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Union County Board approves $513,988 culvert contract, awards $595,437 micro-surfacing bid and signs health, EMA agreements
Summary
At its March 3 meeting in Elk Point the Union County Board of Commissioners approved a $513,988 construction contract for a reinforced-concrete box culvert, awarded a $595,437 micro-surfacing contract to ASTECH Corp., adopted indigent case recommendations and signed yearly public-health and EMA dispatch agreements. Multiple administrative motions and claims were also approved.
The Union County Board of Commissioners met March 3, 2026, at the courthouse in Elk Point and approved a series of road, health and administrative actions that officials said support planned infrastructure and county services.
In the meeting’s most significant procurement, the board approved a construction contract with Nolz Dragline and Construction Inc. for a two-barrel reinforced concrete box culvert (11-by-10 feet) at a contract price of $513,988.16; the motion was made by Commissioner Dailey and seconded by Commissioner Ustad and carried. Weeks or months of planned work on county road infrastructure were described in the packet materials presented to the board.
The board also accepted a cooperative micro-surfacing bid through IMEG Consultants, awarding the 2023 Union County micro-surfacing project to ASTECH Corp. of St. Cloud, Minnesota, for $595,437.53. County staff reported the ASTECH bid was about $59,700 below the engineer’s estimate; Commissioner Kimmel moved to accept the low bid and Commissioner Ballard seconded. The motion carried.
Two voluntary right-of-way donation agreements were approved to facilitate road projects: one from Ronald W. Larsen for county CR 15 reconstruction (motion by Commissioner Dailey, seconded by Commissioner Ustad) and one from Rus Farms Real Estate LLC for Project No. BRF 6372(00)25-6 (motion by Commissioner Ballard, seconded by Commissioner Dailey). Both motions carried.
On public services and administration, the board signed the county’s yearly contract with the South Dakota Department of Health for community health services (motion by Commissioner Ustad, seconded by Commissioner Dailey) and approved an agreement with the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications to establish operation and financial responsibilities for certain public-safety dispatch sites in the statewide radio system (motion by Commissioner Dailey, seconded by Commissioner Ballard). Both motions carried.
Welfare Director Steckelberg presented three indigent cases. The board adopted the recommendation on case 26-IRR-001 and followed the recommendation on 26-IRR-003. The board denied request 26-IRR-002, noting an initial payment had been made on 25-IRR-010 in 2025; funeral expenses paid by the county were capped at $2,000 under the action recorded.
The board approved its annual supply bid tabulations and set courthouse closures to match state office observances for Good Friday and Easter Monday (April 3 and April 6). Commissioners also approved a comprehensive set of audited claims and payroll warrants covering multiple departments and vendors as listed in the minutes.
Sheriff Prouty informed the board about a small-claims matter involving a former deputy and reported two mobile homes deemed uninhabitable that did not sell at tax sale; Treasurer Hertel will meet with commissioners at a later date to discuss uncollectible mobile-home taxes.
The commission discussed available leadership training through the National Association of Counties and heard a brief wage discussion from States Attorney Zenner about a proposed Deputy States Attorney position.
The board entered executive session twice for personnel matters under SDCL 1-25-2 (the first session under subsection (1) at 11:15 a.m., returning at 1:15 p.m.; the second under subsection (2) at 1:16 p.m., returning at 1:48 p.m.). Minutes record only that the motions to enter and exit executive session were carried; no further details are included in the public minutes.
The meeting adjourned at 1:49 p.m.; the next regular meeting was set for March 17, 2026. The minutes were attested by Tracy Norton, Chief Deputy Auditor, and Kevin Joffer, Chairman.
