Minnehaha County Commission approves $2.15M PSAP contribution, absentee ballot drop boxes and annual mental‑health sessions for deputies

The Minnehaha County Commission on Sept. 8 approved a package of contracts, grant acceptances and personnel‑related changes while hearing its FY2021 budget proposal.

Commissioners authorized the chair to sign a Joint Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) agreement with the City of Sioux Falls under which the county will pay $2,150,000 for fixtures, furniture and equipment for a PSAP at the city’s Public Safety Training Facility. Carol Muller, the commission’s administrative officer, told the board the county’s responsibility covers those build‑out costs while the city handles construction; the motion passed with four ayes while Commissioner Barth briefly stepped out.

During a public budget hearing, Muller said the FY2021 budget stands at $113,293,582. Additions to the provisional budget included $50,000 contingency for operations at a planned triage center, $100,000 for medical exams related to mental‑health holds, $30,000 for higher building insurance premiums and a 15% increase forecast for health insurance premiums. The county budget includes $25,000,000 budgeted for capital projects and a General Fund cash application of $5,301,043.

The commission also approved an agreement with ISG, with CBS Squared as a partner, for design services on a new county highway facility. Commissioners were told the project’s guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is expected to be between $8 million and $10 million, with architectural fees equal to 6.49% of the GMP.

On public‑safety and justice matters, the commission accepted a Sub‑Recipient Agreement from the South Dakota Department of Social Services Division of Behavioral Health to provide $38,033 for medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) medications for inmates diagnosed with opioid use disorder; the funds will cover medication costs from June 1, 2020, through May 31, 2021.

The board also approved an amendment to the food service partnership with Summit Food Management Services that replaces a sliding price scale with fixed prices for inmate meals and related items, effective March 21, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

Elections officials won approval to place two absentee ballot drop boxes on the county campus: one north of the Minnehaha County Administration Building’s main west entrance and another at the northwest entrance to the Extension Building (the Election Center). Auditor Bob Litz told commissioners the sites are visible to security cameras and will be regularly emptied by election staff. During public comment, resident Niki Gronli praised Litz’s work on the drop boxes and expressed concern that the City of Sioux Falls mayor’s office had rejected use of drop boxes within the city.

Labor and personnel actions included multiple personnel appointments and step increases, and the commission approved an amendment to the agreement with the Minnehaha County Deputies Association requiring each certified law enforcement officer to attend one annual individual session with a mental‑health professional, to occur between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15 each year. Deputy Sheriff Captain Josh Phillips presented the change and Sheriff Mike Milstead thanked staff and the deputies’ association for working on implementation.

The board approved two county aid lien compromises by resolution: MC20‑60 (DPNO 28628) to release the applicant’s name upon payment of $1,170.14 with the remaining $1,220 retained against an ex‑spouse, and MC20‑61 (DPNO 40948) to compromise and release a lien upon payment of $709.70. Both resolutions passed by roll call vote.

A right‑of‑way purchase with landowner Gary R. Miles was approved for $3,552 to secure 0.37 acres needed to meet safety standards and allow future culvert maintenance on Highway 140. The commission also approved two temporary Consume & Blend alcoholic beverage licenses for weddings at the Izaak Walton League after staff reported no objections from the Sheriff’s Office, the State’s Attorney’s Office or Planning.

The commission received reports including the Mobile Crisis Team annual statistics and monthly highway construction updates, and filed the auditor’s accounts for June and July. Commissioners gave liaison reports — including a notice to proceed for interior demolition at Link (the planned triage center) — and adjourned until Sept. 22, 2020.

The meeting record shows routine voucher approvals totaling $1,140,710.29 and multiple contract and personnel motions, most approved unanimously; specific votes and motions are recorded in the official minutes for Sept. 8, 2020.