Commission authorizes nine undercover parking spaces for Deadwood auction, reserves one for law enforcement

The Lawrence County Commission on July 30 authorized a temporary use of nine undercover parking spaces in the county parking ramp to accommodate vehicles for a large auction, with the condition that one space remain reserved for law enforcement.

Kevin, an auction company representative, told commissioners the event brings high‑value vehicles and large attendance and that organizers sought covered parking to protect vehicles from hail and weather. “I guess just kinda as per in the past, we've had a good working relationship, with everyone in the in the garage,” Kevin said, asking the commission to allow use of nine extra undercover spots for move‑in the week of Aug. 19. Commissioners asked staff to ensure covered, accessible spaces and to avoid disrupting county access.

Sheriff Dean emphasized an operational constraint: one particular spot near the ramp must remain available for a Deadwood police vehicle that needs that location for security purposes; the board voted to authorize the nine‑spot arrangement while retaining the sheriff’s reserved spot. Chair [Commission Chair] put the motion and it passed on a voice vote. The authorization directs county staff to coordinate with event organizers on logistics and covered parking arrangements and to notify departments that access will be restricted during the specified dates.

The decision was procedural: the commission did not impose a fee or additional requirements beyond the covered‑parking condition and the sheriff's security reservation. County officials said they will monitor the arrangement for any operational impacts and work with the auction team to facilitate access for county employees during the event.