County Commission moves forward with salary study, tax ordinance at recent meeting

With all members present, the Lincoln County Board of Commission met Thursday, July 30.

Deputy States Attorney, Joe Meader was present for a public hearing regarding the termination of hangar leases for Sites K-1, K-2, & R-6 and intent to enter into lease agreements for Sites K-1, K-2, & R-6, for a term exceeding 120 days and an amount exceeding $500.00 at the Marv Skie/ Lincoln County Airport. 

“These are the agreements that we updated for lease rates at the start of this year. These individuals are people that are already out at the hangars and have agreed to renew their leases for the new rate and for the 25 year lease agreement,” he said. 

With no questions from the commission, Chairwoman Tiffani Landeen opened the floor to the opponents and proponents, hearing none, a motion was made by Joel Arends, seconded by Jim Schmidt, motion carried unanimously.

A public hearing was held  to consider an application for a temporary on-sale liquor license to operate outside the municipality for Boondocks Bar for an event to occur on September 12, 2026; located at the Broughton Building, 47189 US Hwy 18, Worthing, SD 57077; legally described as NE 1/4 (EX LOTS H-1, H-3 & N 423’ E 412’ NE 1/4 NE 1/4) 20-98-50; Lincoln County, SD. 

A motion was made to approve by Arends, seconded by Herman Otten, motion carried unanimously.

Auditor Sheri Lund requested the Commission to canvass the results of the governor’s runoff election. 

“Today we will be canvassing the results of the July 28, 2026 Primary Runoff Election. Lincoln County had a total of 27,416 active registered republican voters eligible to participate in the election. A total of 9,308 ballots were cast which resulted in an overall voter turnout of 33.95%. Overall, election day and election night reporting process went smoothly. Poll workers, election staff, and county personnel worked diligently to ensure voters were served efficiently and the election procedures were followed accurately. Lincoln County had a total of 10 blank ballots, five of those ballots contained write in votes. As write in votes are not permitted under South Dakota law, those write in votes were not tabulated. We also identified two unstamped ballots which we determined to be invalid. In both precincts, the total number of voters matched the total number of ballots cast. We believe these unstamped ballots were inadvertently stuck together when issued to voters as neither unstamped ballot was voted. As part of today’s canvas, the board will review each precinct individually and compare the election night results to the official county canvas,” Lund said. 

Results were Toby Doeden: 2,527, Larry Rhoeden: 6,768. 

Commissioner Arends asked how many absentee ballots there were in this election. 

“Just under 1,500” Lund responded. 

With no public comment, a motion to accept the results of the runoff election was made by Arends, seconded by Schmidt, motion carried unanimously. 

Auditor Lund requested the commission consider a motion to approve the 2027 Provisional Budget for publication and authorize the Auditor to advertise for the public hearing to be held on September 1. 

“As the commission reviews the proposed budget it is important to note that one significant component remains outstanding. The countywide compensation study. Because the study has not yet been approved and the associated financial impacts have not been provided to the Auditor’s office, no pay study adjustments have been incorporated into the provisional budget. The personnel costs reflected in the budget are based on current wages with a proposed  3% cost of living adjustment and a 2.5% step increase,” Lund said. 

Commissioner Otten asked what commissioners thoughts were on the Lennox Ambulance funding. 

“We had a request from the City of Lennox for between $125,000 to 200,000 to establish an ambulance district,” Commissioner Schmidt said. 

“I don’t think we’re going to come up with that kind of money, nor should we, but the townships if you look at their equitable funding by call volume, Turner County has stepped up and committed $22,000+ and if you add up the six townships in Lincoln County their total request is $134,401. I don’t propose we pick up all of that, but I do propose we put something in there,” Otten said. 

“So the question right now with the provisional budget is for us to decide whether or not we want to identify something in the provisional budget which leaves it open for further discussion after being published for two successive weeks and then we’ll have our public hearing to move things forward, but I think we should identify something even if in the end we don’t end up doing it,” Chairwoman Landeen said. 

The board agreed to focus on the provisional budget for now and work on numbers for the ambulance later. Motion was made to authorize publication by Schmidt, seconded by Arends, motion carried unanimously.

Human Resources Director, Kari Elling asked the commission to consider a motion to approve the recommendations for the 2026 salary study. 

“Tonight I am recommending that we implement the recommendations of the salary study that was presented to you by Dr. McGrath at the July 14 meeting. The recommendation before you is the result of a comprehensive salary study designed to ensure our compensation system remains competitive, equable, and fiscally responsible. The proposal is not about simply increasing wages, it's about maintaining a compensation structure that allows Lincoln County to recruit, develop, and most importantly retain our high performing workforce,” she said. 

Commissioner Arends asked if this pay increase would apply for the rest of the calendar year. 

“Yes, that is the ask, because that would bring us up to speed with the market study,” she responded. 

Motion was made to approve the salary study by Schmidt, seconded by Otten, motion carried 3-2 with Arends and Doug Putnam being the nay vote. 

Commissioner Schmidt requested that the commission consider a motion to set a first reading or August 11th, 2026 and a second reading and public hearing on August 25 at 7:30 p.m. for an Ordinance to impose a County Gross Receipts Tax. 

“So what you’re doing is you’re deciding whether you’re going to do it or not or you’re going to put it up to a vote or how’s that going to happen?” Putnam questioned. 

“We’re setting the first reading for August 11, 2026,” Chairwoman Landeen said. 

“Just read it off. Read it off now,” Putnam responded. 

“Is there a motion?” Landeen asked. 

A motion was made by Schmidt, seconded by Arends, motion carried 4-1 with Putnam being the nay vote.