By Dave Baumeister
County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – In getting ready to end 2020 and begin 2021, at their Tuesday, Dec. 8, meeting, the Minnehaha County Commissioners focused on next year’s salaries and fee schedules.
With their discussion on salaries of elected officials, commissioners provided guidance to Human Resource Director Carey Deaver for drafting a formal proposal.
The county board seemed to agree on a $7,000 raise for the states attorney in order to put his salary above that of his chief deputy, bringing his pay to around $137,000.
For the sheriff and register of deeds, they agreed that a 5% increase would be in order, as both Sheriff Mike Milstead and ROD Julie Risty have been in their current positions for many years.
Under this proposal, their salaries would go up to approximately $143,800 and $98,700, respectively.
Because Kris Swanson is newly elected as Minnehaha County Treasurer, the salary of that office will be reduced to the base of $86,662. Swanson will be replacing long-time Treasurer Pam Nelson.
They did not finalize any salary recommendations at this time for Ben Kyte, as he is being appointed to fill the term of current elected auditor Bob Litz. Also, he will be starting his duties prior to the other elected officials.
Deaver said, based on the discussion, she will put together the formal salary proposal which was voted on at the Dec. 14 meeting.
Again, looking ahead to next year, commissioners voted unanimously on a recommendation by County Highway Superintendent DJ Buthe to increase road access fees for county residents and businesses.
These fees are mainly for landowners who need to access roadways with heavy equipment.
Currently, permits are granted at costs between $20 and $150. The increase for most permits in 2021 would be $5, but commercial permits will go up $25 to a cost of $175.
Buthe said the county usually only sells around 14 of these permits per year, but this year that number has gone up to 23, which brought in around $2,200 in revenue.
Commissioners also voted to update the Highway Utility Guidebook and Fees, but only a few of the highway fees listed in that book changed.
During the time for public input, a county resident talked about how a nuisance being created by his neighbor’s manure pile violates the county’s zoning set-back ordinance.
Although he said he has tried to work things out with different people who owned that land, nothing has been done. Commissioner Jeff Barth, the liaison with the county planning and zoning board, said he would look into the matter for the resident.
The Minnehaha County Commission meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
All meetings are open to the public, and public comments are encouraged.
