Mayor Mark Chada called the meeting to order with Sean Gromer, Angie Larson, and Angie Meier in attendance. 

A motion was made by Larson, seconded by Gromer, carried, to approve the December 16th, 2024, minutes as read.

A motion was made by Gromer, seconded by Larson, carried, to approve the financials as presented.

A motion was made by Larson, seconded by Gromer, carried, to approve wages for 2025 as listed:

Mayor – $140.00 per meeting;

Trustee – $120.00 per meeting;

Finance Officer – $19.50 per hour/Annual Report – $600.00;

Water Superintendent/Tester – $700.00 per month;

Water Meter Reader – $150.00 per month;

Custodian – $19.50 per hour;

Maintenance Worker – $700.00 per month;

Lost Time – $30.00 per hour;

Mileage Reimbursement – $0.67 a mile;

Grounds/Summer – $12.00-$18.00 DOE

West Nile – $100.00 per person a time.

A motion was made by Larson, seconded by Gromer, carried, to approve the Official Newspaper and Lawyer for the Town of Letcher for 2025 as listed:

Official Newspaper – Sanborn Weekly Journal;

Lawyer for 2025 – Tim Bottum with Morgan Theeler LLP;

Old Business: 

The Board went over the water sample results.   

New Business:  

Discussion was held on summer help. The Board will be placing an ad in the paper at the end of March. 

The Board went over dates for meetings for 2025: January 6th and 20th, February 10th and 17th, March 3rd, 17th and 24th, April 7th and 22nd, May 5th and 19th, June 9th and 23rd, July 7th and 21st, August 4th and 18th, September 8th and 22nd, October 6th and 20th, November 3rd and 17th, December 1st and 15th.

Discussion was held on Election information for the newspaper and circulating petitions. The election date is April 8th, 2025. Petitions may be picked up on January 31st. Petitions are due back on February 28th, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Mark Chada’s term is up for re-election. It is a three-year term.

A current listing of the Letcher Volunteer Fire Department personnel has been received. The current listing is:  Curtis Adams, Sean Gromer, Aaron Roth, Chuck Amick, Cassidy Hinker, Ken Stach, Clay Amick, Cote Hinker, Carter Star, Darin Amick, Ed Hoffman, Bob Steckel, John Blindauer, Mark Jensen, Brett Stekl, Rod Clarambeau, Shanna Jensen, Kurt Stekl, Andy Ettswold, Sam Kretschmar, Lacey Swenson – EMT, Melanie Ettswold – EMT, Matt Meier, Cindy VanLaecken – EMT, Melissa Ettswold – EMT, Rich Moe, Murray VanLaecken, Denny Fouberg, Shawn Moody, Todd Welch and Jeremy White

A motion was made by Larson, seconded by Gromer, carried, to approve the following claims for payment: 

General and Water/Sewer:   USDA – $156.00 – Tower Loan, On-Site – $98.39 – Surveillance, Davison Rural Water – $3,350.90 – Water Used, Dina Shefner – $590.81 – Gravel, Menards – $51.91 – Credit Card Repairs, Miedema Sanitation – $30.00 – Garbage Removal, NorthWestern Energy – $1,284.89 – Utilities Electric:  Lagoon – $0.00, Community Center/Fire Hall – $175.88, Rossy Park – $26.34, LSY – $39.42, Water Plant – $164.04, Water Valve – $38.38, Lift Station – $59.80, Street Lights – $781.03, Planning & Development District III – $459.00 – 2025 Dues, Public Health Lab – $30.00 – Water Sample, Runnings – $115.97 – Grounds Supplies, Sanborn Weekly Journal – $34.12 – Advertising Minutes, Santel Communications – $254.39 – Utilities – Phone and Internet:  Office – Phone: $30.77, Internet: $95.50. Community Center – Phone: $25.92, Internet: $55.00, L/S Phone: $47.20, US Bank – $6,289.72 – December – Quarterly Sewer Loan Payment, $6,289.72 – Quarterly Sewer Loan Payment, United States Treasury – $3,234.46 – Payroll Taxes, Angie Meier – $698.22 – Finance Officer Wages, Ed Hoffman – $1,469.34 – Reimbursement for Hotel/Mileage for Water Meetings Attended and Water Sample Wages, Sean Gromer – $646.45 – Water Maintenance Wages, Tori Hoffman – $138.52 – Water Meter Reader Wages. 

The next board meeting will be held on January 20th, 2025, at the city office.

Angie Meier

Finance Officer

Published once on January 23, 2025, at the total approximate cost of $44.00 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com.

The regular meeting of the Woonsocket City Council was called to order by Mayor Richard Reider at 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2024, with the following members present: Arin Boschee, Derek Foos, Brandon Goergen, Darin Kilcoin and Elliott Ohlrogge. Finance Officer Tara Weber was also present.

Motion by Boschee, seconded by Foos, to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

Motion by Boschee, seconded by Ohlrogge, to approve the November minutes. Motion carried.

Motion by Foos, seconded by Rassel, to approve the November Financial Statement. Motion carried.

Motion by Rassel, seconded by Foos, to approve the following bills:

Hawkins $30.00  Water

Express Stop $112.50 Shop

Runnings $59.97 Shop

Register of Deeds $30.50 Lots

Public Health Lab $112.00 Water

NorthWestern Energy $2,048.57 Utilities

Menards $150.20 Shop

McLeods $47.78 General

Glacial Lakes & Prairies $870.00 Membership

Fastenal  $209.38 Shop

Express 2 $175.58 Shop

Dakota Pump $4,569.33 Lift Station

Dakota Feed & Grain $60.26 Parks

Carquest of Mitchell $99.72 Shop

Agtegra $230.00 Shop

Maguire Iron  $45,000.00 Water Tower

Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources $650.00 Membership

A-Ox Welding $435.72 Shop

South Dakota Retirement Plan $1,449.00 Retirement

First National Bank of Omaha $3,365.57 Payroll Tax

DMC Wear Parts $893.66 Streets

Department of Revenue $304.79 Sales Tax

OLD BUSINESS

The council discussed the code enforcement officer.

The Council discussed having an employee Christmas party.

NEW BUSINESS

The council discussed a water main break by the new water tower. Richard Jensen reported that they had to hire Zach Scott to fix the break.

The council discussed a donation that was made to the City on behalf of Tim Roti in the amount of $80,000.00. 

Weber informed the council of the members that are up for election this year. Ward I – Elliott Ohlrogge – two-year term; Ward II – Joel Rassel – two-year term; Ward III – Derek Foos – two-year term. The election will be held on April 8th at the community center.

Scott Alexander asked if he could put down some earnest money for a lot at the new addition. The council rejected the offer at this time. 

With no further business to be discussed, motion by Boschee, seconded by Kilcoin, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Richard Reider

Mayor, 

(SEAL):

Tara Weber

Finance Officer

Published once on January 16, 2025, at the total approximate cost of $30.00 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com.

Sanborn County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., with Jeff Ebersdorfer, Steve Larson, Earl Hinricher, Gary Blindauer, and Duane Peterson present.  Auditor Kami Moody was also present. 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

This being the annual reorganization of the Board of County Commissioners, the county auditor called for nominations for chairman of the board. Gary Blindauer nominated Jeff Ebersdorfer. Motion by Steve Larson, seconded by Duane Peterson that nominations cease. Motion carried. Jeff Ebersdorfer will be Chairman. Ebersdorfer called for nominations for vice-chairman. Gary Blindauer nominated Steve Larson. Motion by Gary Blindauer, seconded by Duane Peterson, that nominations cease. Motion carried. Steve Larson will be the vice-chairman. 

OATH OF OFFICE

Elected and Re-elected officials took the Oath of Office for the following positions:

Earl Hinricher – Commissioner District 2;

Steve Larson – Commissioner District 4;

Aaron Pilcher – States Attorney;

Karen Krueger – Treasurer.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES

Motion by Peterson, seconded by Blindauer, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.

Motion by Peterson, seconded by Larson, to approve the Minutes from December 27 as presented. Motion carried.

CITIZENS INPUT

No public was in attendance for input.

HIGHWAY

Stacy Mendenhall and Sheri Kogel, Highway Department, met with the board. Roads, the courthouse parking lot, and future highway projects were discussed. 

Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Peterson, to approve the three township applications for the Rural Access Infrastructure Plan, Larson abstained. Motion carried. The Rural Access Infrastructure Plan is a State Funded Grant program to help Townships with the cost of replacing failing structures on Township Roads.

Elliott Township – $15,000;

Elliott Township – $26,000;

Woonsocket Township – $10,327.

APPOINTMENTS

Chairman Ebersdorfer made the following appointments: Mental Health Board/Drug – Alcohol Board, Earl Hinricher; District III:  Jeff Ebersdorfer; 4-H Advisory Board: Steve Larson; Sanborn County Rural Development: Jeff Ebersdorfer; County Planner: Tami Ziebart; Economic Development Board: Duane Peterson; South Dakota Housing Authority Board: Jeff Ebersdorfer; Drainage Board: Gary Blindauer and Earl Hinricher; Planning & Zoning: Duane Peterson; Emergency Management Director: Josh Starzman. Motion by Larson, seconded by Peterson, to approve the appointments. Motion carried. 

COMMISSIONER MEETINGS

Motion by Blindauer and seconded by Larson that the Sanborn County Commissioner’s meetings be held at 9:00 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month and all other meetings as deemed necessary. Informational meetings, specifically for public input, will also be held in the evenings if enough public interest is shown. Motion carried.

By agreement of the board, the annual meeting with towns and townships will be on February 18th at 1:00 p.m. at the 4-H Building.

CHATTEL SALES

Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Peterson, that the following places be designated for holding chattel mortgage sales in Sanborn County for 2025: Front Door of Courthouse, City of Woonsocket; Between Block Four and Five, Original Plat, Town of Letcher; The public street on the North side of the Cortrust Bank, City of Artesian. Motion carried.

FINANCIAL DEPOSITORIES AND LEGAL NEWSPAPER

Motion by Peterson, seconded by Blindauer, to designate Cortrust Bank of Artesian, First National Bank South Dakota, Dakotaland Federal Credit Union, South Dakota Public Funds Investment Trust (FIT), as Legal Depositories and the Sanborn Weekly Journal as the legal newspaper. Motion carried. 

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Motion by Hinricher, seconded by Blindauer, to approve expenses for county commissioners, county officials, and county employees to attend all scheduled meetings pertaining to county business for 2025; to set mileage ($0.67 per mile) and meals ($6, $14, $20) at state rates; and to pay bills at each meeting. Motion carried. 

Motion by Larson, seconded by Hinricher, to set the commissioners’ salary at $9,000 annually, plus insurance, no mileage; to set the wage for extra part-time help for the Register of Deeds, Treasurer, Auditor, Sheriff’s Office and janitor at the wage of $17.50; to set the hourly wage for meeting of planning & zoning and drainage at the rate of $60, no mileage; and to pay $50 per month for cell phone usage to Deputy Sheriff and Highway Superintendent. Motion carried. 

COUNTY BURIAL AND EXCESS

Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Peterson, to establish a cost of $3,000.00 for county burial or cremation plus $0.75 per mile within the state; and to declare old iron, used bridge planks, old culverts, used tires and old parts as surplus with maximum value of $1,000. Motion carried. 

Motion by Larson, seconded by Peterson, to use the state bid list for county purchases. Motion carried.

ELECTION

Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Hinricher, set the wage of election workers at $225 plus mileage per day and to pay $35 plus mileage for school of instruction, if attended, and $20 per hour, plus mileage for post-election audit workers; motion carried. 

Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Hinricher, to establish four (4) or less voting precincts. Motion carried. 

The precincts will be as follows:  

Precinct #1: Afton, Floyd, Benedict, Oneida, Artesian City, Diana, Union, Ravenna – Artesian Community Center;

Precinct #2: Butler, Letcher, Letcher City, Logan, & Elliott – Letcher Community Center;

Precinct #4: Jackson, Twin Lake, Woonsocket Township, Silver Creek Township, Woonsocket City Ward 2 – Woonsocket Community Center;

Precinct #5: Woonsocket City Wards 1 and 3, Warren Township – Woonsocket Community Center.

MONTHLY SUBMISSIONS

Motion by Larson, seconded by Peterson, that the Register of Deeds will submit the money collected in that office each month to the Treasurer by the 20th of the following month and the Sheriff by the 15th. Motion carried. 

AMBULANCE ROSTER

Motion by Larson, seconded by Blindauer, to approve the ambulance roster on file in the Auditor’s office. Motion carried.  

RESTRICTED SPENDING 

The Commissioners request that all department heads consult with the Board of County Commissioners before making any budget purchases other than normal salaries and supply expenditures exceeding $500.00 and $5,000.00 for the highway department. This is to ensure tighter control of budget spending to protect the county reserve funds to better the county financial situation.

COURTHOUSE HOURS AND HOLIDAYS 

Courthouse hours shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all offices. Department heads shall assume personal financial responsibility for overtime work done by their staff, unless prior authorization is approved by the County Commissioners or the Department Head. Sanborn County will observe holidays as listed in Section III – E of the County Personnel Handbook.

REPORTS

Auditor and Treasurer in all accounts $2,168,588.67

Register of Deeds $1,891.00

SALARIES AND WAGES

Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Peterson, to approve the following salaries for staff for the year 2025 to be in compliance with SDCL 6-1-10. Motion carried.

Salaries including the insurance incentive are as follows:

COMMISSIONERS:

Gary Blindauer, Commissioner, annually $9,000.00

Jeff Ebersdorfer, Commissioner, annually, $9,000.00

Earl Hinricher, Commissioner, annually $9,000.00

Steve Larson, Commissioner, annually $9,000.00

Duane Peterson, Commissioner, annually, $9,000.00

ELECTED OFFICIALS:

Tom Fridley, Sheriff, annually $69,222.40

Karen Krueger, Treasurer, annually $61,505.60

Kami Moody, Auditor, annually $61,505.60

Lynn Brueske, Register of Deeds, annually $61,505.60

Aaron Pilcher, States Attorney, annually $55,765.00

DIRECTOR OF EQUALIZATION OFFICE:

Tami Ziebart, Director of Equalization, hourly $23.92

Amy Miiller, Deputy Director of Equalization, hourly $19.76

OFFICE DEPUTIES:

Abby Mathis, Deputy Auditor and Treasurer, annually $42,723.20

Jodi Schrank, Deputy Register of Deeds, annually $42,723.20

SHERIFF’S OFFICE:

Josh Starzman, Deputy Sheriff, annually $53,976.00

Josh Starzman, Emergency Management, annually $7,280.00

Mike Salathe, Deputy Sheriff, annually $50,190.40

Naomi Terkildsen, Secretary, annually $43,264.00

Shane Mentzer, Reserve Deputy, hourly $17.50

WEED & PEST:

Stacy Mendenhall, Weed Supervisor, annually $19,240.00

Sheri Kogel, Weed Secretary, annually $19,240.00

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:

Stacy Mendenhall, Highway Superintendent, annually $44,200.00

Sheri Kogel, Highway Administrative Assistant, annually $38,913.60

Brian Pearson, Highway, hourly $27.58

Heath Larson, Highway, hourly $21.77

Alan Larson Jr., Highway, hourly $$21.77

James Gorter, Highway, hourly $21.32

Richard Miller, Highway, hourly $21.32

Stuart Christian, Highway, hourly $21.32

Cole Johnson, Highway, hourly $20.80

JANITORIAL:

Jamie Miller, Janitor, annually $44,345.60

4-H EXTENSION:

Sherryl Rankin, secretary, hourly, $18.98

BOARD MEMBERS:

Planning & Zoning Board, per meeting $60

Drainage Board, per meeting $60

JAMES VALLEY DRUG TASK FORCE AGREEMENT

Motion by Larson, seconded by Hinricher, to enter into an agreement with the Drug Task Force. Motion carried. This agreement authorizes agencies to act jointly in the James Valley Task Force Region in aiding each other in stopping the sale and distribution of illicit drugs. 

VETERAN’S SERVICE OFFICER – MOU

Motion by Blindauer, seconded by Peterson, to have the chairman sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Davison County for the purposes of the Veteran’s Service Officer, and agree to pay Davison County $8,250 for 2025. Motion carried.  

OTHER BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD

Minutes from the January 6 Planning & Zoning meeting were reviewed, discussed and approved. 

There being no further business before the board, motion by Peterson, seconded by Larson to adjourn the meeting at 11:21 a.m.  Motion carried.  The next regular scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Kami Moody

Sanborn County Auditor Jeff Ebersdorfer

Chairman of the Board, 

Sanborn County

Published once on January 16, 2025, at the total approximate cost of $111.00 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com.