- Hiring of Hope Conn as Brown County Jail/JDC Nurse, PRN; effective – July 25, 2025.
- Hiring of Christal Burckhard as Brown County Public Defender Chief Paralegal, FT; starting wage $29.49/hr. – effective August 4, 2025.
All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
AUDITOR’S REPORT OF ACCOUNT FOR JUNE 2025: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to approve the Auditor’s Report of Accounts for June 2025: Total Cash and Checks on Hand $7,700.00; Total Checking Account Balances $22,593,180.13; Total Savings Account Balances $2,465,447.42; Total Certificates of Deposit $11,202,175.24; Grand Total Cash & Balances: $36,268,502.79. General Fund Cash & Investment Balances by Funds: General Fund $16,746.350.27; Road & Bridge Fund $7,290,131.73; Road & Bridge Fund-Restricted $231,883.27; 911 Service $1,088,564.94; Emergency & Disaster $131,752.30; Domestic Abuse $1,010.29; Federal/State Grant $32.11; SA Grants $114,872.01; Truancy Court $110.99; 24/7 Sobriety $110,350.01; ROD M&P $89,651.16; Rural Access Infrastructure $559,577.54; TIF Debt Service $76,292.73; Landfill + Cash Change $7,459,873.53 Landfill-Restricted $1,894,495.06; Trust & Agency Funds $2,599,933.18; Grand Total General Fund Cash & Investments $36,268,502.79. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIM ASSIGNMENTS: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve and authorize Auditor Heupel to sign the Claim Assignments against individuals to Credit Collections Bureau for the purpose of collecting liens. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
TRAVEL REQUESTS: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Gage to approve the following travel requests: Mariann Malsom, Register of Deeds to attend the SDACO Fall Convention in Pierre on September 8-9, 2025; Jessica Puente-Castro, Brandon Duxbury, Alaina Perry & Jay Hopkins-Entzel, Dacotah Prairie Museum to attend the Tours of SD State Historical Society Museum & SD Discover Center in Pierre on July 28, 2025. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dennert to go into Executive Session for Personnel per SDCL 1-25-2. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
The Chair declared the Executive Session closed with No Action taken.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to adjourn the Brown County Commission at 8:55 a.m. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Lynn Heupel, Brown County Auditor
Published once on August 7, 2025, at the total approximate cost of $96.46 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com