By Aberdeen Insider - June 4, 2026 in BROWN COUNTY
MAY 26, 2026 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. Auditor Heupel led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Gage to approve the amended agenda. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Corey Sauerwein with Comstock Construction, Inc., shared that they are a new Full Service General Contracting Company in Aberdeen. They also have locations in Wahpeton, ND, Fargo, ND and Fergus Falls, MN. They have done work from commercial services to healthcare facilities and more. Looking forward to having the opportunity to possibly work with Brown County. There office is located at 717 385th Ave. South (old Harley Davidson Building).
RICHMOND DAM UPDATE: Chairman Sutton shared a text message he received from Commission Brock Greenfield on the Richmond Dam Project: the pumps started out brining down the lake at approximately 4”/day, which will accelerate as the pool becomes more shallow. Last week, they were at 1357’ elevation, so they’re probably approaching 1355’ by now. Journey drives downstream roads regularly to monitor the water levels in Foot and Moccasin Creeks. Last Friday, they throttled the pumps back a bit.
One concern they found out from a lake resident is people going out there to see what’s going on. He has received pictures of kids climbing around on pipes, and a man posing in front of the pipes. Wants to emphasize this is an active construction zone and could be dangerous, so people should not be accessing this area and climbing around on the pipes and things.
Commissioner Dinger asked Dirk Rogers, Highway Superintendent, to give us an update on the detour bypass. He shared they are working on the west 2 miles today, putting down oil; then on Thursday will do the first layer of chip sealing on the 4 east/west miles.
MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to approve the General Meeting Minutes of May 19, 2026. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
CLAIMS: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Wiese to approve the following Claims: Professional Fees: Ace Refrigeration, LLC $137.70; Avera St. Luke’s Hospital $1,181.37; Cogley Law Office, Prof LLC $2,689.20; IMEG Corp $16,823.18; Joseph Keough $43.00; Kuck Law Office $2,873.10; Lenling Law Office, Prof. LLC $3,141.50; Sanford Health $756.00; SD Dept of Health $2,085.00; Spray Sync $2,120.00; Tammy Stolle Court Reporting $111.55; TJ Counseling $2,500.00; William A. Moss, Psy.D., LLC $2,500.00; US Bank $442.28. Publishing: Groton Daily Independent $86.53; US Bank $39.83. Repairs & Maintenance: B&B Contracting, Inc $675.00; Chemtek, Inc $280.56; HF Jacobs & Son Const. Inc $7,367.89; House of Glass $1,234.50; Olympic Sales, Inc $1,974.27; Otis Elevator Company $3,314.64; Ultimate Upholstery Solutions, LLC $300.00; US Bank $1,278.33. Supplies & Materials: A-1 Locksmithing $99.00; AgTegra Cooperative $3,379.86; Amazon Capital Services, Inc $658.99; Century Business Products $129.03; Chemtek, Inc $1,430.60; Cole Paper Inc $3,276.69; Dakota Electronics LLC $110.00; Dakota Supply Group $17,587.73; Geffdog Designs $305.60; HF Jacobs & Son Const. Inc $662.00; House of Glass $1,292.39; Jebro Inc $30,463.10; Jensen Rock & Sand Inc $252.59; Kuck Law Office $76.72; Menards $362.18; Midstates Group $346.00; Performance Oil $739.37; Republic National Distributing Co. LLC $730.50; Ultimate Upholstery Solutions, LLC $603.32; US Bank $14,430.57. Travel & Conference: Lenling Law Office, Prof. LLC $80.00; Sarah Jesz $333.80; US Bank $4,490.62. Utilities: City of Aberdeen Treasurer $86.92; Dependable Sanitation, Inc $652.00; Montana-Dakota Utilities Co $38.13; Northwestern Energy $4,255.41; T-Mobile USA Inc $1,593.70; US Bank $4,137.35. Other: US Bank $108.00. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
HR REPORT: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Gage to approve the following Human Resource Report submitted by Human Resources Director, Allison Tunheim:
- Resignation of William Esser as Brown County Jail Detention Officer; FT; effective May 21, 2026. Request to fill.
- Resignation of Elizabeth Hovendick as Brown County Deputy Treasurer, FT; effective June 5, 2026. Request to fill.
- Amendment to HR Report of April 14, 2026; adjusted hire date for Brown County Fair/4-H Summer Intern Addisyn Henrich from May 19, 2026 to June 1, 2026.
- Amendment to HR Report of May 5, 2026; adjusted resignation date for Brown County Jail Detention Officer, Emily Jacobs from May 15, 2026 to May 18, 2026.
All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
LEASE AGREEMENTS: Moved by Commissioner Dinger, seconded by Dennert to approve and authorize Chairman to sign the following Lease Agreements: S.D. Dressage Association for lease of the Akkerman Open Horse Arena on July 25, 2026; Aberdeen Area Veterans, Inc. (AAVI) to lease 4 People Movers on July 4, 2026; I Heart Cookies Co. to lease Expo Building Parking Lot on May 30, 2026; Approve Alcohol Permission Slip for Jennifer Tichi for July 17-20, 2026 at Clubhouse. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
TRAVEL REQUESTS: Moved by Commissioner Wiese, seconded by Dinger to approve the following Travel Requests: Mike Rohrbach & Jerry Lehrkamp, Weed & Pest to attend Annual Weed & Pest Conference; Chris Hemen, Mike Rohrbach & Jerry Lehrkamp, Weed & Pest to attend Annual Weed & Pest Field Day. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ZONING ORDINANCES-SET HEARING DATE/AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING: Moved by Commissioner Gage, seconded by Wiese to set hearing date and authorize publication for the first reading of the following zoning ordinances to be held on June 16, 2026 in the Commission Chambers, Courthouse Annex, Brown County, South Dakota. Proposed Ordinance #325, applicant James Arneson for the purpose of rezoning 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, “Arneson Addition” in the NE1/4 of Section 35-T126N-R64W of the 5th P.M. Brown County, South Dakota (11715 387th Avenue; Oneota Twp.).Proposed Ordinance #326, applicants Katherine Osterman/Eric Olson 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: “Johnson’s Outlot 1” in the SW1/4 of Section 15-T123N-R61W of the 5th P.M. Brown County, South Dakota (40310 133rd Street, Henry Twp.). Proposed Ordinance #327, applicant TC Wright Trust for the purpose of rezoning from Heavy Industrial District (H-I) to Mini-Agriculture District (M-AG) to bring this parcel into compliance for its current use: Description of property: Proposed Lot 2, “Specialty-Wright Addition” in the W1/2 of Section 8-T123N-R62W of the 5th P.M. Brown County, South Dakota (13146 395th Avenue; Bath Twp.). All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
ARNESON ADDITION PLAT:
RESOLUTION #2026-20
Commissioner Dinger brought the following Resolution “Be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Brown County, South Dakota, that the plat entitled “ARNESON ADDITION” in the NE ¼ of Section 35-T126N-R64W of the 5TH P.M., Brown County, South Dakota”, which has been submitted for examination pursuant to law, and it appearing that all taxes and special assessments have been paid and that such plat and the survey thereof have been made and executed according to law, the plat is hereby approved, and the County Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to endorse on such plat a copy of this Resolution and certify the same. Seconded by Dennert. All members present voting aye. Resolution adopted.
WW RENTALS THIRD ADDITION PLAT:
RESOLUTION #2026-21
Commissioner Dennert brought the following Resolution “Be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Brown County, South Dakota that the plat showing “WW RENTALS THIRD ADDITION” to the City of Columbia, in the NE ¼ of Section 29-T125N-R62W of the 5TH P.M., Brown County, South Dakota” having been examined, is hereby approved in accordance with the provisions of SDCL 11-3, and any amendments thereof. Seconded by Gage. All members present voting aye. Resolution adopted.
COLUMIBA ADDITION PLAT:
RESOLUTION #2026-22
Commissioner Dinger brought the following Resolution “Be it resolved by the County Commission of Brown County, South Dakota that the plat showing “COLUMBIA ADDITION” to the City of Columbia, in the SW ¼ of Section 21-T125N-R62W of the 5TH Principal Meridian, Brown County, South Dakota” having been examined is hereby approved in accordance with the provisions of SDCL of 1967, Chapter 11-3 and any amendments. Seconded by Wiese. All members present voting aye. Resolution adopted.
RS ZASTROW ADDITION PLAT:
RESOLUTION #2026-23
Commissioner Gage brought the following Resolution “Be it resolved by the County Commission of Brown County, South Dakota that the plat showing “RS ZASTROW ADDITION” in the SE ¼ of Section 19-T125N-R62W of the 5TH P.M., Brown County, South Dakota” having been examined is hereby approved in accordance with the provisions of SDCL of 1967, Chapter 11-3, and any amendments thereof. Seconded by Wiese. All members present voting aye. Resolution adopted.
SPECIALTY-WRIGHT ADDITION PLAT:
RESOLUTION #2026-24
Commissioner Dinger brought the following Resolution “Be it resolved by the County Commission of Brown County, South Dakota, that the plat showing “SPECIALTY-WRIGHT ADDITION” in the W ½ of Section 8-T123N-R62W of the 5TH P.M., Brown County, South Dakota” having been examined is hereby approved with the provisions of SDCL of 1967, Chapter 11-3, and any amendments thereof. Seconded by Wiese. All members present voting aye. Resolution adopted.
LM LARSEN ADDITION PLAT:
RESOLUTION #2026-25
Commissioner Dennert brought the following Resolution “Be it resolved by the County Commission of Brown County, South Dakota, that the plat showing “LM LARSEN ADDITION” in the SE ¼ of Section 9-T124N-R61W of the 5TH P.M., Brown County, South Dakota” having been examined is hereby approved with the provisions of SDCL of 1967, Chapter 11-3, and any amendments thereof. Seconded by Dinger. All members present voting aye. Resolution adopted.
OTHER BUSINESS: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to go into Executive Session per SDCL 1-25-2 for Contracts. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Chairman Sutton declared the Executive Session closed with No Action taken.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Commissioner Dennert, seconded by Wiese to adjourn the Brown County Commission at 9:01 A.M. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.
Lynn Heupel, Brown County Auditor
Published once on June 4, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $110.76 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com