The Brookings County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, September 2, 2003, with the following members present: Emil Klavetter, Deanna Santema, Dennis Falken, Donald Larson and Mary Negstad.  Also present: Stephanie Vogel, Stacy Steffensen, Vicki Hanna, Janet Willmott, Rick Even and Barbara Telkamp.

Chairperson Emil Klavetter called the meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA
Chairperson Klavetter declared the Consent Agenda approved without objection from the board.  The Consent Agenda consisted of the agenda for the September 2, 2003 Commission Meeting, and the minutes from the August 26, 2003 Commission Meeting, Welfare Matters, and Travel/Education Requests.  Welfare Matters: Case #03-043 for medication was approved; Case # 03-042 for utilities and lot rent was approved; and Case #03-044, utilities was approved, rent and heat was denied. Travel/Education Requests: Laurie Tangen to go to Chamberlain, SD, August 28 and 29, 2003 for Senior Fraud Patrol Training.

COMMISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Santema reported on the Weapons of Mass Destruction Senior Official’s Workshop in Watertown, SD.  Commissioner Negstad reported on the Weapons of Mass Destruction Senior Official’s Workshop in Watertown, SD.  Commissioner Larson reported on the Technology Park meeting.  Commissioner Klavetter reported on the Brookings Economic Development Corporation meeting.

OTHER MATTERS
Commission Assistant/Personnel Director, Stephanie Vogel, presented the board with the Commission Assistant/Personnel Director Report.  Items discussed included the Equipment Operator position that is open in the Highway Department, Hepatitis B vaccinations, County Road 2 right-of-way, technology assistance, Department of Public Safety information on drought declarations, and the spouse’s program at the upcoming SDACC Convention.  By consensus, the board approved the resignation of part-time correctional officer Jeff Nilges.  Motion by Negstad, seconded by Santema, to approve the Request to Fill Vacancy, the vacancy left by the resignation of part-time correctional officer, Jeff Nilges.  Roll call vote: Falken “Aye,” Larson “Aye,” Negstad “Aye,” Santema “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Motion passes.

REGULAR BUSINESS
Treasurer Vicki Hanna met with the board to discuss Resolution #03-40.  Motion by Falken, seconded by Negstad, to approve and authorize the chair to sign Resolution #03-40.  A Resolution authorizing the chair to sign an agreement with Discover Card to enable the use of credit cards in the County Treasurer’s Office.  Roll call vote: Larson “Aye,” Negstad “Aye,” Santema “Aye,” Falken “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Motion passes.
 

WHEREAS, Brookings County is interested in offering citizens the opportunity to use credit cards to pay for motor vehicle fees and property tax payments;

WHEREAS, in order to offer this service, the County has to enter into an agreement with credit card companies who provide this service;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Brookings County Board of Commissioners that Brookings County agrees to the terms listed in the Discover Card Merchant Services Agreement and authorizes the chair to sign the agreement.

________________________
Emil Klavetter, Chairperson
Brookings County Commission
ATTEST:

___________________________________
Janet Willmott, County Auditor
 

Treasurer Vicki Hanna met with the board to discuss Resolution #03-41.  Motion by Falken, seconded by Negstad, to approve and authorize the chair to sign Resolution #03-41.  A Resolution authorizing the chair to sign an agreement with Wells Fargo to enable the use of credit cards in the County Treasurer’s Office.  Roll call vote: Negstad “Aye,” Santema “Aye,” Falken “Aye,” Larson “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Motion passes.

WHEREAS, Brookings County is interested in offering citizens the opportunity to use credit cards to pay for motor vehicle fees and property tax payments;

WHEREAS, in order to offer this service, the County has to enter into an agreement with credit card companies who provide this service;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Brookings County Board of Commissioners that Brookings County agrees to the terms listed in the Wells Fargo Merchant Services Agreement and authorizes the chair to sign the agreement.

________________________
Emil Klavetter, Chairperson
Brookings County Commission
ATTEST:

___________________________________
Janet Willmott, County Auditor
 

The commissioners discussed an invitation to a picnic at Lake Poinsett.

Rick Even met with the board to discuss concerns for costs associated with the repeated replatting of the Prairie Winds Baptist Church.  Motion by Larson, seconded by Negstad, to correct the improper billing for survey fees regarding the construction of the Prairie Winds Baptist Church and that the county forego all building and inspection fees for this project.  Motion to amend by Falken, seconded by Negstad, to forego only the cost of the building permit.  Roll call vote: Santema “Aye,” Falken “Aye,” Larson “Nay,” Negstad “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Amendment passes.  Motion by Falken, seconded by Negstad, to table further discussion and action on the original motion until after the 9:30 a.m. public hearing.  Roll call vote: Falken “Aye,” Larson “Aye,” Negstad “Aye,” Santema “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Motion passes.

The board held a public hearing and 1st reading on Ordinance #03-2.  An Ordinance proposing an amendment to County Wheel Tax Ordinance #86-02 to include trailers.  The second reading and possible adoption is scheduled for September 9, 2003.

    WHEREAS, Brookings County enacted Ordinance #86-02 on August 12, 1986 imposing a Wheel Tax on motorized vehicles only;

    WHEREAS, SDCL 32-5A-3 states that the only exemption from the wheel tax law is dealers;

    WHEREAS, Brookings County has been allowing trailers to be exempt from the wheel tax law;

    WHEREAS, the SD Department of Revenue informed Brookings County that the current method of exempting trailers from the wheel tax is not permitted by law;

    THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY BROOKINGS COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA that the 1986 County Wheel Tax Ordinance be amended by revising the ordinance to include all trailers.  The total vehicle tax on trailers shall be two (2) dollars per wheel, and shall not exceed eight (8) dollars per trailer.

In all other respects the 1986 County Wheel Tax Ordinance (#86-02) shall remain unchanged and is hereby re-ordained.

FIRST READING:      September 2, 2003

SECOND READING: September 9, 2003

________________________
Emil Klavetter, Chairperson
Brookings County Commission

ATTEST:
___________________________________
Janet Willmott, County Auditor
 

Motion by Falken, seconded by Larson to take off the table further discussion and possible action regarding the Prairie Winds Baptist Church platting cost concerns.  Roll call vote: Larson “Aye,” Negstad “Aye,” Santema “Aye,” Falken “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Motion passes.  Motion to amend by Falken, seconded by Larson, to approve a $500 (five hundred-dollar) maximum payment towards county fee relief for the Prairie Winds Baptist Church construction project for inaccurate information they were given during the platting process.  Roll call vote: Negstad “Aye,” Santema “Aye,” Falken “Aye,” Larson “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Amendment passes.  Chairman Klavetter asked for a vote on the original motion as amended.  Roll call vote: Santema “Aye,” Falken “Aye,” Larson “Aye,” Negstad “Aye,” Klavetter “Aye.”  Original motion as amended passes.

Barbara Telkamp met with the board to discuss an upcoming “old fashioned political rally” to be held on September 12, 2004.  The rally is being coordinated by state members of the League of Women Voters of South Dakota.  By consensus, the board agreed that they would like to have the rally held on the courthouse grounds.

As scheduled, Auditor Janet Willmott met with the board for the public hearing and 1st reading on the 2004 Provisional Budget.  Public comment was taken from Barbara Telkamp.  The 2nd hearing and adoption of the budget is scheduled for September 16, 2003 at 10:00 a.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The board scheduled a budget work session on September 9, 2003 at 1:00 p.m.

COMMISSIONER’S OPEN DISCUSSION
Be it noted, the board discussed the provisional budget, including fire department funding, soil conservation district funding, CASA funding and the Aurora railroad crossing funding, and the board discussed the 1921 parking lot.

ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Klavetter declared the meeting adjourned until 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2003.

It is the policy of Brookings County, South Dakota, not to discriminate against the Handicapped in Employment or the Provision of Service.  The County of Brookings is responsive to requests for communication aids and the need to provide appropriate access, and will provide alternative formats and accessible locations consistent with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
____________________________________
Stacy Steffensen
Brookings County Auditor’s Office