January 2016

Week two of the 91st legislative session is in the books, and things are starting to pick up. As of now 141 bills have been introduced, 76 from the House and 65 from the Senate. By this time last year we had 156 bills introduced.
One of those bills that has gained a lot of attention is HB1067. Many of you remember Initiated Measure 17, the patient choice act that was passed in 2014 by the voters (62 percent). This piece of legislation is being lobbied hard by Sanford Health and heavily against by the specialty hospitals. I will see it first in the House Commerce Committee. The will of the people spoke in 2014 and I am sure we will have plenty of testimony from both sides. More on that in next week’s column.
Another piece of legislation that has been quite popular on social media and in the news is HB 1076. This legislation would require drug testing for those under 65 that receive assistance from the government via the temporary assistance for needy families or the supplemental nutrition assistance programs. I will also be one of the first legislators to take a vote on this in the House Health & Human Services committee.
I did some research and currently as of July 27, 2015, at least 13 states have passed legislation regarding drug testing or screening, and many others have proposed legislation – that ultimately failed. The estimated costs in these states were from $92,487 for drug testing 20 percent of recipients and treating two percent of those tested in Louisiana, to $20 million for testing all recipients in New York, which costs roughly $52 per recipient. It would cost South Dakota roughly $304,382 to test all of our 5,849 recipients if we followed the same format.
Granted this legislation places the cost on the individual so that number will be lower. I also learned that the amount of individuals that were busted for drugs was very low. Anywhere from .0002 percent to 8.3 percent.
As much as I agree that I would find it fair to have these individuals take a urinalysis like many of you do (including myself), I just don’t think the data supports such legislation.
I am also working closely with a few different groups regarding eminent domain and land owner rights, bicycle legislation, Parole Board reform and of course education funding. These next few weeks will be busy, but it is an honor to represent District 8 in Pierre. As always contact me any time at Mathew.Wollmann@gmail.com, on Facebook, or via Twitter @MathewWollmann. Thank you and God Bless!

The second week of the 2016 legislative session saw committees beginning to pass bills and some floor action on bills. The Joint Appropriations Committee heard bills giving bonding authority for new buildings on our college campuses, including giving the Board of Regents authority to purchase land from the Dakota State University Foundation for the construction of the Beacom building.
Meetings were held this week between the state and representatives from the federal government regarding the plan to expand Medicaid in the state. An additional 55,000 South Dakota citizens will have health insurance if an agreement can be reached between the state and the Center for Medicaid and Medicare (CMM) regarding the reimbursement for Tribal members receiving medical services outside of Indian Health Services. I am hopeful the state and CMM can find an agreement and we can expand Medicaid and provide 55,000 South Dakotans health insurance.
The discussions continue on increased funding for education. As you know, South Dakota’s teachers are last in the nation in teacher pay, and the Governor has proposed a half cent sales tax to increase teacher’s pay. Within the proposal, a portion of the current capital outlay would go to supporting the general fund of the schools and schools would need to cap their reserves. These are not new dollars to the school system but are rather a change in current law regarding how schools can use local tax dollars. There is also concern by some lawmakers that schools won’t pass the additional money on to teachers.
I believe that we must make sure that the new money goes to teachers, but the state does walk a fine line between putting conditions on state funds and local control of our schools. While the state can set where revenue is derived, it is still the local school board that sets its budget and determines its own spending priorities. My goal is that we are able to get a meaningful increase in new revenue for schools and not just move revenue around and say we helped schools.
For my part, I will continue to work with the Governor and my fellow legislators to find a long-range plan that will benefit education for years to come.
As always, if you wish to reach me, my email is svpar@hotmail.com.

Sanborn County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Ebersdorfer presiding. Other members present were P. Larson, S. Larson, Blindauer, and Ohlrogge. Auditor Larson was also present. Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Ohlrogge, to accept the minutes as presented. Motion carried.
CHN & 4-H ADVISOR
Marla Feistner, County Health Nurse, and Audra Scheel, 4-H Advisor, were unable to meet with the board.
HIGHWAY
Lee Goergen, Highway Superintendent/Weed Supervisor, met with the board and reported on happenings in the highway department.
HEARING TO SUPPLEMENT BUDGET
Hearing no objections, motion by Blindauer, seconded by P. Larson, to supplement the Road & Bridge debt service budget for $166,000 to pay the balance due on the loader. Because of weather conditions last year the highway was unable to crush the gravel for which this money was budgeted. Because the cash was allocated the board decided to pay the balance due on the loader and not have to pay the interest. All ayes. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION 16-01 CAPITAL OUTLAY
Motion by Blindauer, seconded by S. Larson, to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION 16-01
WHEREAS, SDCL 7-21-51 allows the board of commissioners to authorize the accumulation of funds for a period of five years for Capital Outlay purposes;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sanborn County Board of Commissioners set forth funds from the General Fund for Capital Outlay accumulation for a shop for the Highway Department in the amount of $100,000 for the year 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such funds shall be expended within five years from the date of this resolution or the funds shall revert to the fund from which they were originally appropriated.
Voting Aye: 5
Voting Nay: 0
Resolution approved this 19th day of January 2016.
Jeff Ebersdorfer
Chairman
Attest:
Sanborn County Board
of Commissioners
Diane Larson,
Sanborn County Auditor
CCB CONTRACT
Motion by P. Larson, seconded by S. Larson, to enter into a twelve month contract with Credit Collections Bureau to collect liens which are not being paid. All ayes. Motion carried.
LETCHER TOWN NUISANCE
Penny Farris, Director of Equalization; Barry Selland, Planning and Zoning Board member; Sheriff Tom Fridley; Clayton Kidder, and Judy Hemminger met with the board to discuss a nuisance property in Letcher. Because some of the necessary people to make any decisions were not at the meeting, another meeting is scheduled for February 16 at 10:00 a.m.
BILLS
Motion by Ohlrogge, seconded by Blindauer, to pay the following bills. Motion carried.
Office of Child Support, Wage Garnish $240.00
Accounts Management Inc., Wage Garnish $243.04
First National Bank, Tax Liability $2,350.81
AT&T Mobility, Air Cards $122.01
Merchants Capital, Road Grader Payment $24,561.65
State Treasurer, Monthly Remittance $40,519.45
State Treasurer, Sales Tax $111.70
SDACO, Modernization & Pres $108.00
Towns, Townships, Schools, James River Water, T&C, Tax Distribution $41,289.08
Ameripride Inc., Laundry $84.86
AT&T, Cell Phone $137.21
Avera Queen of Peace, Drug Test $92.90
Brooks Oil Company, Fuel $2,202.00
Brown & Saenger, Supplies $127.78
Todd O. Brueske Construction, Storage $125.00
Caterpillar Financial Service, Loader Pay Off $185,785.15
Central Electric Cooperative, Electricity $268.13
Claritus, Postage Machine Supplies $44.01
Department of Revenue, Alcohol Tests $70.00
Department of Public Service, Teletype Service $2,340.00
Gena Eagle, EMT Conference Expenses $185.85
Express 2, Fuel $53.55
Farnams Genuine Parts Inc., Supplies $15.11
First National Bank – Omaha, Fuel $17.62
KO’s, Battery $153.95
Larson & Nipe, Office Expense $1,000.00
Mathew Bender & Co Inc., DUI Handbooks $90.48
Lifequest, Quarterly Support $1,620.00
Light & Siren, Supplies $139.00
Little Falls Machine Inc., Supplies $2,431.95
Local Lumber Co., Supplies $191.26
Mail Finance, Rent $588.00
Miner County Auditor, E-911 Services $6,250.00
Mid-States Organized Crime, 2016 Dues $100.00
NorthWestern Energy, Electricity $117.71
Office Equipment Service, Supplies $530.95
Physicians Claims Company, Ambulance Service Fee $571.78
Pennington County Jail, Prisoner Transport $238.50
Pharm Chem Inc., Patch Analysis $50.00
Planning & Development District III, Dues $10,845.00
Mitchell Area Safehouse, Remittance/Yearly Support $1,415.04
Santel Communications, Phone & Internet $1,015.19
Sanborn Weekly Journal, Forms $81.60
Audra Scheel, Expenses $117.17
SD Federal Property Agency, Supplies $30.00
SDAAO, Dues $55.00
SDACO, Dues $689.75
SD States Attorney Assn, Dues $661.00
Sherwin Williams, Supplies $118.28
Snow Wheel System Inc., Tire $264.58
David Swenson, EMT Conference Expenses $616.89
Waste Management, Garbage $255.43
Woonsocket City, Water/Sewer $43.50
Schmiedt Enterprises, Supplies $3.65
Xcel Energy, Electricity $338.93
There being no further business, motion by Ohlrogge, seconded P. Larson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, February 2, 2016.
Diane Larson
Sanborn County
Auditor
Jeff Ebersdorfer
Chairman of the Board,
Sanborn County

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