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Minnehaha County Commission approves $1.33 million in bills, authorizes equipment and vehicle purchases and a lien compromise
Summary
The Minnehaha County Commission on Oct. 26 approved payment of $1,326,210.34 in vouchers, authorized a Bobcat excavator and a jail transport vehicle purchase, approved 2022 health and dental premium increases of 5%, and passed Resolution MC21-60 to compromise a county aid lien for $7,000 payable within one year.
The Minnehaha County Commission on Oct. 26, 2021, approved payment of $1,326,210.34 in county bills, authorized several equipment purchases for county operations, approved modest increases to employee health and dental premiums for 2022, and adopted Resolution MC21-60 to compromise and release a county aid lien.
The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. with Commissioners Barth, Bender, Heiberger and Karsky recorded present. Commissioner Barth moved and Commissioner Bender seconded approval of the meeting agenda and the Oct. 19 minutes; both motions passed by voice vote (4 ayes).
In routine business the board approved a voucher batch totaling $1,326,210.34. The voucher listing (included in the minutes) itemized payments to dozens of vendors, among the largest line items a $658,247.00 payment to Henry Carlson Construction and $195,611.31 to Metro Comms. The minutes also listed October payroll amounts by department, including $1,162,324.82 for the Sheriff’s Office and $140,175.47 for Highway payroll.
The Commission approved multiple personnel actions, including new hires for the Safe Home program and several correctional officers, and step increases for existing employees. Carey Deaver, human resources director, presented the annual health and dental insurance review and recommended a 5% increase in health premiums and a 5% increase in dental premiums for 2022; the Commission approved that recommendation (motion by Commissioner Bender; 4 ayes).
On a contested lien compromise, Commission Assistant Melinda Storley briefed the board on an application to compromise County Aid Lien DPNO-46282, an original lien amount of $24,725.87. The applicant had requested release of the lien upon payment of $8,000. Commissioner Heiberger moved to accept a compromise for $7,000 but the motion failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Bender then moved, seconded by Commissioner Heiberger, to adopt Resolution MC21-60, which authorizes compromise and release of the lien in full upon payment of $7,000; the resolution passed by roll call (4 ayes). The resolution states that if payment is not made within one year the agreement is null and void.
The board approved a set of capital and operating purchases requested by county staff. At the request of Highway Superintendent Steve Groen the Commission approved depositing $139,115.00 in proceeds from a Sept. 28 Purple Wave auction into the Highway and Bridge Fund and authorized the Highway Department to purchase a Bobcat compact excavator through the Sourcewell contract for $67,116.56 (motion by Commissioner Barth; 4 ayes). At the request of Jail Warden Mike Mattson, the Commission authorized purchase of a 2021 Ford Explorer from Lamb Motors as a jail transport vehicle under the 2021 State of South Dakota bid contract for $33,484.00 (motion carried 4–0).
The meeting also included briefings from local organizations. Mike Lynch, director of investor relations for Forward Sioux Falls, outlined Forward Sioux Falls’ governance, funding and new initiatives planned for 2026 such as a housing fund and a cyber/IT park. Scott Wick, president and CEO of the Sioux Empire Fair Association, presented the fair’s 2021 financial summary (revenue $1,450,346; expenses $1,062,960; net profit $387,386) and noted some COVID-19 protocols remained. Jessica Wells, president of the LifeScape Foundation, described LifeScape’s services and discussed legislation affecting compensation for direct support professionals.
Melinda Storley also briefed the commission on using a consent agenda for future meetings, describing how items could be grouped for one vote with an option for commissioners or the public to remove items for discussion. During new business Carol Muller presented a letter addressed to U.S. Representative Johnson expressing the Commission’s support for flexibility in the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds; no formal action was taken on the letter though Chair Karsky indicated he wanted to discuss it before signing.
The Commission recessed at 10:23 a.m., later entered executive session pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(1), (3) and (4), and then adjourned. The board scheduled its next meeting for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.
