Lincoln County Commission considers zoning changes, tax ordinance and speed limit reduction

The Lincoln County Board of Commission met Tuesday, August 11. Commissioners heard agenda items including first readings, public defender advisory board, and speed limit reductions.

The first order of business was the first reading of an ordinance of Lincoln County, SD, amending the Code of Ordinances of the county by amending Chapter 154: Zoning (SECTION 154.058(Z), Conditional Uses (A-1 Agricultural District), and Section 154.178(P), Conditional Uses (RC Recreation/Conservation District), for the regulation of the regulation of building eligibility transfers. 

A first reading was held for an Ordinance imposing a county gross receipts tax and use for Lincoln County, South Dakota. Second reading and public hearing to occur at 7:30 p.m. August 25 at the Lincoln County Courthouse.

The commission was asked to consider a motion appointing members to the Public Defender Advisory Board pursuant to SDCL 7-16A-4. 

“Today we need to appoint a lay person and two commissioners to the public defender advisory board. The board will consist of one lay person, two members of the board of county commissioners, and two attorneys practicing in the county. The two attorneys practicing in the county will be appointed by the judges, so today we are responsible for the lay person and selecting two commissioners to serve on that board,” said Assistant Commission Administrative Officer, Paul Anderson. 

Commissioner Jim Schmidt asked the commissioners if any of them have a recommendation. 

“My recommendation is to appoint Rex Keller as the lay member to the advisory board,” said commissioner Joel Arends, seconded by Doug Putnam, motion carried. 

Commissioner Schmidt asked the board whether they would like to make a motion or have an appointment for the position. Hearing no opinions, Schmidt asked for a motion. 

Motion was made by Arends to appoint Herman Otten and himself for the position, seconded by Putnam, motion carried.

The commission was asked to consider a resolution to establish the number of allowable Off-Sale and On-Sale Liquor Licenses, and the fees to be charged for the various classifications of licenses to be effective for the following year. 

“We don’t have an ordinance having a fixed amount of liquor licenses, so by statute we have to set the number before September of each year. The licenses are based on population, we get the directive from the state and I believe we have nine for on-sale, nine for off-sale, and I believe three on-sale available and eight for off-sale,” he said. 

Commissioner Schmidt asked what Lincoln County charges for a license. 

“It’s the equivalent to the closest municipality,” DeGroot responded. 

With no commissioner having problems with the current issuances, a motion was made to approve by Arends, seconded by Otten, motion carried.

Highway Assistant Superintendent, Jared Narum asked the commission to consider a motion to reduce the speed limit on a segment of CR105 on 466th Ave. 

“This is to make uniformity coming out of Lennox and going to the roundabout. Currently there’s about 33,000 feet out there South of the roundabout where it changes over to 65 again and we just want to make it one speed all the way through so no one is confused,” he said. 

Commissioner Schmidt asked for public comment on the matter, hearing none, a motion to approve was made by Otten, seconded by Arends, motion carried.