By Aberdeen Insider - March 19, 2025 in BROWN COUNTY COMMISSION
MARCH 11, 2025 – GENERAL MEETING
Meeting called to order by Vice-Chairman Gage at 8:45 A.M. in the Commission Chambers, Courthouse Annex, Brown County, SD. Present were Commissioners Dennert, Dinger, Gage, and Wiese. Commissioner Sutton was absent. Commissioner Wiese 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
2024 PAY 2025 REAL ESTATE TAX NOTICE: Taylor Newton met with the Commission asking for an adjustment on his 2024 pay 2024 Real Estate Tax Bill because they are being taxed at the rate for Non-Owner Occupied instead of Owner Occupied which is about a $2,500.00 difference. Taylor stated this is their primary residence and has been since purchased it in 2023. Commissioner Wiese asked if he has filed the paperwork for change in status. Taylor replied ‘No’ because didn’t know what the paperwork is, he is part of Aberdeen Homes, LLC and that is the name on the property, so he understands how it was missed and shared that Equalization office has corrected it going forward. Taylor said that Gene mentioned the paperwork when he visited with him. Gene Loeschke, Director of Equalization asked if they did the closing with a Title Company and Taylor stated they did not, they did it with an attorney. Gene that the Title Companies will make sure that form gets filed, also when file Deed you file a Certificate of Value and you have an opportunity to complete the Owner-Occupied status on the that as well and it was left blank on this one also; and then when the Assessment notices come out, there is a disclaimer that states to check your owner-occupied status. Gene shared the deadline is March 15th because they need to turn their assessments into the State in May so anytime between there, they can make changes but once he submits his report to the State it is set. Taylor shared he has never seen these forms before. Commissioner Wiese stated that the Commission has set a precedent, even though we don’t like the process, but it was set up 30-years ago by Governor Janklow and the legislature at that time that you need to file the form, or you don’t get the reduction. The issue is that the numbers are run and its past the deadline, the mill levies are set by the values to get the amount of taxes to be collected, if an abatement is granted that is money that is not given to the school system and other entities. After further discussion, no action was taken. Gene restated for those in the room and those listening to check your assessment notices, you have until March 15th to file the form.
QUOTES FOR BURNER REPLACEMENT FOR BOILER: Judy Dosch, Building Superintendent provided the Commission with three quotes for Gas Burner Replacement to the Boiler. Quotes are as follows: Plains Mechanical Services at $23,405.00; American Boiler Co. at $28,354.00 and Schwan Welding for $27,935.00 or and option for Oil & Gas Burner Replacement at $33,085.00. Judy’s recommendation was to go with the quote from Plains Mechanical Services. Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to accept the quote from Plains Mechanical Services for $23,405.00. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CHANGE ORDER FOR TUCKPOINTING: Judy Dosch, Building Superintendent presented a change order for the Tuckpointing Project, which lowers the billing by $14,500.00; leaving the updated total to $838,305.00. Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve and authorize Vice-Chairman Gage to sign the Change Order to reduce the final cost by $14,500.00. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH OF APRIL: Judy Dosch, Building Superintendent informed the Commission that Safe Harbor reached out because April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, so they wanted to ask to have the Courthouse lit up with Teal for the month of April. Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to light up the Courthouse house in Teal for the month of April for Child Abuse Prevention Month. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ABERDEEN LEADERSHIP CLASS PROJECT – BIKE PARK: Amber Schwab, Leadership Aberdeen and McKenzie Bierman, Fair/Fairgrounds Assistant Manager met with the Commission and presented a proposal for a Bike Park, that is the project that the current Leadership Aberdeen Class through the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce. Those enrolled get to tour businesses and build partnerships and do a community project. This current class, which McKenzie is partaking in, designed a Bike Park. They had 10 sites and narrowed it down to 2 at the Brown County Fairgrounds. There are three phases to the project: Phase I includes a bike park with obstacles, trails, etc. and they would like to lease 3.4 acres at the Fairgrounds in the SE corner near the maintenance shop. They have been in contact with Insurance Plus to get insurance coverage. Phase II includes expanding trails and Desmond with Dakota Outdoors and 60 others have a Mountain Bike Club that just became a 501c and they would be willing to be in charge of the upkeep and maintenance of the park. Phase III would add a Pump Track. Commissioner Wiese commented that due to the wetlands in the area they chose for Phase I, the County will need to look into it more and contact Lonny Anderson regarding the EPA Regulations. Dirk Rogers, Highway Superintendent said he would be willing to reach out to Lonny Anderson since already working with him on a couple of other projects. Moved by Commissioner Dinger moved, Wiese seconded a motion for support of the Bike Park at the Brown County Fairgrounds in the SE Corner. All members present voting aye.
2025 REPLACEMENT/MAJOR REHABILITATION BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT GRANT:
Dirk Rogers, Highway Superintendent met with the Commission and presented them with the 2025 Replacement/Major Rehabilitation Bridge Improvement Grant to complete the Sand Lake Bridge, which is an 80/20 Grant. Moved by Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve and authorize Vice-Chairman Gage to sign the 2025 Replacement/Major Rehabilitation Bridge Improvement Grant with the S.D. Department of Transportation. All members present voting aye. Motion carried. Dirk shared that depending on what funding he has available they may pave the road on each side of the Sand Lake Bridge but staying back 200 ft. on each side. He also informed them that Hwy. 10 will be closed starting on Monday, March 17th because S.D. DOT will be doing the Houghton Bridge, detours will be on Hwy. 281 or Hwy. 37, they will have this reopened before they close 16 to do the Sand Lake Bridge (north of Columbia).
MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve the General Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2025. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIMS/PAYROLL: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Wiese to approve the following claims/payroll: Claims: Professional Fees: Aberdeen Cardiology $16.26; Aberdeen ED $2,812.25; Aberdeen Imaging $491.62; Aberdeen Orthopedics $108.62; Acute Care Aberdeen $249.91; Avera Medical Group Radiology $499.17; Cogley Law Office, Prof LLC $936.00; Dakota Group LLC $2,500.00; Dakotabilities $1,440.00; DEVNET $3,789.84; Dohrer Law Office, PC $396.00; East River Psychological Services, PLLC $1,000.00; Fargo Teleradiology Prof. $11.00; Helms & Associates $3,055.00; Horizon Health Care, Inc $79.94; Jerry McNeary $1,728.00; Northeastern Mental Health Center $832.00; Richardson, Wyly, Wise, Sauck & Hieb, LLP $1,992.50; Sanford Clinic Aberdeen $79.94; Sanford Health $252.00; Schneider Geospatial, LLC $3,060.00; SD State’s Attorneys Association $2,247.04; Zylstra Investigations $1,620.00; US Bank Visa $933.76. Publishing: McQuillen Creative Group, Inc $191.24; US Bank Visa $362.13. Radios / Rentals: Dakota Electronics LLC $422.50; US Bank Visa $285.99. Repairs & Maintenance: BB Sales $1,237.26; EcoLab Pest Elimination Division $118.47; Huff Construction Inc $31,317.00; Interstate Powersystems $775.00; Jake’s Heating & Cooling $105.00; K&S Plumbing, Inc $1,231.96; Kone $2,400.00; Lawson Products, Inc $143.32; Precision Kiosk Technologies $3,000.00; Premier Auto $225.00; Schwan Welding $9,398.31; US Bank Visa $5,252.21. Supplies: Aberdeen Chrysler Center $106.96; Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry $20.00; Amazon Capital Services, Inc $877.89; Century Business Products $182.68; Great Western Tire $5,330.88; Lawson Products, Inc $2,069.97; Menards $177.61; Midstates Group $40.00; DSS Imaging – Monte Wahl $96.00; Myers Tire $27.06; PharmChem, Inc $1,151.34; Pitney Bowes Globel Financial Services LLC $4,163.27; Plumbing & Heating Wholesale, Inc $766.14; Safety Service $18.72; Schwan Welding $8,647.54; SD Federal Property Agency $40.00; Share Corporation $471.60; South Dakota Law Review $40.00; US Bank Visa $8,004.53. Travel & Conference: Blue to Gold, LLC $495.00; Dave Lunzman $70.00; McKenzie Bierman $18.00; Rachel Kippley $18.00; Stacey Usselman $18.00; US Bank Visa $2,045.59. Utilities: AT&T Mobility $143.74; Montana-Dakota Utilities Co $88.93; Northwestern Energy $5,007.25; US Bank Visa $3,516.52. Others: Grand Jury participants $18,774.66.
Payroll: Commission $4,896.51; Elections $1,948.92; Auditor $10,592.62; Treasurer $18,279.20; SA $36,628.31; Maintenance $12,463.55; Assessor $16,592.83; Register of Deeds $10,905.91; VSO $4,741.87; GIS $2,946.49; IT $9,855.68; HR $5,419.29; Sheriff $54,770.57; Jail $77,173.20; Coroner $1,250.00; Court Security $8,203.43; JDC $35,807.30; Welfare $2,604.27; Museum $12,997.52; Parks/Fairgrounds $6,720.69; Fair Board $3,626.67; 4-H $877.19; Weed $3,317.27; Planning & Zoning $8,116.94; Highway $49,559.48; Dispatch $41,514.69; Emergency $5,335.91; 24/7 Sobriety $2,619.73; Landfill $19,521.27; Meal Benefits $70.00; FICA $27,919.37; Medicare $6,529.53; Discovery-HSA $2,775.29. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
HR REPORT: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dennert to approve the following Human Resource Report submitted by Human Resources Director, Allison Tunheim:
- Employment ending for Brian Wagemann, Brown County Highway Truck-Driver; FT – effective March 6, 2025. Request to fill.
- Transfer of Savanna Simon from Brown County Jail Detention Officer to Brown County JDC Detention Officer, FT – effective February 2, 2025.
- Transfer of Payton Beidler from FT Brown County Jail Detention Officer to PT Brown County Jail Detention Officer – effective March 2, 2025.
- Promotion of Jerome Akin from Brown County Highway Truck Driver to Brown County Highway Mechanic, FT; starting wage $24.21/hr. – effective March 2, 2025.
- Hiring of Ricci Simon as Brown County Beverage Operations Superintendent, PT; starting wage $19.00/hr. – effective March 13, 2025.
All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
LANDFILL TONNAGE REPORT: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to acknowledge the Landfill Tonnage Report for February 2025. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
TRAVEL REQUESTS: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve the following Travel Requests: Mike Scott from Landfill to attend Solid Waste Facility Open House, Federal Surplus in Huron, SD on March 5, 2025; Lynn Heupel, Auditor to attend Lake Region District Meeting in Day County on March 20, 2025; Lynn Heupel, Auditor/Welfare to attend Welfare Workshop in Pierre, SD on April 2-3, 2025; Lynn Heupel, Auditor to attend Spring Workshop in Pierre, SD on May 13-15, 2025. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ABATEMENTS: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Wiese to approve the following abatement for Tax Yr. 24PY25: Parcel #29931 – $5.79. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
FACILITY USE AGREEMENT: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dennert to approve and authorize Vice-Chairman Gage to sign the Facility Use Agreement with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for use of the Basement gathering area for facilitation of The Prospering Ones/Oyate Court Council and Programming from April 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026 at the cost of $500.00/month. 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 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 Wiese, seconded by Dennert to adjourn the Brown County Commission at 9:52 a.m. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Lynn Heupel, Brown County Auditor
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