By Aberdeen Insider - August 14, 2025 in BROWN COUNTY COMMISSION
AUGUST 5, 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 Dennert led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Chairman Sutton shared they needed to amend the agenda and add Fair Contracts. Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dennert to approve the agenda as amended. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AWARENESS MONTH: Scott Meints, Emergency Management Director introduced Patti Woods, Emergency Management Assistant Director, Randy Maddox, State Emergency Management Coordinator and mentioned Trevor Meints, who was unable to attend but is the Emergency Management Director for Avera St. Luke’s and asked the Commission to proclaim August as Emergency Management Month and recognize those mentioned above.
Commissioner Wiese offered the following Resolution:
Resolution #2025-35
PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MONTH
BROWN COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
WHEREAS, emergencies and disasters can occur unexpectedly, posing significant threats to life, property, and the environment; and
WHEREAS, local emergency managers, emergency managers across all sectors, community leaders, State governments, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) dedicate countless hours to developing preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation programs to protect the lives and property of all persons living in Brown County, the State of South Dakota, the United States and U.S. territories; and
WHEREAS, emergency managers across the area are charged with establishing and maintaining the capabilities necessary to effectively direct, coordinate, and support emergency and disaster response and recovery efforts; and
WHEREAS, the mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery align with the core capabilities identified in the National Preparedness Goal; and
WHEREAS, the emergency managers serve the nation by responding to countless emergencies and disasters each year, demonstrating commitment, compassion, and professionalism in protecting the public; and
WHEREAS the efforts of our nation’s emergency managers have helped millions of community members across the United States recover, rebuild, and become more resilient in the face of adversity:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Brown County Commission declares the Month of August 2025 to be proclaimed as:
“NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AWARENESS MONTH”
in Brown County, South Dakota. We urge all community members to express their sincere appreciation for emergency managers in every sector who work diligently to prepare, protect, and serve our cities, counties, states, tribes, territories, regions, and organizations against all hazards and risks.
Dated this 5th day of August, 2025.
Seconded by Commissioner Dennert.
Roll call vote: Dennert-aye; Dinger-aye; Gage-aye; Sutton-aye; Wiese-aye. Resolution adopted.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: None
JAIL UPDATE: Sheriff Lunzman met with the Commission to give them an update on the Jail. He shared a couple samples of the material for the new padded cell that will be built in the jail. Sheriff Lunzman informed the Commission that the Jail is full to capacity and moving people out again. They are going to start having the arresting officer transport the inmate to wherever they can find room, whether that is Faulk County, Day County, etc. The transportation will be at the cost of the arresting officer’s employer, such as the City of Aberdeen Police Department. Once the inmate is in custody then the costs fall on the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. The number of people in the jail fluctuates because if you have someone that is intoxicated, they have to stay until they blow zeros, if on drugs then it is a 72-hour hold; or if Mental Health issue, they are held for 24 hours because Avera St. Luke’s and Yankton are full, also. Sheriff Lunzman asked the Commission to work with the City of Aberdeen on funding and possibly building a new facility. He shared that Codington County and the City of Watertown are in the process of working together for a new facility.
BROWN COUNTY FAIR PROMO LIST UPDATED: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Dinger to approve the updated Brown County Fair Promo List. All members present voting aye. Motion carried. (The full list is on file at the Brown County Fair Office).
FAIR CONTRACTS: Rachel Kippley, Fair/Fairgrounds/Parks Manager asked that the Commission approve vouchers for contracts that were already approved but they haven’t received the documents back yet due to the changes from Neste Live to Fran Romeo Agency. Moved by Commissioner Wiese based on Rachel’s recommendation to approve the vouchers for RedFerrin and Tracy Lawrence, seconded by Gage. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Wiese to approve the General Meeting Minutes of July 29, 2025. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIMS: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Gage to approve the following claims: Professional Fees: Blackburn & Stevens, Prof. LLC $216.00; CenturyLink-Lumen $226.00; CGI, LLC $1,050.00; Cogley Law Office, Prof LLC $2,160.00; Dohrer Law Office, PC $341.50; Fox Law Firm, PLLC $216.00; Helms & Associates $3,720.00; Horn Law Office Prof LLC $974.40; IMEG Corp $984.82; John Noyes – Bantz, Gosch & Cremer $432.00; Koletzky Law Office, Prof. LLC $192.00; Kuck Law Office $3,321.51; Lewis & Clark BHS $225.00; Mark Katterhagen $28.00; Network Center, Inc $3,057.77; Sanford Health Occupational Medicine $569.00; SD Dept of Transportation $257.39; Sewer Duck, Inc $170.00; Siegel, Barnett & Schutz $450.00; Valerie Larson $28.00; Yankton County Treasurer $151.25; 4-H Performing Arts $200.00; Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce $10,000.00; Aberdeen Christian School, Inc $500.00; Aberdeen Karting Club $500.00; ACBMSJPK LLC $5,600.00; Addison K Design $1,575.00; Aleda Tollefson $50.00; Ann Gibbs $50.00; AnnaMarie Sachs $225.000; Ashley E Productions, LLC $3,100.00; Austin Rohrs $275.00; Bailey Pro Rodeo $30,000.00; Becky Erickson $50.00; BJ Clocksene $50.00; Black Eleven Touring, Inc $40,000.00; Brian Sharp $50.00; Brian Zimprich $150.00; Brown County Treasurer $3,980.00; Cara Dennert $50.00; CASA of the Fifth Judicial Circuit $750.00; Courtney Wolff $100.00; Craig Zimprich $150.00; Danielle Nowell $900.00; Eminent Tours Corporation $67,000.00; Foxfire, Inc $124,000.00; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church $3,500.00; Gretchen Sharp $50.00; Groton Lions Club $2,250.00; Home Clean Home by Maria LLC $20,730.00; Hub Area Habitat for Humanity $1,500.00; Hunter Miller $100.00; Jan Zuidema $125.00; Janet Wright $50.00; Jean Hommel Kessler $150.00; Jeffrey Blake Redferrin $20,000.00; Jennifer Lofswold $50.00; Joseph Barnett $2,800.00; Jyl Graves $50.00; Kody Gregory Miller $150.00; Kristen Gonsoir $300.00; Lakefront Entertainment, LLC $24,999.99; Lisa Stamm $100.00; Long Haul Touring LLC $85,000.00; Michelle Olson $50.00; Mike Grann $100.00; Miranda Dauksavage $2,000.00; Miss Aberdeen Committee $200.00; Ned LeDoux $20,000.00; NSU Women’s Swim Club $7,700.00; Pauer Sound, LLC $18,800.00; Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show $8,000.00; Phil Baker $750.00; Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 7,500.00; Renegade Photography $1,000.00; Ric Dias $50.00; Samantha Bowman $50.00; SD Nurses Association $1,000.00; Sideline Productions $18,500.00; Sparky Sky Touring LLC $25,000.00; Sprocket Ventures, LLC $675.00; Sterling Kappes $100.00; Steve Russell $4,600.00; Susan Gerlach $50.00; Tayler Wolff $50.00; Tessa Erdmann $100.00; TLE Inc. $43,000.00; TLM Holdings LLC $21,363.00; VanMeter Entertainment $2,850.00; Wayne Fischer $150.00; Winterset Concert Events $6,000.00; Wow Talent & Entertainment LLC $600.00. Publishing: McQuillen Creative Group, Inc $738.17; Midstates Group $126.00; The Watertown Current $530.00. Rentals: Dakota Electronics LLC $109.50; Linde Gas & Equipment Inc $62.55; Dakota Portable Toilets, Inc $20,000.00; T & K Rentals, LLC $18,800.00. Repairs & Maintenance: Crawford M S & F Inc $430.00; Crawford Trucks & Equipment $4,250.42; Graham Tire Inc $952.25; Jake’s Heating & Cooling $287.50; Leidholt Electric, LLC $73.27; Olson’s Pest Technicians $455.00; Precision Kiosk Technologies $3,000.00; Western States Fire Protection Co $48,880.00. Supplies: Ag Plus Farm & Ranch $325.00; Amazon Capital Services, Inc $2,053.34; Auto Value Aberdeen $470.76; Brown County Sheriff’s Office $6.37; Cole Paper Inc $254.80; Crawford M S & F Inc $25.80; Crawford Trucks & Equipment $1,592.72; Dakota Fluid Power, Inc $191.41; Farm Power Mfg. $21.38; Fastenal Company $275.29; Fox Law Firm, PLLC $3.47; Graham Tire Inc $1,247.02; Hillyard Sioux Falls $16.51; Jensen Rock & Sand Inc $74,268.90; John Noyes – Bantz, Gosch & Cremer $3.09; Kuck Law Office $81.05; Lien Transportation Company $139,302.90; Menards $133.91; Montgomery’s Furniture Inc $1,859.00; Newman Signs, Inc $350.00; Pantorium Cleaners Inc $32.00; Pressure Washer Central $16.84; Pro Ag Supply, Inc $587.54; Republic National Distributing Co. LLC $784.50; Runnings $334.19; Shop 4-H/National 4-H Council $107.84; St. Mark’s Episcopal Church $1,000.00; Stan Houston Equipment Company, Inc $429.00; Alan Sands $4,800.00; Ashley E Productions, LLC $5,200.00; Bailey Pro Rodeo $15,000.00; Dakota Kids Pedal Pulls $798.75; Elizabeth Hofer $8,000.00; Eminent Tours Corporation $8,000.00; Foxfire, Inc $26,000.00; Gordy Wensel $4,500.00; Joseph Barnett $2,000.00; Long Haul Touring LLC $15,000.00; Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show $4,000.00; Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association $19,500.00; RKM Fireworks, Inc $4,000.00; The Everly Set LLC $9,000.00; TLE Inc. $12,000.00; Wow Talent & Entertainment LLC $8,400.00. Travel & Conference: Alaina Perry $40.00; Austin Ball $392.60; Brandon Duxbury $40.00; Brandon Mills $14.00; CGI, LLC $16.88; Jay Hopkins $40.00; Jessica Puente Castro $40.00; Joe Kretchman $14.00; Koletzky Law Office, Prof. LLC $4.00; Kyle Couchey $14.00; Makendra Ochsner $28.00; Neil Bittner $14.00; SDSU Extension $88.40; The American Legion Sidney L Smith Post 24 $1,512.00; AnnaMarie Sachs $60.06; Austin Rohrs $392.22; Brian Zimprich $158.20; Courtney Wolff $81.41; Craig Zimprich $205.80; Hunter Miller $178.64; Jan Zuidema $187.86; Jean Hommel Kessler $21.42; Jennifer Lofswold $37.94; Kody Gregory Miller $193.20; Lisa Stamm $268.80; Mike Grann $108.64; Sterling Kappes $218.40; Tayler Wolff $40.81; Tessa Erdmann $299.60; Wayne Fischer $182.84. Utilities: Amazon Capital Services, Inc $59.99; AT&T Mobility $186.86; Northwestern Energy $16,808.75; WEB Water Development Association, Inc $118.04. Other: Ed M Feld Equipment Co Inc $540.00. Other: Lisa and James Kiesz $75.00; Tony Arampatzis $75.00. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
HR REPORT: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Gage to approve the following Human Resource Report submitted by Human Resources Director, Allison Tunheim:
- Hiring part-time (as needed) Bartenders at $10/hr. + tips. Bartenders filling in as Leads will be at $12/hr. + tips – effective August 10, 2025.
- Skyelar Timm
- Amendment to May 20, 2025 HR Report; removed Joselyn Kiefer, Abigail Johnson and Brooke Solas from list of hired part-time (as needed) Bartenders, which was effective for June 1, 2025.
- Amendment to June 10, 2025 HR Report; removed Hannah Lahren from the list of hired part-time (as needed) Bartenders, which was effective for August 10, 2025.
- Temporary 2025 Brown County Fair Workers August 11 – 17, 2025
- Ticket Supervisor:
- Jacqueline Ohleen-Kallhoff at $15.25/hr.
- Ticket Sellers:
- April Fryer at $15.00/hr.
- Anje Hinkleman at $14.50/hr.
- Amy Rawerts at $14.50/hr.
- Odde Office:
- Marlys Brick at $14.00/hr.
- Roberta Dempsey at $14.50/hr.
- Jan Erickson at $14.50/hr.
- Jeannette Hassebroek at $14.50/hr.
- Julie VanDover at $14.50/hr.
- Gatekeepers:
- Bill Cantalope at $12.50/hr.
- Tammy Cantalope at $12.50/hr.
- Hunter Kramer at $12.50/hr.
- Jonathan Shephard at $12.50/hr
- Adding Volunteer Bartenders to the approved list for Work Comp purposes:
- June Thompson
- Robin Maxwell
- Melissa Smith
- Sarah Sumption
- Stacey Sumption
- Chad Johnson
- Ticket Supervisor:
All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIM ASSIGNMENTS: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dennert 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.
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 Wiese, seconded by Gage to adjourn the Brown County Commission at 10:03 a.m. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Lynn Heupel, Brown County Auditor
Published once on August 14, 2025, at the total approximate cost of $136.76 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com