Commission approves agenda amendment, awards two road contracts and enters executive session

Minnehaha County commissioners on Feb. 25 approved an amendment to the meeting agenda, awarded two highway contracts and voted to enter an executive session following routine business.

The commission voted to defer an abatement application and then approved the revised agenda and the consent agenda before moving on to regular business. Commissioners later voted unanimously to award two road projects to low bidders and then voted to begin an executive session under state law.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda amendment: Commissioners approved a motion to amend the proposed agenda by deferring agenda item No. 9, an abatement application recommended for denial by the Department of Equalization on Parcel 14045 for 2024 property taxes in the amount of $98.10, to the March 4, 2025 meeting. Motion by Commissioner Kipli; second by Commissioner Heisey. Motion carried.

- Approval of agenda (as amended): Motion to approve the agenda as amended. Motion by Commissioner Kipli; second by Commissioner Heisey. Voice vote; motion carried.

- Consent agenda: Motion to approve the consent agenda. Motion by Commissioner Heisey; second by Commissioner Kipli. Roll call: Heisey — Aye; Kipli — Aye; Flatenberg — Aye. Motion passed.

- Project MC25-05 (mill and overlay): The commission awarded the base bid and both alternates for project MC25-05 (mill and overlay) to Central Specialties Inc. Jacob Morris of the County Highway Department told commissioners the bids were competitive and that awarding the alternates made more sense on cost-benefit grounds. Motion by Commissioner Kipli; second by Commissioner Heisey. Roll call: Kipli — Aye; Heisey — Aye; Ladenburg — Aye. Motion passed unanimously.

- Project MC205-1 (chip seal and crack seal): The commission awarded the base bid for project MC205-1 (chip seal and crack seal) to Road Guy Construction Company Inc. Jacob Morris said chip seal is typically applied two years after an overlay to protect the surface. Motion by Commissioner Kipli; second by Commissioner Heisey. Roll call: Kipli — Aye; Heisey — Aye; Weinberg — Aye. Motion passed.

- Executive session: The commission voted to enter executive session under South Dakota law. Motion by Commissioner Kipli; second by Commissioner Heisey. Voice vote; motion carried.

Background and context

County staff said pricing for pavement work has dropped compared with prior estimates, allowing staff to move some work from 2026 into 2025 and take advantage of current market pricing. Jacob Morris, County Highway Department, said the engineers' estimate for a prior mill-and-overlay project had been about $3.3 million and that recent lower oil prices and market confidence improved bid results.

No public testimony opposed the contracts at the meeting and commissioners said they wanted to use available cash to complete needed pavement work.

Ending

The commission adjourned its public meeting and moved to an executive session scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in the training room next door.