Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rural Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners delay decision on Kranzburg Township RAFE grant after township lacked required road levy documentation
Summary
Kranzburg Township’s request for Rural Access Infrastructure (RAFE) grant reimbursement was put on hold when county auditors found the township did not have a required road levy in place for the project; commissioners asked staff to consult the state's attorney and to revisit the request next week.
Codington County commissioners on Tuesday delayed action on a request tied to a Rural Access Infrastructure (RAFE) grant for Kranzburg Township after township representatives and county staff confirmed that the township had not placed the road levy required by statute before the emergency work was done.
Township representative Ben Slexno (identified in the record as representing Kranzburg Township) and county staff described a situation in which emergency culvert repairs were completed because the road became hazardous for residents and school buses. Township staff said paperwork filed earlier could not be located and that some submissions had been filled out incorrectly. The township reported it had already paid contractors and that its fund balance was strained.
Auditor Brenda (last name not stated in the meeting transcript) told the board that the statute requires a road levy and that Kranzburg Township must record that levy at its annual meeting for taxes payable in 2026; because the levy was not on last year’s levy request, the township cannot claim reimbursement for the work completed this year under the RAFE program until the legal levy requirement is satisfied or a legal alternative is found.
Commissioners discussed options, including whether the county could front funds from commissioner budgets or contingency but expressed concern about creating a precedent or violating the statutory intent of the RAFE program. “Maybe we should get a readout from the state’s attorney on this,” Commissioner Gable said; commissioners agreed to have the auditor consult the state’s attorney and to place the item back on the agenda for the next week. The board did not approve reimbursement at Tuesday’s meeting.
Why it matters: Township officials said contractors already completed the project and are awaiting payment; county staff and commissioners want to help but declined to approve funds without legal guidance on whether county action would comply with statute and avoid creating an adverse precedent.
Clarifying details: the dollar amount discussed for the project was $19,996 and the program is described as an 80/20 match (RAFE funds match), but county staff said the specific remedy will depend on the state’s attorney’s advice.
Ending: Commissioners directed the auditor to consult the state’s attorney and scheduled the item for reconsideration at next week’s meeting; in the interim, township representatives were urged to prepare corrected levy documentation for their March annual meeting (taxes payable 2026).
