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Pennington County commissioners approve HR consolidation, campground permit and several land-use variances
Summary
The board approved consolidation of county human-resources functions into a single HR office (3–2), granted a conditional-use permit for a 13-site Highline Horse & RV Campground with 33 conditions after extended public safety comment, and cleared several variances including a telecom tower variance to improve mobile coverage. The board also ordered two nuisance properties cleaned within 60 days or face abatement and directed a $114,000 transfer into the county self-insurance fund.
The Pennington County Board of Commissioners met May 5 and approved a package of staffing, land-use and administrative measures the board’s leaders said are intended to improve county operations while addressing neighborhood and public-safety concerns.
The most consequential personnel decision was a 3–2 vote to consolidate county human-resources functions into a single HR office that will be led by an HR director, supported by an HR manager and four HR generalists. Commissioners said the change folds the sheriff’s HR staff into county HR, standardizes policies and seeks savings and more consistent service across departments. Commissioner Jerry Durer, who sponsored the plan, said the move followed months of meetings with HR staff and the sheriff’s office and is intended to eliminate inconsistent personnel practices.
The board also approved a separate motion to transfer the county’s communications/marketing manager position to the commission office.
Planning and zoning decisions dominated the meeting’s agenda. After extensive public testimony about traffic and trail safety, the board approved a conditional-use permit for Highline Horse & RV Campground (TK Ranch LLC). Planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval with 33 conditions; residents urged additional DOT safety work at a nearby blind curve and asked about manure and wastewater handling. Bruce Schroeder, SD Department of Transportation customer engineer, told the board the DOT had reviewed sight distance and approved the approach; applicant Timothy McGriff said the operation will implement buffers, manure removal and an engineered mitigation plan. The board approved the CUP with the planning commission’s 33 conditions.
Separately, the board granted several variances in the Board of Adjustment session. Those included: - A reduced setback for a stage at No Bad Days Campground (COVA26-0008), approved with conditions after staff and the Forest Service described a recent resurvey and mitigation. - A side-yard setback variance for Josh and Tammy Rankin (COVA26-0009) approved because staff found narrow lot topography as a special condition. - A telecommunications setback variance for a proposed 195-foot tower north of Hill City (COVA26-0010). The applicant said the tower is necessary to provide 911 and general coverage where service is currently lacking; commissioners cited emergency-service needs and accepted a fall-zone letter, then approved the variance for health and safety reasons.
On public-nuisance enforcement, the board heard repeated complaints and photographic evidence of outdoor debris at two residential properties (one on Hamlin Court). Planning enforcement presented an estimate of roughly $14,000 to abate one parcel. The board found both properties in violation of county ordinance and ordered owners to bring the properties into full compliance within 60 days or face county abatement and a lien.
The board also took these actions and direction during the meeting: - Adopted a resolution requested by an applicant to allow a proposed medical-waste transfer station to move forward in the state permitting process (SDCL 34A-6-103); the operator said the site would serve as a temporary storage/transfer point with final treatment and disposal in Sioux Falls. - Authorized the chair to sign the Department of Legislative Audit engagement letter for the FY2025 audit. - Directed the auditor to move an unexpected $114,000 refund into the county self-insurance (health) fund to bolster reserves. - Approved publication and processing for three available liquor licenses under county ordinance. - Authorized a $16,500 Avid4 Engineering study of dead-end road systems (funded from the highway department) to identify areas affected by the county’s 40-unit dead-end road rule and potential mitigation projects. - Approved FEMA subrecipient participation for public assistance related to the December windstorm (DR-4903). - Directed the commission office and the state’s attorney to draft proposed agenda language and legal review about replacing the meeting’s “moment of reflection” with a formal invocation option, and asked staff to return a proposed policy.
The board also received a full-year presentation from the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office on caseloads and programs. State’s Attorney Laura Retzel said the office filed nearly 2,000 felony cases in 2025 (about half drug-related), is pursuing opioid task-force funding, has expanded diversion programs, and is prosecuting retail sales of synthetic THC products. Retzel and staff described workforce pressures — nine attorney vacancies — and asked the board to consider long-term staffing solutions.
The meeting closed with a routine financial update: county expenditures at the first-quarter snapshot were roughly 20.8% of the annual budget (near the county’s historical first-quarter baseline), and staff emphasized the need for continued monthly and quarterly reporting to avoid year-end supplement surprises.
The board adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel and pending litigation as allowed by state law.
