Meade County commission approves comprehensive plan update as amended; planning board review required before resolution
May 14, 2024 | Meade County, South Dakota
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The Meade County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the county’s updated comprehensive plan as amended after a presentation by Kaylee Snyder of the Black Hills Council and extended public comment about economic-data sources and agricultural representation.
Snyder summarized the plan’s purpose and public-engagement phases, including a community survey with 292 respondents and several stakeholder and open-house meetings. The plan uses a data source called Lightcast for gross regional product (GRP) calculations; one longtime resident and former commissioner, Robert Hagerkin, challenged the plan’s agricultural share, citing the federal Census of Agriculture data showing higher farm sales figures.
Hagerkin said he looked up Census of Agriculture numbers for 2022 and called the plan figure—reported in the presentation as 3% of county GRP—“too low” given county farm receipts he cited. Snyder explained the team used Lightcast because the Census does not provide the same industry breakdown across all sectors; she said the agricultural census release timing may also have affected available inputs.
Commission discussion led to two wording changes: replacing 'school system' with 'school systems' and adding language to a policy to emphasize preservation of agricultural and recreational open space. The board then voted to approve the plan as amended (motion carried 5–0). Planning staff and the auditor clarified that because the board changed content during the hearing, the plan must return to the planning commission for approval before the board adopts the final resolution.
Why it matters: The comprehensive plan is the county’s guiding policy document for land use, infrastructure and economic development. The discussion underlined local sensitivity about how economic data are compiled and whether agriculture’s role is fully reflected.
Next steps: The document will be returned to the planning commission for approval of the changes; if the planning commission concurs, the board will then adopt a resolution and publish a summary of action before the plan becomes effective per state law.
Snyder summarized the plan’s purpose and public-engagement phases, including a community survey with 292 respondents and several stakeholder and open-house meetings. The plan uses a data source called Lightcast for gross regional product (GRP) calculations; one longtime resident and former commissioner, Robert Hagerkin, challenged the plan’s agricultural share, citing the federal Census of Agriculture data showing higher farm sales figures.
Hagerkin said he looked up Census of Agriculture numbers for 2022 and called the plan figure—reported in the presentation as 3% of county GRP—“too low” given county farm receipts he cited. Snyder explained the team used Lightcast because the Census does not provide the same industry breakdown across all sectors; she said the agricultural census release timing may also have affected available inputs.
Commission discussion led to two wording changes: replacing 'school system' with 'school systems' and adding language to a policy to emphasize preservation of agricultural and recreational open space. The board then voted to approve the plan as amended (motion carried 5–0). Planning staff and the auditor clarified that because the board changed content during the hearing, the plan must return to the planning commission for approval before the board adopts the final resolution.
Why it matters: The comprehensive plan is the county’s guiding policy document for land use, infrastructure and economic development. The discussion underlined local sensitivity about how economic data are compiled and whether agriculture’s role is fully reflected.
Next steps: The document will be returned to the planning commission for approval of the changes; if the planning commission concurs, the board will then adopt a resolution and publish a summary of action before the plan becomes effective per state law.
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