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County approves utility permits, USFS easement; Highway Superintendent flags CDL medical change and 2026 gravel plan
Summary
Lawrence County approved utility permits for Pedersen Excavating and Butte Electric Cooperative, authorized a USFS easement for Tinton Road, and received the highway department's 2026 gravel plan; Highway Superintendent John Bey reported that South Dakota will implement 49 CFR 391.11 on July 1, 2026, affecting nine county CDL holders at a $43 per‑employee cost to establish the new license.
Following Highway Superintendent John Bey's recommendations, the Lawrence County Commission on April 28 approved a utility permit for Pedersen Excavating to bore under Old Highway 14 to install city water services between Section 33 T7N R2E and Section 4 T6N R2E, and approved a separate permit for Butte Electric Cooperative to bore under Homestake Road for a powerline in Section 2 T6N R1E. Both permits carry special conditions: bore pits must be at the outer limits of the right‑of‑way, utilities must meet minimum depth per ordinance 07‑01, and no tracked equipment is allowed on county roads.
The board also approved a Public Road Easement agreement with the U.S. Forest Service for Tinton Road #134 and received John Bey's briefing on 2026 gravel projects. Bey informed the board that effective July 1, 2026, South Dakota will adopt 49 CFR 391.11 requiring most CDL holders to hold a Medical Examiner's Certificate; nine county highway employees are affected and the cost to establish the new license is $43 per employee. The board continued DRM Inc.'s permit until an estimated completion date is provided and discussed a requested easement privatization with surveyor Randy Deibert.
