Minnehaha County commissioners authorize licenses, contracts and opioid settlement participation

Minnehaha County commissioners on Sept. 16 approved a series of routine and policy actions, including a liquor license, grant agreements, a consulting contract for a bridge replacement, a wheel-tax distribution resolution and participation in two national opioid settlements.

The commission granted an annual malt-beverage and South Dakota Farm Wine license to NMAS LLC, doing business as Riviera Events and Catering, after the auditor's office reported no objections from the sheriff, state's attorney or planning department. Kim Christensen of the auditor's office said the application had been corrected and resubmitted and that the license would cover '25 through '26.' The motion carried on a roll-call vote.

The commission also authorized the chair to sign a subrecipient agreement with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety Office of Victim Services to continue funding for a victim-witness assistance position. Minnehaha County State's Attorney David Hager described the position's caseload and partnerships, saying the staffer had handled more than 300 "of the, more severe high lethality cases" in the past year and that the grant requires a 25% local match. Commissioners voted to accept the funding.

The Sheriff's Office asked the commission to declare six vehicles surplus and to authorize online auction sale through Purple Wave; Joe Bodds said online auctions have generated a larger audience and better results. Commissioners approved declaring the vehicles surplus and publishing notice of sale.

Jacob Morris of the Highway Department presented an agreement with JEO Consulting Group Inc. for final design and construction administration of Structure 5242060 (a bridge replacement east of Baltic). Morris said JEO delivered preliminary engineering earlier in the year and that final design work will support Minnehaha County's scoring on grant applications; commissioners authorized the chair to sign the agreement.

On the wheel tax, Morris recommended keeping the distribution percentages the same as the prior resolution — 90% to the county, 5% to municipalities and 5% to townships — and said the ordinance change is expected to generate roughly $211,000 in additional revenue, with about $190,000 to the county and $10,500 each to the townships and municipalities. Commissioners adopted the resolution after discussion about statutory requirements and how municipality and township shares are divided.

The county also authorized the commission administrative officer to sign participation and release forms for two newly announced opioid settlements. Susan Beeman of the auditor's office said the "exact amount of the settlement is unknown" and that any funds received must be placed into the county's opioid settlement fund and used in accordance with the existing agreement; she noted the county has previously directed opioid-settlement dollars to support the Link program.

Votes at a glance: - Riviera Events and Catering liquor license — approved (roll-call recorded as in favor). - Stop Program subrecipient agreement (victim-witness assistance grant) — approved. - Declare six sheriff vehicles surplus and authorize online auction — approved. - JEO Consulting Group agreement for final bridge design (Structure 5242060) — approved. - Wheel tax distribution resolution (90% county / 5% municipalities / 5% townships) — adopted. - Authorize participation in Purdue opioid settlement — approved. - Authorize participation in secondary manufacturers opioid settlement (8 manufacturers) — approved.

The commission carried each motion by roll call; specific votes were recorded during the meeting. The board did not receive public opposition on the items that came to a vote. The commission will handle implementation steps — publishing notices, executing agreements and processing settlement participation paperwork — through the auditor's office and the commission administrative officer.