Codington County commissioners approve event permits, contracts and a $1 million jail construction draw

The Codington County Board of Commissioners handled a slate of routine but budget‑sensitive items at its March 24 meeting, approving event permits, vendor contracts, a precinct consolidation for the primary election and a substantial construction draw.

The board approved a request by Carla Copland to permit Cloud 9 to use its liquor license for a July 18 wedding at the Extension Building. The motion passed on a voice vote.

The board approved a contract with the South Dakota Department of Transportation for 2026 weed spraying. The presented contract amount was $32,395; the motion was made by Commissioner Johnson and carried by voice vote.

County staff requested authorization to contract with Production Monkeys to assist a community‑awareness campaign funded by the county’s South Dakota opioid settlement grant. Sarah (staff) reported the Production Monkeys contract is for $40,000 of a $50,000 grant; the board approved using settlement funds to contract for the campaign.

The board declared a worn Kensington keyboard in the Extension Office surplus and approved its destruction. It also approved a resolution to combine precincts for the June 2 primary as a cost‑saving measure; staff noted the general election would revert to earlier precinct configurations.

In finance items, staff presented claims totaling $13,004.64 including $1,002.93 to Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health and roughly $12,001.70 to Steve’s World for a pickup plow; the claims were approved. The board also approved draw request #8 for the new jail construction, with the packet listing an amount of approximately $1,000,006.17 for the pay application; the motion carried.

Other routine approvals included travel and training requests for multiple county offices and notices about upcoming meetings (including a Sioux Valley commissioners meeting and a 9‑1‑1 board meeting). The meeting concluded with a motion to go into executive session to discuss contracts; commissioners voted to enter executive session and no further action was announced that day.

Votes at a glance
- Alcohol permit for Copland/Kopplinbach wedding (Cloud 9 liquor license): approved (voice vote). Motion by Johnson; second by McElhaney.
- SD DOT 2026 weed‑spraying contract ($32,395): approved (voice vote). Motion by Johnson; second by McElhaney.
- Opioid settlement contract — Production Monkeys ($40,000 of $50,000 grant): approved (voice vote). Motion by Johnson; second by Gable.
- Declare Kensington keyboard surplus: approved (voice vote).
- Resolution to combine precincts for June 2 primary: approved (voice vote). Motion by Johnson; second by McElhaney.
- Claims for payment (total $13,004.64): approved (voice vote).
- Draw request #8 for new jail construction (~$1,000,006.17): approved (voice vote).

Motions were routinely approved by voice vote; the transcript records ayes but does not list a roll‑call tally for individual commissioner votes.