Kristi Fritz

The board discussed several operational and administrative matters including blood collection testing turnaround times, the status of delinquent taxes, and the use of the Opioid Settlement Fund for drug prevention. Representatives from the Dakota Plains Transitional Living Center requested financial support. The board reviewed landfill maintenance, highway department right-of-way applications, and water issues. Additionally, they reviewed progress reports from emergency management, masonry bids for the courthouse dome, auditor's accounts, and personnel policy amendments regarding retirement plans. Two land plats were approved via resolution, the 2025 annual report was accepted, and various departmental claims and payments were authorized.

The meeting included a review of various county departmental updates, including status reports from the States Attorney and the Sheriff regarding personnel training and legal matters. Key actions involved the approval of bids for the sale of a surplus vehicle and surplus property, alongside the purchase of a new vehicle. The board also addressed infrastructure and maintenance topics, such as water drainage issues, landfill inspection preparations, and the procurement of a new flagpole. Additionally, the commission approved a tax abatement request and authorized the payment of departmental claims.

The Commissioners addressed several items, including a public comment regarding delinquent taxes on property in Corona Town, with the States Attorney tasked to investigate potential tax abatement if the property is deeded to the town. The States Attorney also noted a scheduled jury trial had been settled out of court and discussed moving his office upstairs. The Public Defender contract for the remainder of 2026 was awarded to Austin, Strait, Benson, Thole & Koehn, LLP. The Board tabled the decision on the Courthouse Dome Masonry bid until March 17, 2026. The Commissioners authorized contracts with First District for E-911 mapping and GIS Webhosting services. A new position, County Administrative Assistant, was approved for hiring. The meeting included two executive sessions for personnel matters, and the payment of various departmental claims was approved.

The Commissioners' regular session included the approval of the previous week's minutes and the current agenda. Key discussions involved a public comment regarding a property tax assessment appeal timeline, consultation with the States Attorney concerning burial assistance applications lacking family signatures, and a Sheriff's report on the prisoner count. The Highway Superintendent presented a right-of-way application for Valley Telephone, which was approved. The sole bid for surplus equipment, a 2000 Dodge Caravan, was accepted. A meeting was held with Jeff Skalicky and others to address drainage issues near County Road 7, resulting in a directive for the Highway Superintendent to contact the core of engineers and the tiling company for repair assessments. The session included executive sessions for personnel and contractual matters. Finally, the Board approved payment for numerous claims across various county departments and adjourned until March 3.

Key discussions included clarifying that constituent phone calls or voicemails to public officials are not considered private and may be shared with other Board members. The States Attorney requested authorization to expand office space upon vacancy of the current renter in the Annex Building. The Sheriff reported the prisoner count, discussed declaring a 2021 Chevy Silverado surplus, and sought approval to advertise bids for its sale with a minimum bid of $16,000, while also mentioning the purchase of a new 2025 Durango. The Highway Superintendent presented Resolution 2026-08, which authorized the County Highway Superintendent to set speed limits for trucks on specified sections of county roads to 40 MPH for safety and road preservation. The Board also approved the Auditor's Account with the Treasurer for January 2026, declared a specific piece of property surplus for bidding, approved two tax abatements related to value entry errors and incorrect record listing, approved a county burial assistance application, and authorized a temporary liquor license for the Sisseton Fire Department. Furthermore, the Chairman was authorized to sign the Local Emergency Management Performance Grant. Finally, resolutions adopting the plats for Fattore Addition and Pillatski Subdivision, along with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a Vertical Bridge, were adopted, and claims totaling $30,493.06 were approved for payment.