Union County commissioners approve hires, claims and four highway grants; discuss debris-site costs and 2025 budget

ELK POINT, S.D. — The Union County Board of Commissioners met Sept. 17 and recorded a series of routine approvals while pressing ahead on several fiscal and infrastructure items ahead of the 2025 budget cycle.

The board — members Joffer, Headid and Kimmel, with Dailey absent — approved the meeting agenda and the Sept. 3 minutes by motion. Commissioners then approved three personnel hires intended to staff county public safety operations: Zachariah Brown, a full-time deputy beginning Sept. 9 at $22.86 per hour; Roberto Alverez-Arreola, part-time jailer starting Sept. 16 at $19.62 per hour; and Ryan Struiksma, part-time jailer starting Sept. 16 at $19.62 per hour. Each hire was moved and seconded and recorded as carried.

The auditor reported the county’s cash and investment position, listing a combined total of $16,508,470.93 across all county-administered funds (the figures include city, school and township pass-through accounts). Departmental receipts were noted: the sheriff’s office reported $23,170.72 in federal prisoner and INS room-and-board fees; the Register of Deeds reported $11,067 in transfer taxes and $13,692 in fees; and the Clerk of Courts reported $45,575.11.

Commissioners approved a lengthy claims docket and payroll warrants, including two payroll runs (Sept. 6 — $90,786.18 and Sept. 20 — $97,820.02). Large audited claims listed in the minutes included Jebro Inc. ($488,134.92), Ulteig Engineers, Inc. ($111,452.50) and L G Everist Inc. ($50,146.88). The board voted to approve the claims by motion; the minutes record the action as carried.

A public auction disposed of fairground buildings and tracts: Larry Sogn was awarded the show-ring area for $1,200; Dave Van Engen purchased the beef barn for $450; Alcester Towing acquired the hoop building for $700; and Larry Donnelly won the 10.006-acre Donnelly Tract at $175 per acre (total $1,751.05). The meeting room and a vacant Elk Point lot were sold for $1,000.

Highway Office business included approval of four 2025 Preliminary Engineering Improvement Grants. The board approved funding of $84,200.70 for each of four structure numbers (64-096-150, 64-070-250, 64-103-130 and 64-032-070), for a combined grant amount of $336,802.80. Highway Executive Secretary Harkness presented the matters and the motions to approve were carried.

On recovery and cleanup, Jon Brown of Stockwell Engineering reported via email an estimated final cost for the debris site through Aug. 31, 2024 of $185,000; the minutes note that the county’s 25% share would be approximately $46,250. The entry records the estimate but the minutes do not show a final approval of payment or allocation at this meeting.

Department heads provided routine reports: EMA Westcott reviewed attended seminars and a tower project update; Nurse Heirigs reported eight immunizations and no home visits; and the Extension office updated the board on fair and weed-and-pest matters. The State’s Attorney office manager, Knudson, discussed budget and payroll concerns with the board.

Sheriff Prouty, Attorney Miller and Chief Zenner met with commissioners to discuss Bluepeak/Midco broadband status and issues tied to an Alcester contract and a fire district ordinance. The minutes record the discussion but state that no decision was made.

The board recessed twice during the morning and adjourned at 12:26 p.m., setting the next meeting for Sept. 24, 2024.

What’s next: The provisional 2025 budget hearing continued during the session and remains under consideration; no final budget adoption is recorded in these minutes.