Minnehaha County Commission approves year-end budget supplements, $900,000 federal grant and multiple contracts
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Summary
The Minnehaha County Commission on Dec. 29 approved supplemental budgets and grant receipts to close out 2020, accepted a $900,000 BJA grant for substance-abuse response, authorized bridge grant applications and contracts for a highway study and jail medical records software, and approved personnel and vehicle purchases.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Minnehaha County Commission approved a package of year-end financial actions and contracts at its Dec. 29 meeting, voting to add supplemental funding to departments, accept federal grant money for substance-abuse work and authorize several agreements and purchases.
At the meeting, the commission adopted Resolution MC20-81 to supplement the 2020 budgets, including $823,525 in General Fund transfers to cover items such as elections overtime and printing, juvenile shelter care, and COVID-related expenses across facilities and public services. Finance & Budget Officer Kim Adamson presented the hearing and said the supplements reflect reimbursements and pass-through dollars needed to close out the fiscal year.
The board also authorized a Highway Fund supplement of $3,388,000 for contracted construction work and approved multiple targeted reimbursements and grant-based supplements, including a $98,500 HAVA award for election scanner equipment and emergency shelter grant reimbursements totaling $59,621.55.
The commission voted to accept a $900,000 award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP). Michelle Boyd, Programs & Services Manager, said the grant will support development and expansion of services for individuals affected by illicit opioids, stimulants and other drugs. The motion to accept the award passed by roll call, 4–0, with one commissioner temporarily absent.
On transportation, Highway Superintendent DJ Buthe secured commission approval for a Professional Services Agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. to conduct a County Highway 130 traffic operations corridor study. The contract amount is not to exceed $75,000; the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization will fund 81.95 percent, leaving the county’s share at about $13,537. The commission also approved Resolution MC20-82 to authorize Bridge Improvement Grant applications for Structure 50-279-140 and Structure 50-330-066; estimated total project costs are $1,697,405 and $1,202,260 with county matches of roughly $339,481 and $240,448 respectively.
The commission approved several county agreements: a pretrial services arrangement allowing Lincoln County to use Minnehaha County pretrial staff and systems (Lincoln County will pay $17,500 toward 0.5 FTE), a three-year CorEMR software and license agreement for the jail’s electronic medical records (monthly fee $780, recalculated by average daily population), and a 2021 sub-recipient agreement with the South Eastern Council of Governments for metropolitan planning reimbursements. Chair Jean Bender was authorized to sign the agreements.
Other actions included approval of vehicle purchases for county use — a 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 SSV for $31,481 and a 2020 Chevy Equinox LS for $22,239 — and multiple personnel moves, including new hires, promotions and step increases across departments and a salary set for County Auditor Bennett Kyte at $4,400.00 biweekly effective Jan. 1, 2021.
The commission approved vouchers totaling $803,086.92, which the clerk recorded with detailed vendor line-items including large payments to Reede Construction and Summit Food Service. During public comment, Treasurer Pam Nelson raised concerns about the transfer of an employee from the Auditor’s Office to the Treasurer’s Office; Commissioners did not record a formal response in the minutes. DJ Buthe said he would provide a project list showing whether highway projects were under or over budget.
The board recessed briefly, reconvened, entered executive session under SDCL 1-25-2 (1), (3) and (4), and then adjourned. The commission set its next regular meeting for Jan. 5, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.
Votes at a glance: approve agenda (Barth/Karsky) — 5 ayes; approve Dec. 15 minutes (Heiberger/Barth) — 5 ayes; approve vouchers ($803,086.92) (Barth/Karsky) — 5 ayes; adopt Resolution MC20-81 supplemental budget — 5 ayes; authorize pretrial agreement with Lincoln County — 5 ayes; accept BJA COSSAP grant ($900,000) — 4 ayes; authorize Highway 130 study (contract not to exceed $75,000) — 5 ayes; adopt Resolution MC20-82 (bridge grant applications) — 5 ayes; authorize CorEMR agreements for jail medical records — 5 ayes.