Commissioners discuss zoning boundaries, approve mileage increase, and support veterans initiative

With all members present, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Lincoln County Boardroom.

Chairwoman Tiffani Landeen started the meeting with the first reading and staff briefing — an ordinance of Lincoln County, SD, amending the code of ordinances by revising Chapter 155, Joint Zoning Regulations for Lincoln County and the City of Sioux Falls, Section 155.010: Boundaries of Joint and Platting Jurisdiction. 

Planning Director Toby Brown provided an overview, explaining that the ordinance would revise the joint planning and zoning boundaries between the county and the City of Sioux Falls.

“This is an ordinance that would revise the boundaries of the joint planning and zoning regulations between the county and the City of Sioux Falls. State law allows a city and a county to exercise joint planning and zoning up to six miles outside of its jurisdiction or the municipal corporate limits with a caveat that it has to be equidistant from the nearest municipalities, which in this case would be Tea and Harrisburg. The state law also allows those municipalities to work together to override that requirement so they could come together jointly. So the cities of Harrisburg, Tea, and Sioux Falls have within the last couple of months adopted a joint resolution that allows them to encroach essentially upon that equidistant boundary and what that allows is that there won’t be any gaps between the municipalities as far as planning and zoning,” Brown said.

A second reading and public hearing for the joint ordinance will be heard on October 28 at Carnegie Town Hall at 7 p.m. in Sioux Falls.

A staff member was present for board discussion with action regarding mileage reimbursement. She noted that this was effective October 1, 2025. Lincoln County has historically followed the state rates. The State of South Dakota has increased the rate of reimbursement for mileage, to be consistent with the mileage reimbursement rate for business set by the Internal Revenue Service. The rates that went into effect on October 1, 2025, are 30 cents per mile when a personal vehicle is used and county vehicles are available, and 67 cents per mile when county vehicles are not available. This represents an increase of one cent and three cents, respectively, from last year.

A motion to approve was made by Joel Arends, seconded by Betty Otten, motion carried.

Veteran Services Officer David Ekle read a proclamation supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans, recognizing the sacrifices of service members and encouraging residents to display green lights from Nov. 4–11 in honor of veterans. The proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, the residents of Lincoln County have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all the men and women who have selflessly served our country and this community in the Armed Forces; and WHEREAS, the contributions and sacrifices of those who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by our citizens; and WHEREAS, Lincoln County seeks to honor individuals who have made countless sacrifices for freedom by placing themselves in harm’s way for the good of all; and WHEREAS, veterans continue to serve our community in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, religious groups, civil service, and by functioning as County Veterans Service Officers in 29 states to help fellow former service members access more than $52 billion in federal health, disability and compensation benefits each year; and WHEREAS, approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities annually; and an estimated 20 percent increase of service members will transition to civilian life in the near future; and WHEREAS, studies indicate that 44–72 percent of service members experience high levels of stress during transition from military to civilian life; and WHEREAS, active military service members transitioning from military service are at a high risk for suicide during their first year after military service; and WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties encourages all counties, parishes, and boroughs to recognize Operation Green Light for Veterans; and WHEREAS, Lincoln County appreciates the sacrifices of our United States military personnel and believes specific recognition should be granted; NOW, THEREFORE, with designation as a Green Light for Veterans County, Lincoln County hereby PROCLAIMS November 4th through November 11th, 2025, as a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifices of those transitioning from active service; and BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED, that in observance of Operation Green Light, the Lincoln County Courthouse will be illuminated green; and BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED, that Lincoln County encourages its citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights in a window of their place of business or residence from November 4th through the 11th, 2025.

“November 4–11, Lincoln County is going to participate in Operation Green Light and that’s spearheaded by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers. It brings awareness to the unique challenges faced by many veterans around the county, state, and federal levels and lets them know that there is support here for them,” Ekle said.

Ekle plans to illuminate the west entrance of the building with green lights and is encouraging all residents, businesses, and community organizations to participate. Motion by Jim Schmidt, seconded by Arends, motion carried.

Chairwoman Landeen asked for public comment for items not on the agenda.

Linda Montgomery stood to speak.

“Last week we had the discussion on second public reading on the airport board. That got a little confusing, and as well I still thought we were going to have an evening session on the 21st and it was confusing to me — maybe I wasn’t listening well enough — but the second public reading has been tabled. My question is, what I heard is that this will be started from scratch, and so I’m anticipating that means we will have another first reading at some point at a board hearing,” she said.