By Aberdeen Insider - February 5, 2026 in BROWN COUNTY COMMISSION
NOTICE OF JANUARY 27, 2026 – GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
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 Dinger led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dennert to approve the agenda. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: None
QUOTES FOR NEW ROOF TOP A/C UNIT FOR 124 BUILDING: Judy Dosch, Building Superintendent and Randy Zens, Assistant Building Superintendent present two quotes to the Commission to replace the Roof Top A/C Unit at the 124 Building: Jake’s Heating & Cooling at $13,589.82 (includes Excise Tax) and LTK Heating & Cooling at $14,265.33 (includes Excise Tax). Randy recommended Jake’s Heating & Cooling. Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to accept the quote from Jake’s Heating & Cooling at $13,589.82 to replace the Roof Top A/C Unit at the 124 Building. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
2026 ASSESSMENT PLAN: Gene Loeschke, Director of Equalization, presented his 2026 Assessment Plan to the Commissioners. Gene shared that SB 216 puts a limit of 3$ to increase the assessment County-wide not by parcel, so some properties assessments will be above 3%, some will be lower than 3% and some will stay the same. Gene wanted to stress though that Senior Freeze Criteria has changed. Currently the Annual Income was at $41,539.00 and now it is at $56,595.00. If you qualify, and you are over 65 years old, they will go back to the what the property was assessed at when you turned 65. Property Tax is a hot topic so will see what happens during this legislative session.
LOTTERY PERMIT: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Gage to approve and authorize Chairman Sutton to sign the Lottery Permit application submitted by Elm Lake Action Committee, Inc., aka Elm Lake Association for July 4, 2026 to sell raffle tickets and raise fund for Elm Lake Betterment Projects. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve the General Meeting Minutes of January 20, 2026. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIMS/PAYROLL: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Wiese to approve the following claims/payroll: Claims: Insurance: Bridgeway Counseling Center, Inc $2,500.00; Insurance Plus $2,823.56. Professional Fees: CGI, LLC $1,612.50; Dependable Sanitation, Inc $36,812.00; Houston Engineering, Inc $17,267.40; IMEG Corp $19,800.00; Kristi Brandt $297.90; Kuck Law Office $5,667.00; Lenling Law Office, Prof. LLC $390.00; Northeastern Mental Health Center $75.00; Taliaferro Law Firm, PC $2,836.00; Yankton County Sheriff’s Office $100.00; Jury Duty Participants $16,460.20; US Bank $6,425.20. Publishing: Groton Daily Independent $440.27; McQuillen Creative Group, Inc $224.58; US Bank $300.00. Repairs & Maintenance: Burdette Security & Technologies, LLC $1,593.00; Cole Paper Inc $535.90; Dockendorf Equipment Co., Inc $720.00; J & K Painting $1,330.26; Leidholt Electric, LLC $76.58; Pantorium Cleaners Inc $282.60; Pomp’s Tire Service, Inc $765.82; Safety Service $300.00; Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC $75,440.00; Steven Lust Automotive $96.00; TruGreen, Aberdeen $640.20; US Bank $2,418.44. Supplies: Amazon Capital Services, Inc $3,166.58; Buckstaff Public Safety $789.00; Century Business Products $100.85; Dakota Mailing & Shipping Equipment $153.53; Dakota Supply Group $65.99; Dockendorf Equipment Co., Inc $1,600.00; Faulkton Drug $118.08; Intoximeters $525.00; Kuck Law Office $302.10; Leidholdt Tool Sales, LLC $270.86; Leidholt Electric, LLC $2.29; Menards $52.56; Safe Life Defense $2,259.30; Safety Service $736.00; St Mark’s Episcopal Church $1,500.00; Steven Lust Automotive $89.90; Trav’s Outfitter Inc $120.00; US Bank $10,237.81. Travel & Conference: CGI, LLC $34.30; Lenling Law Office, Prof. LLC $40.00; Makendra Ochsner $19.00; Neil Bittner $19.00; Scott Kolb $19.00; US Bank $4,771.29. Utilities: Dependable Sanitation, Inc $836.00; Northwestern Energy $3,618.01; Sanford Health $540.00; T-Mobile USA Inc $1,243.72; US Bank $3,628.11. Other: Lisa or James Kiesz $316.64; Overhead Door $35.72; Veit Company $1,119.48. Payroll: Commission $5,165.81; Elections $2,050.39; Auditor/Welfare $12,097.84; Treasurer $18,251.33; SA $38,134.90; Public Defender $10,265.71; Maintenance $13,765.48; Assessor $17,506.93; Register of Deeds $11,511.05; VSO $5,006.26; GIS $3,110.76; IT $10,616.94; HR $5,803.70; Sheriff $75,181.46; Jail $106,599.09; Coroner (Voucher) $2,100.00; Court Security $8,867.62; JDC $45,418.79; Museum $14,610.49; Parks/Fairgrounds $7,966.34; Fair Board $4,858.36; 4-H $881.60; Weed $1,245.44; Planning & Zoning $8,510.51; Highway $53,496.75; Dispatch $56,460.85; Emergency $5,968.89; 24/7 Sobriety $3,057.14; Landfill $19,296.51; Meal Benefits $42.00; FICA $33,814.82; Medicare $7908.28; HSA $2,360.72; Health Insurance-Wellmark BCBS $137,787.25; Dental Insurance-Delta $9,642.36; Life Insurance-Dearborn $1,135.60; Retirement – SDRS $68,374.01. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
TRAVEL REQUESTS: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Wiese to approve the following Travel Requests: Derek Hoefert, Sheriff’s Office to attend Advanced Patrol Tactics/Reading People: Decoding Body Language and Criminal Behaviors in Sioux Falls on March 25-26, 2026; Dirk Rogers, Highway Superintendent to provide Legislative Testimony in Pierre on January 22, 2026. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
AUDITOR’S REPORT OF ACCOUNTS FOR DECEMBER 2025: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve the Auditor’s Report of Accounts for December 2025: Total Cash and Check on Hand $7,700.00; Total Checking Account Balances $18,464,769.84; Total Savings Account Balances $1,245,447.42; Total Certificates of Deposit $11,302,725.57; Grand Total Cash & Balances: $31,020,642.83. General Fund Cash & Investment Balances by Funds: General Fund $17,976,413.88; Road & Bridge Fund $2,617,309.96; Road & Bridge Fund Restricted $231,883.27; 911 Service $688,680.87; Emergency & Disaster ($480.72); Domestic Abuse $647.53; Federal/State Grant $0.00; SA Grants $180,753.80; Truancy Court $0.00; 24/7 Sobriety $81,723.35; ROD M&P $88,960.19; Rural Access Infrastructure $376,393.85; TIF Debt Service $102,156.92; Landfill + Cash Change $7,616,722.54; Landfill-Restricted $1,894,495.06; Trust and Agency Funds $1,291,360.66; Grand Total General Fund Cash & Investments $31,020,642.83. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
LEASE AGREEMENTS: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Wiese to approve and authorize Chairman Sutton to sign the following lease agreements: Brook Stevens to lease the Richmond Lake Youth Camp on August 28-29, 2026 for a wedding; Aberdeen Downtown Association for the lease of Portable Stage and 6-Picnic Tables on June 25, July 9, July 23 and August 22, 2026 for Concert Series; Stephanie & James Meyers to lease the Club House on May 15-18, 2026 for Graduation Party; Sheena Rohrbach to lease the Parking Lot near Gate E on May 29-30, 2026 for Auto Parts Swap Meet and Car Show; Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce to lease the Club House on September 17, 2026 for the Field to Fork Event. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ZONING ORDINANCES – SET HEARING DATE/AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dennert to set hearing date and authorize publication for the first reading of the following zoning ordinance to be held on February 17, 2026 in the Commission Chambers, Courthouse Annex, Brown County, South Dakota. Proposed Ordinance #321, applicant Kyler & Lia Dinger for the purpose of rezoning 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: “Long’s Outlot 1” in the NW1/4 of Section 26-T124N-R63W of the 5th P.M., Brown County, South Dakota (12848 392nd Avenue; Ordway Twp.). The motion passed with 4 votes; Commissioner Dinger abstained due to it being for himself.
LAMONT THIRTEENTH ADDITION PLAT:
RESOLUTION #2026-11
Commissioner Wiese brought the following Resolution “Be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Brown County, South Dakota, that the plat showing “LAMONT THIRTEENTH ADDITION IN THE NE ¼ AND THE SE ¼ AND THE SW ¼ OF SECTION 20-T123N-R63W OF THE 5TH P.M., BROWN COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA” having been examined, is hereby approved in the accordance with the Provision of SDCL 11-3, and any amendments thereof”. Seconded by Dennert. All members present voting aye. Resolution adopted.
OTHER BUSINESS: Scott Sundberg from Hub City Radio asked about the Wind Energy Ordinance. Chairman Sutton shared they are still working on it and will be posting it on the website once the changes have been made for public to review for a couple weeks before we place it on the agenda again.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to go into executive session to discuss Personnel and Contracts 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 10:13 a.m. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Lynn Heupel, Brown County Auditor
Published once on February 5, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $97.76 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com