By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – The 2021 Minnehaha County budget for just under $113.3 million was finalized by commissioners at their Tuesday, Sept. 29, meeting.
Two notable things about this budget is that it does not include any more opt-out money, plus it also allows for a 3.322 (6%) decrease in the property tax levy, which will mean a slight reduction in the county’s portion of most property tax bills next year.
Feeling even more generous, commissioners unanimously approved a two-day “free pick-up” event at the county’s gravel pit south of Hartford.
The items available there include concrete and corrugated metal pipes of various sizes, wooden phone poles and fence posts, as well as wooden and concrete planks.
County Highway Superintendent DJ Buthe said that having the free event will save the county thousands of dollars in fees at the Sioux Falls landfill while providing a benefit to county residents who can make use of these items.
In addition, he said, people will be on hand to help load items, but anyone who wants these things will have to sign a waiver of liability in case of an accident.
Manufactured Homes Ordinance 2nd reading
There was also a second reading of a zoning ordinance amendment which would make it easier to place manufactured homes in the county.
Currently, before such units could be put in place, a rectangular foundation built down to the frost line had to be installed under each.
Now, after the 5-0 approval, that requirement has been done away with in favor of aluminum skirting that would need to be installed around the homes.
Planning officer Kevin Hoekman estimated that this would save people around $6,000 to $8,000.
He told commissioners that in August, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved this amendment in order to come in line with federal HUD standards for manufactured housing.
It was also pointed out that since municipalities have their own requirements, this change would solely affect mobile homes in the county, outside of cities with different ordinances.
Commissioner Dean Karsky said that the mobile homes this amendment deals with would mainly be for situations where parents might want to put a home on their property for a family member helping on their farm.
In fact, looking at filings from earlier this year, only five mobile home permits were issued in Minnehaha County.
Commission meetings are held every Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
Public comment is always encouraged, but people attending are reminded that social distancing guidelines limit how many people are allowed in the meeting room at one time.
