By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – With Commissioners Gerald Beninga and Dean Karsky being gone, the three remaining, Cindy Heiberger, Jean Bender and Jeff Barth, took care of business at this week’s Minnehaha County Commission meeting.
But with only three of the five members present, there were no controversial matters discussed.
The main business at the one hour and 40-minute meeting came in four annual department and agency briefings.
Equalization Director Chris Lilla presented the only one from a county department.
Lilla went over changes in his office during 2020 and explained plans for this year.
The other three briefings were from the MacArthur Safety and Justice Committee, the Forward Sioux Falls Agribusiness Division, and the Glory House.
The presiding judge for the 2nd District Court, Robin Houwman, and others spoke about MacArthur grant money received, and how they were trying to meet challenges of keeping people from being incarcerated.
Some of the problems they faced were also discussed by Dave Johnson, director of the Glory House, a “halfway” facility in Sioux Falls.
Johnson told commissioners that most of the Glory House residents lost their jobs in the early weeks of the pandemic and had to deal with unemployment for months after that.
For people who have been incarcerated, one of the most difficult issues they have is finding that first job out of prison. So, losing that through no fault of their own could lead to a return to their previous lifestyles.
The fourth briefing was presented by Holly Rader of the Agribusiness Division, now referred to as the “Agribusiness Pillar,” of Forward Sioux Falls.
She outlined significant ag-related dates and events for the year.
County booze stings
Most of the remainder of the meeting dealt with basic issues, but Deputy Auditor Olivia Larson presented information on recent county alcohol compliance checks.
The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office checked a total of 61 businesses on Feb. 25, of which 56 passed.
The five that failed the compliance checks were the Garretson Food Center, Palisades Oil of Garretson, TJZ Bar in Colton, the Coffee Cup in Hartford, and Pump N Pak of Sioux Falls.
According to Larson’s memo, these businesses will now have to take part in public hearings for their liquor license renewals and will have to pay a fine to the South Dakota Department of Revenue that ranges from $500 to $2,000.
The next meeting of the commission will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23, on the second floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
The meetings are open to all, and time is always made for public comment.
