Minnehaha County Commission approves $4.66 million in bills, declares multiple properties nuisances and rescinds tax payment plan

The Minnehaha County Commission on Oct. 19, 2021 approved the meeting agenda and minutes, authorized payment of county bills totaling $4,664,587.14 and adopted a series of routine administrative actions before addressing public nuisance cases and a tax-payment resolution.

Commission Chair Dean Karsky opened the 9 a.m. meeting with Commissioners Barth, Bender, Heiberger and Beninga present. The board unanimously approved the agenda and several sets of minutes. By roll call vote the commission approved payment of vouchers covering welfare rent, contracted construction, utilities, vehicle purchases, professional services and intergovernmental transfers.

Why it matters: the vouchers cover core county services and maintenance; the meeting also formalized personnel actions that will affect staffing across the county.

Votes at a glance: The board recorded roll call approvals on multiple motions. Major outcomes included approval of the vouchers and minutes (unanimous); approval of personnel actions (unanimous); a 5–0 vote rescinding Resolution MC 20-64 and authorizing the tax deed process for Parcel 59074; and three 5–0 votes on public nuisance declarations or enforcement deferral (see details below). Certification of the Meadow View Circle Road District election passed 4–0 while Commissioner Beninga briefly stepped out.

Public nuisance hearings: County planner Kevin Hoekman presented three separate public nuisance matters under SDCL 21-10-06. In Humboldt Township, property owner Keith Dement told the commission he would clean up the site by Dec. 1 and said vehicle parts on the land did not contain leaking chemicals; Commissioners expressed concern that operating a recycling business in a residential zone would be unlawful. The commission deferred action to Dec. 7 and required a staff progress report and removal of unlicensed or abandoned vehicles.

Hoekman also presented a 2018 case in Burk Township where staff found materials behind a fence that may contain chemicals. No one appeared for the owner; the commission declared that parcel a public nuisance, 5–0. In a third case from Wall Lake Township — originally declared a nuisance in 2019 — local resident Don Reichert testified about repeated house fires, loose cattle and concern that an air conditioner might be leaking chemicals into a nearby waterway. The owner was absent; the board declared the property a nuisance, 5–0.

Tax-payment resolution: Auditor Ben Kyte presented Resolution MC 21-59 to rescind a previously approved payment plan for Parcel 59074 after the owner, Brian Ray Matthies, failed to comply with the plan’s schedule. The board voted 5–0 to rescind the plan and authorized the treasurer to proceed with the tax deed process under SDCL Ch. 10-25.

Agreements and administrative actions: The commission authorized the chair to sign a Joint Powers Agreement with the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs and Mapleton Township for Slip Up Creek Road and 477th Ave improvements, approved removal of a specified item from the county Poor Relief Guidelines at Human Services’ request, and authorized Amendment #2 with JLG Architect adding $15,000 for assessment and engineering to mitigate moisture in a wall system for the Extension/Administration remodel. All motions passed by roll call.

Other business: The board placed routine department reports on file and approved a slate of personnel actions, including new hires and step increases across county offices. Commissioner liaison reports covered juvenile policy-group work, accessible housing listening sessions, stand-alone sewage treatment and The Link’s capacity concerns.

The commission adjourned and scheduled its next regular meeting for Oct. 26, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.