Buffalo County commissioners approve $20,000 supplemental transfer, DOT bridge grant and several equipment and procurement actions

The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners on April 2 approved a $20,000 supplemental budget transfer, signed a State of South Dakota Department of Transportation bridge preservation grant agreement, opened bids to surplus county equipment and accepted several procurement recommendations.

Chairman Dawn Cable read Resolution 2024-1, proposing a $20,000 transfer from General Fund transfer account 101-911-429 to fund 226 to be expended for professional fees. Commissioner Donita Loudner moved to approve the supplemental budget resolution; Commissioner Rex Zastrow seconded and the motion carried with all voting Ayes (Chairman Dawn Cable, Commissioner Rex Zastrow and Commissioner Donita Loudner).

The board also approved and signed the State DOT Bridge Improvement Grant Agreement for Preservation — Local Administration after a motion by Loudner and second by Zastrow; the vote was unanimous. The agreement was presented as part of routine infrastructure preservation work and no further conditions were noted in open session.

Highway Superintendent Tanner Grohs reported fuel quotes from Total Oil, Inc.; the accepted rates recorded in the meeting were unleaded $3.45 per gallon, ethanol $3.16 per gallon and Diesel #2 Dyed Premium $3.17 per gallon (the record lists Diesel #1 Dyed Premium as $0.00). Commissioners voted to accept the fuel quotes. The board also authorized Grohs to inspect two different road graders, select which model would best serve Buffalo County and approve purchase of one unit; that motion passed unanimously.

Rex Zastrow moved to open bids to surplus a 1991 two-wheel-drive white county pickup, and separately to open bids to surplus a county road groomer; both motions were seconded by Donita Loudner and carried by unanimous vote.

Auditor and Register of Deeds Debra Morrison delivered the county finance report, noting a March hospitalization count of one and county balances of Bank Balance $1,954,262.64; C.D. $200,000.00; Cash & Cash Items $400.00, for a total of $2,154,662.64. Morrison said the Buffalo County Annual Report is available on the county website and that three liquor license renewal notices had been mailed.

Commissioners entered an executive session to discuss litigation from 2:13 p.m. until 2:18 p.m.; no action was announced in open session following the executive session.

The board approved the voucher register, covering payroll and vendor payments including (by example) the South Dakota Department of Revenue payment of $23,370.42 and a SDPAA payment of $17,028.58; the motion to approve vouchers passed with all voting Ayes. The meeting adjourned following the vouchers vote; minutes were attested by Debra Morrison, Auditor, and approved by Chairman Dawn Cable.

The board took no votes that were reported as defeated or tabled. Several routine reports and presentations were received (SD Department of Public Safety, Buffalo County Fire Department, Planning & Development District III and DOE/911/Weeds) and no formal actions were taken on those reports.