Tony Cummins

The Meade County Comprehensive Plan is a long-range guiding document for growth and development, addressing challenges and opportunities through actionable goals. It aims to maintain rural charm and agricultural traditions by minimizing negative environmental impacts, sustain quality of life through balanced preservation and growth, and ensure infrastructure and services support economic opportunities. Key strategic pillars include economic health, infrastructure and services, open space and environmental protection, and land use planning to manage sprawl.

This Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) for Meade County, South Dakota, provides a framework to develop, implement, and enforce a Storm Water Management Program, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency's Phase II Storm Water Regulations. The plan outlines six minimum control measures: Public Education and Outreach, Public Participation / Involvement, Illicit Discharge and Elimination, Construction Site Runoff Control, Post-Construction Runoff Control, and Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping. The objective is to reduce pollutant impacts to the maximum extent possible, protect water quality, and ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act, with each measure having measurable goals for pollutant reduction within the Urbanized Areas of Meade County.

The meeting commenced with routine business, including updates from the Directors of Facilities, Human Resources, and IT regarding January reports. Key facility updates included the completion of flooring replacement in the Sheriff's Office entryway and progress on the Law Center roof project. The IT department reported the SecureSD migration project is nearly complete. In planning, the Commission reviewed the January report and held a substantial discussion regarding a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Application and Project Plan for the reconstruction of 220th Street submitted by Rafter Development, LLC/Vanocker Development. Public testimony was heard regarding the TIF proposal, focusing heavily on infrastructure upgrades and drainage concerns. The Commission ultimately adopted Resolution 2026-07, creating Tax Increment District Number Five, with specific property additions noted. The Sheriff's office received approval to extend the lease agreement with the SD Game, Fish and Parks for office space. The Highway Department secured approval for the Gravel Hauling Notice to Bid and a Joint Powers Maintenance and Encroachment Agreement with the DOT for a chip seal project on New Underwood Road. The Auditor's office reported on overtime, budget status through January 2026, and approved the destruction of various past records. The Consent Calendar, including claims for payment and approval for seasonal election clerks, was approved. The meeting concluded with a session in Executive Session to discuss legal, personnel, and contractual matters.

Key discussions during the meeting focused on public concerns regarding potential solar plants, including property values, insurance costs, fire risk, and environmental impact. Commissioners discussed existing ordinances and the possibility of zoning controls versus state oversight. Routine business included the review of December 2025 reports from the Register of Deeds and Sheriff's Office, noting an increase in calls for service in 2025. The Commission approved the 2026 Resolution for Bridge Inspection Consultant, retaining Brosz Engineering. Planning agenda items involved appointing Christian Morgan to the Planning Board for a term expiring December 31, 2026, following a nomination process. The Commission approved a contract with the City of Sturgis for animal shelter services, stipulating payment terms for housing dogs and other animals, and approved the 2026 Contract with the SD Department of Health for Community Health Services. The meeting concluded with an Executive Session to address legal, personnel, and contractual matters.

The meeting included a reorganization of the Commission, where Gary Deering was elected Board Chair and Commissioner Creed was elected Vice Chair for 2026. Routine business involved public comment regarding road conditions, specifically New Underwood Road, with plans to address repairs in 2026. Discussions also covered the county's strategy for addressing mining in the absence of local zoning authority. Department reports were presented for Equalization, Facilities, IT, Planning, Veteran Services/Emergency Management, and Human Resources, with IT reporting progress on cloud transition and planned endpoint protection software implementation. A public hearing approved budget supplements for Facilities ($190,000 for LEC roof and cooling tower) and IT ($40,269.25 for Enterprise Password Solution). The Commission voted to send a letter to the Highway Patrol requesting assistance in enforcing load limits. Decisions were made regarding surplus equipment auction appraisal adoption, approval of the 2026 Calendar, setting rates of pay for Election Officials, Planning Board, Weed & Pest Board, and Commission members, and adopting the 2026 Investment Policy. The Commission also addressed an amendment to a resolution correcting the legal description for Tax Increment District Number Four, reviewed preliminary plats for Horizon Estates 320 and Timberwood Park Estates Subdivision #2, and approved a contract with National Medical Resources Inc. for Jail Medical Services, with a condition regarding drive time compensation.