McPherson County commissioners table voucher resolution, approve routine resolutions and equipment orders; data-center review deferred

The McPherson County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 tabled a proposed resolution opposing a state school-voucher bill and moved forward with a slate of routine county business that included approving checks-cancellation and firefighting-designee resolutions, three tax abatements and orders for highway equipment. Commissioners agreed to continue gathering information and to consider a possible moratorium or other limits on additional data centers at a later meeting.

Why it matters: Commissioners said a voucher program could reduce public-school funding if students left district schools, and they want better numbers and legal/zoning language before taking a formal county position. Separately, the county completed standard fiscal and administrative tasks and approved highway equipment purchases that county staff said are time-sensitive.

The meeting opened with a public-comment and agenda review. Early in the session commissioners discussed a draft resolution to oppose legislation that would create a school-voucher program paying up to $3,000 per student for textbooks and learning materials. Commissioners said they were concerned that if students leave the public school roll it would reduce state aid to districts (commissioners cited roughly $7,800 per pupil as the funding unit used in examples). After discussion and requests for more precise figures and legal analysis, Commissioner Mike moved to table the resolution; Commissioner Neil seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

Commission business and fiscal actions followed. County finance staff described Resolution 25-7, which cancels county checks and warrants outstanding two years or more; the board adopted the resolution after staff said the checks dated Feb. 3, 2023, had been contacted at least twice and would be reissued or canceled at month end if unclaimed. The board also adopted Resolution 25-8 naming designees authorized to request wildland firefighting resources from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety’s wildland fire division.

On property tax matters the board approved three abatements after the county assessor’s office described clerical and valuation errors: an abatement tied to an incorrectly entered detached garage value (county portion $2.78), an abatement for a mobile home whose make year had been recorded as the purchase year (county portion $106.59), and a proration tied to the city purchase of a Northwest GF Mutual building that reduced two months of 2024 taxes (county portion $82.45). Commissioners also noted an added tax bill would be issued for the Leola Housing and Redevelopment Commission project after bonds were paid off and the property no longer qualified for an exemption under the cited codified statutes.

On zoning and development, commissioners heard an extended discussion of a proposed data center application and broader policy options. Bill Conners, representing the applicant, told commissioners the company’s current plan is for a 50-megawatt facility and that he had no expansion plans for that site; he also said state and county contacts estimate incremental property taxes from a 50-megawatt center at about $50,000 annually and that the project would consider additional voluntary payments. Conners: “We’re not looking at any expansions. The Leola substation can’t handle anything above 50 megawatts.” Commissioners expressed interest in moving cautiously, finishing a county data-center zoning ordinance and possibly issuing a single conditional-use permit for the pending applicant while pausing additional permits until the county can review impacts. The board did not adopt a moratorium at this meeting and agreed to revisit the topic at the next meeting after the zoning board finalizes ordinance language and staff collects comparative tax-and-impact data from other counties.

A land/drainage application from local landowners (Grange area) produced detailed field-level discussion and technical clarifications from Highway Superintendent Glenn. Commissioners approved one drainage/tile permit after site review but voted to table a second, larger tiling application so Highway staff could return with clearer pipe sizes, outlet plans and a measurement of how far the tile lines would be set off the county right of way. Superintendent Glenn and the landowner discussed casing for pipes crossing county roads, double-walled pipe where required, erosion protection at outlets and a county maintenance action needed to clear a downstream culvert that has been diverting flow onto the applicant’s field.

Road and equipment orders: Highway staff recommended ordering a new motor grader with cross-slope control. The board approved the order (delivery estimated in 2026) following a motion and second. Commissioners also approved purchase of a Trail King triple-axle trailer for county use and directed staff to manage trade-in/sale of the existing unit and to preserve assigned funds for equipment purchases in the coming budget cycle.

Other actions: the board ended a special-counsel agreement with the law firm named in the agenda; added Matthew Waldner to the Loyola parts-department roster for workers’ compensation coverage; approved two plat/plot applications (one with an abstention recorded for a commissioner with the same family name as the applicant); adopted the county’s bridge reinspection resolution and selected the consultant IMAG Consulting Corporation to perform inspections; and approved a courthouse boiler chemical-feed pump replacement. Commissioners also approved travel and training for highway staff (MSHA refresher and superintendent short course) and approved the presented claims.

Quotes: Bill Conners, applicant representative, on the planned facility size and local tax impact: “We’re looking at 50 megawatts. We’re not looking at any expansions… the incremental property taxes for the 50-megawatt center is gonna be about $50,000.” Highway Superintendent Glenn, on drainage permit requirements: “The pipe crossing the road has to be cased or it has to be a solid line.”

Ending: Commissioners set a follow-up on zoning and data-center policy for the next regular meeting (March 4), asked staff to collect comparative tax and impact figures from other counties with data centers, and asked Highway staff to return with clarified drainage plans on the Grange tiling applications. Routine resolutions and equipment orders approved at this meeting will be processed by staff for implementation.

Votes at a glance: - Voucher-resolution draft: motion to table — mover: Mike; second: Neil; outcome: tabled by voice vote. - End special-counsel agreement with Sarah Frank and Sabine Gunnarsson Palmer Nelson Asmore LLP — motion passed (voice vote; mover/second on record at meeting). - Add Matthew Waldner to Loyola parts roster (workman’s comp) — motion passed (voice vote). - Resolution 25-7 (cancel checks/warrants outstanding 2+ years) — motion passed (mover: Mike; second: Neil). - Resolution 25-8 (designees to request firefighting resources) — motion passed (mover: Jeff; second: Sid). - Plat approvals 25-9 (Newhart) and 25-10 (Integra) — motions passed; commissioner Jeff abstained on Newhart-related plat. - Abatements 25-1, 25-2, 25-3 — motions passed (mover: Jeff; second: Sid); county portions: $2.78, $106.59, $82.45 respectively. - Grange drainage/tile permits — one permit approved; second application tabled for more design details. - Motor grader order (new grader with cross-slope control) — motion passed (mover: Jeff; second: Neil). - Purchase Trail King triple-axle trailer — motion passed (mover and second recorded at meeting). - Bridge reinspection resolution and vendor selection (IMAG Consulting Corporation) — motion passed. - Purchase boiler chemical pump for courthouse — motion passed. - Claims and presented reports — motion passed (mover: Neil; second: Mike).

Readers seeking documents referenced at the meeting (ordinance drafts, abatement details, resolution language, Grange drainage maps, or the data-center application) should contact McPherson County administration or the county zoning office for copies of the public packet.