Custer County Board approves $412,874 road contract, signs off on grants and fiber permits

Custer County’s Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Custer County Courthouse and approved a batch of routine claims and several agenda items, including a $412,874.44 road hard-surface payment to Paulsen, Inc.

The board opened at 9:00 a.m. with Chairperson Blowers presiding. On a motion by Markham, seconded by Govier, the board approved the Road Hard Surface Fund claim to Paulsen, Inc. for asphalt work totaling $412,874.44; the roll call vote was recorded as ayes — all present. Earlier in the meeting the board also approved General Fund claims (personnel totals reported as Salary $134,343.53; Social Security $9,765.33; Retirement $9,346.43; Expenses $2,034.59) and Road Fund claims (Salary $84,187.38; SS $6,247.57; Ret $5,332.04; Exp $1,305.75). The General Fund claims motion was moved by Gibbons and seconded by Kleeb; that motion passed by roll call (ayes — all present).

The board approved multiple tourism and community-event disbursements from the County Visitors Promotion and Improvement funds, including an $18,000 grant to the Custer County Ag Society and an $11,000 upgrade allocation for the Ag Society. Motions to approve the Promotion and Improvement Fund items were made by Govier and seconded by Parliament and passed by roll call (ayes — all).

On infrastructure and public-safety spending, Justice Data Solutions Inc. received an approved E911 Wireless Fund equipment claim for $3,350.00. The board also approved two Great Plains Communications applications for underground 24-fiber construction (on Road #781 and Road #424) and a Viaero Fiber Networks LLC application for conduit installation at the Custer County Fair Grounds (3,748 feet). Motions approving the right-of-way applications were made by Longmore and Markham and carried by roll call vote.

The board approved an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the Sargent Airport Authority for $2,500 on a motion by Markham, seconded by Longmore; the roll call was recorded as ayes — all.

Chairman Blowers read a list of county assets proposed for surplus. On a motion by Gibbons, seconded by Govier, the board approved Resolution #19-2026 declaring the listed property surplus (items cited included a 2014 Western Star dump truck and county Dell computers). The minutes record the roll-call result as ayes — Kleeb, Parliament, Govier and Gibbons; nayes — Longmore and Markham. The excerpted minutes do not record the vote of Chairperson Blowers for that roll call.

The Board convened as the Board of Equalization at 9:13 a.m. to consider permissive tax-exemption applications for Off Broadway Apts Inc. (Parcel #001188600, #001188800, #001235500, #001236300). A motion to approve the exemptions was made by Kleeb, seconded by Longmore; the provided minutes do not show a separately recorded roll-call result for that motion in the text excerpt. Shortly after, the Board of Equalization was adjourned and the County Board reconvened at 9:15 a.m.

The board approved May 2026 monthly fee reports for the Clerk, Register of Deeds, Clerk of District Court, Sheriff and Recycling on a motion by Govier, seconded by Kleeb (roll call: ayes — all). The meeting closed at 9:32 a.m.; Clerk Kelly Jacobsen recorded the minutes and the next regular meeting was set for June 23, 2026.

Supervisor Longmore noted during public comment that the county saw a reduction in NIRMA insurance costs and attributed part of the improvement to the effectiveness of safety committees.

What’s next: The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Items recorded in the minutes that lacked explicit roll-call documentation in the provided excerpt are noted above as such; the minutes include detailed vendor line items and fund totals that will be part of the county’s financial records.