March County Comment

County CommentOfficial Publication of South Dakota Counties

March 2012 Volume 58, Number 2

Deuel County Courthouse

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Dickinson, ND 586012803 I-94 Business Loop E701-456-1400

Fargo, ND 581043402 36th St. SW701-280-3100

Grand Forks, ND 582011201 S 46th St.701-775-4238

Hankinson, ND 5804117040 Hwy 11701-242-7474

Hoople, ND 582437695 Hwy 18 S701-894-6363

Jamestown, ND 584011910 27th Ave. SE701-251-1400

Minot, ND 587011505 Hwy 2, Bypass E701-852-3508

Aberdeen, SD 574014950 E Hwy 12 605-225-6240

Pierre, SD 57501801 N Garfield Ave.605-224-5400

Rapid City, SD 577023601 Deadwood Ave.605-342-4850

Sioux Falls, SD 571073201 N Louise Ave.605-336-3010

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CGV-177B-1.indd 1 5/18/11 11:34 AM

March 2012 3www.sdcounties.org • www.sdcc.govoffice2.com

2011 - 2012 Officers and & Board of Directors

PresidentRobert JohnsonHarding County

First Vice PresidentAllen Sinclair

Yankton County

Second Vice PresidentDelvin WorthPotter County

TreasurerPhylliss Pudwill

Walworth County

Past PresidentJohn Claggett

Davison County

DirectorsOscar Thompson

Aurora County

Dave AlbrechtSpink County

Francis HassClark County

David ForretteGrant County

Casey KrogmanMellette County

Bill FloydSully County

Gerald BeningaMinnehaha County

Ron BuskerudPennington County

Ex-Officio MembersJim Schmidt - East RiverMike Ortner - West River

NACo RepresentativesDon Larson • Brookings CountyNancy Hansen • Brown County

WIR RepresentativeClint Farlee • Ziebach County

Robert Johnson, Harding County Commissioner

SDACC President’s Comments

The official newsletter of South Dakota Counties211 East Prospect AvenuePierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-4554 Fax: (605) 224-4833Website: www.sdcounties.orgWebsite: www.sdcc.govoffice2.comEmail: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

These associations were founded for the betterment of county government and serve members through lobby-ing, education, publications, and research.

The County Comment is published nine times a year. It is distributed to county elected officials, state agency personnel, National Association of Counties (NACo), universities, non-profit associations and organizations interested in the betterment of county government. Companies interested in advertising in the County

Comment, please contact Kris Jacobsen, Assistant Editor.

South Dakota counties may place classified ads, story ideas, articles and photographs in this newsletter at NO CHARGE. Send your information by email to [email protected] or [email protected]

Each member county devotes approximately $10.00 per official of their annual dues for a subscription to the County Comment. Non-member subscription rate is $15.00.

The opinions expressed within are not necessar-ily those of the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners (SDACC), South Dakota Association of County Officials (SDACO), South Dakota Association of County Highway Superintendents (SDACHS), or South Dakota Association of County Welfare Officials (SDACWO).

Pesticides for Mountain Pine Beetle Must be Registered- Information courtesy of the SD Dept of Agriculture Considering the severity of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) ad-vises landowners to carefully consider the preventative treatment options available to protect their trees.

Any pesticide product used to treat moun-tain pine beetles must be registered with SDDA. Landowners can determine if a pesticide product is registered in South Dakota for use on mountain pine beetles by visiting the website www.beatthe-beetles.com and clicking on Landowner Guidance.

Applicators must read the label of each product to ensure it is the correct product for the correct situation. Not all products are registered for all uses. The label is the final authority for a product’s use on a particular plant or pest.

Pesticide treatments are limited to protect-ing trees from becoming infested, said Dr. John Ball, South Dakota State University Extension Service forestry specialist. There are no effective systemic pesticide treatments that will kill adult pine beetles or larvae once they are inside trees, he said.

“While there are pesticides on the market labeled to prevent beetles from emerging

once they’ve infested a tree, there are few published reports that indicate any suc-cess and a number of reports that show failure, either to save the infested tree or protect a tree from becoming infested,” Ball said. “It is generally more effective for a homeowner to hire a commercial applicator with the experience and equipment to properly treat and protect trees.”

Homeowners considering treating their own trees for mountain pine beetles are cautioned to use the proper equipment and only apply pesticides that are labeled for that purpose. Unless homeowners are certified commercial pesticide applicators in South Dakota, they may not treat trees on the property of others.

Applicators are reminded to read and fol-low all label precautions, warnings, safety recommendations and use instructions.

Agriculture is South Dakota's No. 1 industry, generating nearly $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 80,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov

4 March 2012 www.sdcc.govoffice2.com • www.sdcounties.org

SDACO President’s ThoughtsJulie Risty, Minnehaha County Register of Deeds


PresidentJulie Risty

Register of DeedsMinnehaha County

First Vice PresidentDoreen Priebe

TreasurerBrule County

Second Vice PresidentLisa Schieffer

AuditorMeade County

Secretary/TreasurerSue Ganje

AuditorFall River/Shannon County

Past PresidentKaren Layher

AuditorGrant County

ParlimentarianSheri KoeckTreasurer

Hand County

DirectorsArlene Koch

Register of DeedsAurora County

Sara GrimTreasurer

Gregory County

Kathy GlinesAuditor

Harding County

Deborah TridleTreasurer

Lawrence County

John HilegemannRegister of DeedsMcPherson County

Julie PearsonAuditor

Pennington County

South Dakota Association

of County OfficialsGreetings! This past January I was for-tunate to be able to attend the NCCAE conference in Washington, DC, which was comprised of the state association presidents and their executive directors. I was honored to be able to represent the South Dakota Association of County Of-ficials and was pleased to be joined by Bob Wilcox, Executive Director of the SDACC, and Bob Johnson, President of the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners.

The conference was not only interesting and informative on a national level, but it provided opportunities to discuss the various issues that affect all states, re-gardless of size or geographical location. We attended a White House briefing, which allowed the current Administra-tion to share its viewpoints on national issues, but also provided for dialogue between us and the Secretary of HUD, the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The National Press Club event was also unforgettable. Washington Post Col-umnist, Ezra Klein, provided a highly interesting and memorable overview of our national domestic and economic political policy-making process. His presentation was entertaining and in-formative, yet sobering; and underscored the importance of closely following our political system and the effects of national decisions concerning domestic and worldwide events.

While I was waiting for the event to begin, I walked down the hallways and through the different rooms of the Press Club, gazing at the many photographs of famous people who have attended its dinner events over the years. In one room the lights had been turned off; so, out of curiosity, I flipped the switch. What I saw were the walls of the room lined with famous old original cartoons that had been published in newspapers across the country since the turn of the century.

As I looked closely at each cartoon, I was amazed to see that one would have thought they were drawn today. Only the date at the bottom and the style of the drawing indi-cated how old each actually was. These famous old cartoons, no matter what year they were drawn, were commentar-ies on the nation’s biggest issues at that time - unemployment, national debt, social issues, war, and Congress vs. the President. I was struck by the fact that every generation has had to take on the very same issues, with many of the same challenges, if not more.

Ronald Reagan once stated, “Each generation goes further than the genera-tion preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have the opportunities beyond anything we’ve ever known.” That is certainly true. And with opportunity comes responsibility to meet the chal-lenges we face to preserve and protect the freedoms we enjoy and the country in which we live. We may not always have the right answers, but we must do our best to try. As Reagan so aptly put it, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

My trip to Washington, DC was a firm reminder of what, and who, we are as a nation, and what is required of each of us in order to remain the leading nation in the world. We are truly blessed as Americans. As president of our associa-tion, I appreciated the opportunity to have visited our nation’s capitol and to be able to share my experience with you. Thank you.



PresidentRon KrempgesMiner County

President ElectLenny Uhrich

Edmunds County

First Vice PresidentMerle HansonHamlin County

Secretary/TreasurerGreg Vavra

Jerauld County

Past PresidentRandy Seiler

Fall River County

NACE State DirectorRaymond Roggow

Union County

DirectorsJerry Batien

Beadle County

Shannon RasmussenBrule County

John HowardsonClark County

Clint DegenHanson County

Dick BirkLawrence County

Ken McGirrMeade County

South Dakota Association of County Highway

Superintendents

Ron Krempges, Miner County

SD Assoc of County Highway Superintendents

Highway Construction Zone Safety Expect the Unexpected…

According to the National Safety Council, over 100 road construction workers are killed in construction zones each year. Nearly half of these workers are killed as a result of being struck by motor vehicles. In addition, more than 700 people, most of them motorists, are killed annually and nearly 37,000 people are injured each year as a result of work zone-related motor vehicle crashes. (National Safety Council, Traffic Safety, Janu-ary/February 2000)

Highway construction zones present a deadly hazard for workers, motorists, and pedestrians. Safety profession-als recommend several precautions to help make construction zones safer for everyone:• Select an alternate route. One of the best ways to avoid long delays, frustration, and the potential for an accident is to avoid construction zones whenever possible. Many states provide detailed maps of construction work around the state on the Internet. If a construction zone is unavoidable, drivers should allow extra time in their schedules in case there are traffic delays.• Observe warning and caution signs before entering a construction zone. Drivers should slow to the posted speed and move to the proper lane as instructed. Traffic and road conditions may dictate an even slower speed. If so, start slowing your vehicle before entering the work area. Drivers should not wait until the last minute to merge to the correct lane.• Maintain a safe following distance. Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of construction zone accidents. Drivers should watch for slow moving or stopped traffic and be

prepared for abrupt stops.• Stay alert for aggressive drivers. If another motor-ist is aggressively jockeying for posi-tion, drivers should let them move on. Challenging another driver encourages road rage and endangers the safety of other motorists and workers in the area.• Avoid distracting activities. Re-maining alert for unexpected hazards is critical when traveling through construction zones. Talking on a cell phone, tuning the radio, eating, read-ing, or other similarly distracting ac-tivities can quickly lead to an accident. Expecting the unexpected is a golden rule when traveling through construc-tion zones.• Stay in your lane. Changing lanes in a construction zone is dangerous and is often prohibited for this reason. Narrow lanes and restricted shoulders make construction zones a common place for lane-change accidents.• Watch for construction equipment and workers. Construction equip-ment entering and exiting a work zone without warning, equipment extending into traffic, and construction crews and flaggers working dangerously close to moving traffic are a few of the hazards to expect. Maintaining a safe following distance behind construction vehicles is a good practice.• Watch for motorists who may become irritable and confused. Long traffic delays and changing road con-figuration can cause other motorists to drive in an unpredictable or erratic manner.• Stay alert for obstacles and debris. Construction equipment, signs, and barriers may be located close to the

Continued on page 15


SD Association of County Welfare Officials


PresidentKaren Romey

Pennington County

Vice PresidentSarah Petersen

Codington County

SecretaryJerry Miller

Union County

Past PresidentTheresa Hodges

Spink County

CCPR AdministratorKristie Jacobsen

SD Counties

South Dakota Association of County Welfare Officials

Karen Romey, Pennington County H & HS Dear County Commissioners, Welfare Directors and Auditors who will be attending the March 22, 2012 Spring Workshop.

I want to take this opportunity to prepare you for something new and different coming your way during the Spring Workshop. As President of the South Dakota Association of County Welfare Officials (SDACWO), I was contacted by SDACC to request if, on the morning of March 22, there could be a one hour presentation on County Welfare.

My reaction, impossible! Give us one week and perhaps the basics could be outlined. However, this was an oppor-tunity just too good to pass up. This year’s mission of the SDACWO As-sociation is to inspire creative thinking and understanding of those individuals served within our counties focusing on; mental health, substance abuse, jail and indigent care. Unfortunately, studies have shown, within these programs, either the individual or their families are often seamlessly woven-throughout these programs within each other.

The goal of SDACWO is to rethink old ideas, and discover new ways in which counties can better prepare themselves to face the future challeng-es of: budgets, over-crowded facilities, staffing levels and the personal toll and impact it has on our county residents.

The first step in solving any challenge is to understand the contributing fac-tors, so where do you begin! Under-standing poverty is logically one place to start in this very long journey. To facilitate this educational experience, SDACC will assist the SDACWO in bringing an expert to the workshop to conduct a Poverty Simulation. She

has complet-ed this course with many of your peers within vari-ous levels of government, private com-munity lead-ers around the state and major business organiza-tions throughout the state.

If there would be one thing that you would take away from this workshop is realizing the importance of training and education of those who manage your welfare budgets. There are op-portunities for this throughout the year during our joint conventions. Being in this business for 25 years, the one thing I can guarantee is nothing in the “arena” of social programs and resources stays the same. Knowing how to utilize all the resources avail-able to your county is invaluable. The SDACWO will be introducing, at this meeting, a new concept of District Welfare Training.

During the workshop there will be a demonstration of an innovative jail diversion program within Pen-nington County, a review of the 2011 SD County Medical and Substance Expenditure Report, a brief overview of the recent meeting with West River area Law Enforcement Officers related to utilization of the Crisis Care Center in Rapid City and potential opportuni-ties for other counties followed with a Q&A regarding the training.

The SDACWO hopes for this to be a vehicle which inspires new thought and discussion. Participation in the Poverty Simulation will hopefully bring challenges, however, as leaders, you face this each and every day.

During the course of a 2 hour Poverty Simulation Workshop, you will have the opportunity to:

* Educate yourself about poverty in South Dakota* Simulate 1 month in poverty * Dialogue about your experience with others * Begin to dismantle some of the structural barriers that perpetuate poverty* Collaborate with your fellow county members * Advance your understanding of the reality of over 112,899 people, ac-cording to the US Census Bureau, who live below the poverty line in South Dakota

After understanding and education, it’s time to take ACTION!


County NewsImportant New Hire Report Change

Important Dates to Remember

March 21 - 22, 2012SDACC & SDACWO Spring Workshop

Ramkota Hotel - Pierre, SD

May 9 - 11, 2012SDACO Spring Workshop

Ramkota Hotel - Pierre, SD

September 17 - 19, 2012SD County Convention

Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center

Minnehaha County - Sioux Falls, SD

Assisting Communitieswith Development and Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing

HOME Funds Rural Site Development Funds Housing Tax Credits Bond Financing

HOUSING S O U T H D A K O T A

D E V E L O P M E N T A U T H O R I T Y

605.773.3181 800.540.4241 www.sdhda.org

Effective January 16, 2012, employers will be required to include an em-ployee's date of hire when submitting a new hire report. The date of hire is the date an employee first performed services for pay.

The South Dakota New Hire Report-ing Center currently accepts and processes the date of hire when it is included on new hire reports. Newly hired, rehired or those who return to work after a separation of 30 or more days must be reported within 20 days of their first day at work. This includes full-time, part-time, seasonal and temporary employees, both adult and minors. Employers must report the following for each employee: social security number (SSN), name, address and date of hire. The following must be reported for each employer: federal

identification number (FEIN), employ-er name and employer address.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and South Dakota Codified Law 25-7A-3.3 require employers to report certain information on their newly hired employees. The New Hire Reporting Center was established through the cooperative efforts of the SD Department of Social Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, and the SD Department of Labor, Unemployment Insurance. The New Hire reports are mainly used to match against child support records to locate parents and establish or enforce child support orders.

Additional information may be found on www.sdjobs.org.


Bankruptcy Prevention

Tips, Trends and Resources

Continued on page 9

This article is a two part series. The first was published in the Jan/Feb issue of the County Comment. This article is reprinted from www.NACo.org There are some alternatives to declar-ing bankruptcy. As we have seen, financial hardship can come without warning, pushing county governments to the brink of bankruptcy. There are some measures available for prevent-ing that fall off the cliff.

State Bailout It is usually the state that comes to the rescue of its failing local governments. Since many states are the gatekeepers of bankruptcy, they can do anything allowed constitutionally in order to prevent that from occurring. State bailouts are one way the state can prevent a municipal bankruptcy. This happened in 1990 in the case of Butte County, California. Butte County was on the verge of becoming the first county to declare Chapter 9 bankrupt-cy before the state assembly stepped in at the 11th hour and voted to provide the county with a $15 million bailout.

The bailout, however, is only a temporary stopgap and doesn’t neces-sarily solve a long-term fiscal crisis the municipality may be in. This is the situation New York City found itself in during recent budget years. City officials turned to Albany for recurring revenues and savings but Governor Pataki responded with one-shots, money available only for one fiscal year. New York City had already raised property taxes and was seeking to impose a commuter tax. The state, like most states in the Union, was also facing its own budget gap and finding it difficult to find the desired long-term aid for local governments.

Local Cuts State bailouts are not a reliable re-source because of today’s budget shortfalls. In order to prevent fiscal catastrophe, county governments are cutting back programs, spending, and employment to manage their deficits. In 1990, Butte County9 cut everything it could before threatening bankruptcy. Closing libraries, slashing payrolls, and freezing cost of living raises to employees were some of the methods the county turned to in order to save money. Any further cuts would have rendered the county government use-less.

As previously discussed, New York City has tried to generate more rev-enue by raising property taxes 18.5% and has cut significant spending to adjust its finances. Other programs potentially facing cuts included drug counseling programs in city jails and scaling back summer school for children whose presence was not mandatory. But citizens have not been receptive to a tax hike.

Voters rejected a referendum follow-ing Orange County’s bankruptcy that would have increased countywide sales tax by .5% for 10 years. The County was forced to cut 41% of the General Operating Budget and reduced full-time positions by 16%.

In mid 2010, Modoc County, CA hired a bankruptcy attorney, as well as requested a $12.5 million loan from the state of California. For more than a decade, Modoc County had been fund-ing its hospital using money intended for other purposes, such as education and transportation projects. An audit in 2009 by the state controller’s office determined that the county was violat-ing state law by shifting dollars away from their intended purpose, prompt-

ing the county’s current financial crisis.

On August 31, 2010 voters in Modoc County were able to avoid bankruptcy by approving a $195-a-year parcel tax in order to fund the county’s hospital. The new parcel tax is set to generate $3.1 million a year for the hospital.10

Other Options Insurance In response to the rise in court actions against municipalities, many counties are obtaining some form of liability insurance. This would prevent a large court judgment from crippling the budget and the county’s ability to per-form its governmental functions.

Oversight Boards We have seen that when a municipality declares bankruptcy, it does so under state law. This leaves the municipal-ity under the jurisdiction of the state during the bankruptcy proceeding. The state can impose a trustee to oversee the municipality’s bankruptcy and its reorganization plan. While the state can give aid to the troubled municipal-ity, it may also impose an oversight board in the municipality in order to prevent bankruptcy or default. These boards are put in place for govern-ments that have been in a fiscal crisis for some time. A board was put in place in New York City in 1974 to oversee the City’s budget and the state and federal government provided loans to the City to survive the crisis. The Control Board was responsible for most financial decisions in the City and helped prevent New York from declaring bankruptcy.

More recently, a control board was put in charge of the finances of Nassau County, NY after its failure to main-



Continued from page 8

Bankruptcy Prevention - con’t

tain and manage its own finances. In 1991, the state of Pennsylvania created the Pennsylvania Intergovern-mental Cooperation Authority (PICA) to oversee Philadelphia’s financial situation, including the approval of a long-term fiscal plan, authority to is-sue bonds, and power to withhold state funds in the event that the government was not following the plan. One of the advantages of a state oversight board is that it is able to protect the elected officials from blame for difficult financial decisions. The Board is usu-ally dissolved when the municipality is able to meet certain criteria, such as balancing the budget for consecutive years or repaying debt. The Board may also prove sufficient in re-establishing the municipality’s bond status and im-proving inves¬tor confidence to make it easier for the municipality to re-en-ter the bond market, one of the major issues facing bankrupt governments.

What Happens after Declaring Bankruptcy? Initially, a municipality that has de-clared itself bankrupt by being insol-vent can expect to be punished by the markets. How long this punishment will last can be based on the following factors: • The degree to which debt holders and guarantors are made whole • The strength of the negotiated settle-ment or the plan for adjustment • How much the stakeholders buy in or cooperate • Whether voters and/or elected offi-cials have contributed to the settlement or plan by approv¬ing new taxes, fees or other revenue sources • Whether the municipality can show that it has stable and effective leader-ship and management in place • How well the municipality com-municates with the market and how

timely and transparent the financial information is • How well the settlement or plan of adjustment is implemented and moni-tored

Access to the capital markets will be more expensive and more limited than in the past. However, if the municipal-ity focuses on the above factors, it can emerge from the effects of bankruptcy in a stronger and more stable financial situation that before they filed.11

Conclusion In today’s fiscal crisis, statewide budg-et deficits are the norm. In turn, there is more pressure on county govern-ments to continue to provide services at the same time they are addressing declining revenue streams. Bankrupt-cy, however, should be an absolute last option for struggling counties.

“Chapter 9 really puts the judge more in the position of being a referee than somebody who can really run the county, said Paul S. Maco, partner

with the firm of Vinson & Elkins who led the office of Municipal Securi-ties at the Securities and Exchange Commission during the bankruptcy of Orange County, CA. “Chapter 9 doesn’t take away the difficult political decision-making needed to address a financial credit problem. Their (Or-ange County’s) path out of bankruptcy was difficult.”12

We have seen that once bankruptcy is declared, it effects not only the county’s credit rating but also may affect the entire state’s rating, making it that much more difficult to provide services. The important thing is to know the state law regarding bank-ruptcy and fiscally distressed govern-ments and to use all means to prevent the bankruptcy.

9 Los Angeles Times, September 22, 198910 Associated Press, September 1, 201011 Municipal Bankruptcy: Avoiding and Using Chap-ter 9 in times of Fiscal Stress, John Know and Marc Levinson, Orrick, 2009 12 Bankruptcy Rarely Offers Easy Answer for Coun-ties, New York Times, November 10, 2011

109 South Main * Box 376BOWMAN, ND 68623Phone: 701-523-3340Fax: 701-523-5243

3561 Old Whitewood Rd * Box 686STURGIS, SD 57787Phone: 605-347-2722Fax: 605-347-2822

Registered in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana


Tips. Trends, and Resources

This week, like every week, I receive copies of “Claim Acknowledgments” and “First Report of Injury” forms for the various entities that belong to the risk-sharing pools. Part of my job is to review them and to look for pos-sible trends as to the types and causes for the injuries or liability claims that are occurring. Then as the Loss Control Administrator, our team tries to determine what, if anything, we can do to assist members in reducing and/or eliminating these claims through their safety and loss control programs. First and foremost, no one wants to see anyone get hurt whether it is an employee or a member of the public. Unfortunately there is also a business side of safety, as claims cost money and they can affect the member’s future contribution rates. All too often

Accidents Aren’t Just One of Those Thingswe get caught up in the business side, so I frequently have to remind myself about the personal impact that “acci-dents” have on those involved.

Some safety experts define an ac-cident as “an unplanned, undesired event which results in injury, damage to property, or loss in a process”. I am sure that no one plans on getting hurt while performing work related tasks, yet we know that each year workers are injured and killed on-the-job. The National Safety Council defines a preventable accident as “one in which the individual(s) failed to do everything he/she reasonably could have done to avoid it.” How much extra time would it have taken for an injured employee to make sure that he/she was following established safety

procedures, was wearing the proper PPE or to install safety devices needed to protect them from injury? How much extra time would it have taken some-one to correct an unsafe condition that could have prevented an in-jury to a member of the public or prevent damage to their property?

What steps can your entity take to prevent injuries caused by “accidents” from occurring? First of all, every employer has the obligation to

provide employees with a safe work environment. This includes provid-ing employees with safety training and personal protective equipment to keep them safe while performing their work tasks. Departments should have written safety rules for employees to follow while performing the various tasks required of them. These safety rules should then be incorporated into new employee orientation as well as task training. Safety meetings should also be provided so employees are routinely reminded of safe work prac-tices and procedures.

Sounds simple enough? Well not quite. The final component of creat-ing a safe work environment rests with your supervisors. Providing employ-ees with written safety rules, safety training and proper PPE is only the be-ginning. Someone needs to make sure employees are following safe work practices and properly using PPE. I know many of your entities have writ-ten safety rules and you provide em-ployees with safety training as well as up-to-date safety equipment. So what is often lacking? What about supervi-sion and consequences for unsafe acts? First and foremost we want to com-mend employees for following safe work practices. This is something that isn’t done often enough. However, I have noticed a disturbing trend devel-

Continued on page 11



oping within many of the entities that we work with. Many departments do not have consequences for unsafe acts and/or supervisors are not enforcing safety rules. What happens to employ-ees working for your entity when they are not following safe work practices? Do your supervisors correct their behavior? What about an employee who deliberately chooses not to follow established safe work procedures? Do you have consequences? Not only should employees be held accountable but so should their supervisors. The first time a supervisor observes an em-ployee not following safety rules and he/she fails to correct them, then your written rules become meaningless.

It is easy to commend someone when

they are doing the right thing but it is extremely important to also correct unsafe acts. It is estimated that over 80% of employee injuries are caused from unsafe acts. Don Merrell wrote a poem that I often use in safety meet-ings. It is entitled, “I Chose to Look the Other Way.” The end of the poem poetically sums up a co-worker or supervisor’s responsibility when it comes to safety. “If you see a risk and walk away, then hope you never have to say, I could have saved a life that day, but I chose to look the other way.”Now is a good time to review your ex-isting safety program as well as your safety practices. Have you set any goals this year for your safety and loss control program? As we have previ-ously written, a good safety and loss control program not only saves time

and money but it also protects your fi-nancial resources, including your most valuable resource – your employees. We are pleased to announce that starting in March we are going to be conducting a series of regional train-ing sessions for supervisors, safety coordinators and safety committee members. These sessions will provide these important team members with additional training and resources so they can add to and/or improve their skills. Ultimately this will help your entity with your safety and loss control efforts. Watch for further details in upcoming email announcements.

Doug Kirkus, Loss Control AdministratorSD Public Assurance AllianceSDML Workers’ Compensation Fundemail: [email protected]

Accidents Aren’t Just One of Those Things - Con’tContinued from page 10


Are inmate medical costs draining your county budgets?The South Dakota Association of County Commis-sioners (SDACC) is proud to partner with Correction-al Risk Services (CRS) to offer two programs to help South Dakota counties contain the costs of medical care for county inmates.

Choose from:Inmate Medical Claims Review Service: CRS will perform claims administration management for all county inmates housed in a county jail. Claims admin-istration management will include:

1. Determine if the medical treatment was actually delivered.2. Determine if the medical treatment was medically necessary.3. Provide hospital and physician discounts, where available, through our PPO network.4. Negotiate ‘quick pay’ discounts from providers whenever possible.5. Prepare checks to be sent to hospitals, physicians, and other medical care providers.6. Furnish explanations of payment.7. Provide detailed claims reports.8. Furnish Sheriff Department personnel with Inmate Provider Claim Cards.9. CRS retains a percentage of what they save on the billing. If there are no savings – there are no costs to the county.

Inmate Medical Budget Protector: CRS will provide inmate excess medical insurance for county inmates. The policy will include the Claims Administration Management and the following:

1. A $10,000 deductible per county inmate, per con-tract year.2. A policy limit up to $250,000 (less deductible) per inmate, per contract year.3. Covered charges include: a. Inpatient hospitalization b. Outpatient surgical charges c. Emergency room charges - if followed by a hos-pital admission d. Physicians’ & surgeons’ fees e. Anesthesiologists & radiologists charges, f. Nurses charges g. Diagnostic x-ray & laboratory services h. Dressings, drugs, & medicines dispensed in a hospital or outpatient facility i. Medical conditions such as cancer, heart, kidney, diabetes are covered illnesses j. Accidental injuries, fights, self-inflicted injuries, and attempted suicide.4. No pre-existing medical condition limitations after coverage has been in effect for 72 hours.

NOTE: This is a summary of the plan details. Please call SDACC at (605) 224-4554 for specific details.

Juvenile detention medical costs are also eligible for these programs!

Sheriffs’ departments and county governments are faced with the ever

increasing problem of providing medical, dental, and prescription drug benefits to an inmate population. In

today’s climate of rapidly rising hospital costs, sheriff and county

budgets are stretched beyond limit. Often times those budgets are exceeded

well in advance of year end.

Program Services

**Members**McPherson, Meade & Mellette

Counties

“What we do is provide an insurance policy to the county in the event an

inmate has a large medical claim”

Correctional Risk Services, Inc

Drainage Structure Maintenance & Repair

6 0 5 - 8 3 8 - 8 3 8 4w w w . c l e a n c u l v e r t s . c o m

We have over 4 million miles of roadway in the US, making it the largest highway system in the world! Millions of culverts are hidden underneath the roadways to channel water and prevent flooding.

There has been more attention and maintenance work done for above ground infrastructure, while the underground infrastructure is failing due to lack of maintenance and proper asset management practices.

Subsurface Inc. has invested time and money to bring the most technologically advanced trenchless solutions to the forefront to rehabilitate the existing structures without the cost and inconvenience of open cutting and detours.

OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND

We don’t have time for closed roads due to failed structures.

Hydro-Mechanical cleaning restores the drainage capacity of reinforced concrete culverts and corrugated metal culverts. Slip-lining of culverts using Culvert Renews “Thread Lock” design. We offer this culvert liner directly to the end user and provide training for the contractor, state or county that wishes to install them themselves. This solution allows traffic to continue uninterrupted. Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) is a great option when lining a corroded out metal pipe and hydraulics cannot be sacrificed. RCP Joint Repair and Pipe Rehabilitation - Left unattended, joint separations continue to increase in size and voids created outside the pipe grow until the road bed settles, creating a dip or the road bed fails completely. Internal Void Grouting of External Voids is performed from inside of the reinforced concrete culvert by technicians trained to work in culverts as small in diameter as 24 inches.

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Call for More Information


County SpotlightDeuel CountyLargest City: Clear Lake County Seat: Clear LakePopulation: 4,364Organized: 1916Size: 624 square miles

Deuel County is located in eastern South Dakota on the border of Minnesota. Founded in 1916, the county’s name originated from Jacob S. Deuel, a pioneer legislator who operated a sawmill in the county during the 1860s.

Captain Henry Herrick located a homestead where Gary now stands in August 1872. In 1874 a post office opened and the town originally served as the County Seat. Founded in 1877, the town was originally called State Line, because of its location, then for a time it was called Headquarters, because it was the headquarters for the railroad conductor. Finally the name Gary was chosen in honor of H.B. Gary, an early day mail agent in the town.

Altamont, platted in 1880, has two different ver-sions of its naming. According to one, it was named by a surveyor because of its location at the highest point in the county surrounded by hills; according to another it was named for Ed Altamont whose farm the town was originally established.

Astoria was founded in 1900 and named for As-toria, Oregon in honor of the Astorian Expedition in 1811 which passed through present day South Dakota.

Bemis was named in honor of P.W. Bemis, a pio-neer settler.

Brandt, founded in 1884, was named for an early day minister of the county, Rev. P.O. Brandt.

Clear Lake takes its name from a near-by lake whose gravel bottom may be seen through crystal clear water. The town was settled in 1884 and in-corporated in 1900. Residents of the county advo-cated for the moving of the courthouse from Gary to a more central location. In 1890 the relocation of the courthouse to Clear Lake was put to a vote and was passed. The courthouse was built in 1891 and was used until 1916, when a new courthouse was built and is still used today.

Goodwin was probably named for George Goodwin, an official of the old Winona & St Peter Railroad. It was also known for awhile as Prairie Siding.

Moritz was named for Andrew Moritz, an early settler in the community.

Toronto, founded in 1884, was named by Daniel McCraney, a settler who donated 60 acres of land for the town site.

We’re South Dakota’s Public Finance Partner

Gerald J. Spethman, Jr. Senior Vice President, Public Finance Banker

[email protected]

Darwin L. ReiderSenior Vice President, Public Finance Banker

[email protected]

1111 North 102nd Court, Suite 300Omaha, Nebraska 68114

D.A. Davidson & Co. is committed to strengthening the infrastructure and enriching the lives of people in our communities throughout South Dakota and across the nation.

D.A. Davidson has established strong bonds with communities throughout South Dakota. Our public finance bankers average over 20 years of experience in conventional fixed-rate debt financing, variable-rate bonds, credit-enhanced structures and non-rated bonds. Year after year we serve as manager of billions of dollars of financing. Our primary areas of focus include the following: Cities, Counties, School Districts, Rural Water Utility Finance, Healthcare Finance, Lease-Purchase Financing, Nonprofit Entities and Alternative Energy.

For additional information please contact our South Dakota bankers listed below:

Let’s build a brighter future!

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Permanent Life Insurance Program


In recent years the cost of employee-paid benefits has risen dramatically. As a result, employers are finding it more difficult to meet the demands for any enhancements or updates to benefit schedules.

Along similar lines, middle wage earn-ers are not receiving individualized and personal life insurance planning assistance as they once did due to a reduction in agents and profit margins for smaller permanent life insuranceproducts. Generally there are medical and underwriting requirements which also make it more difficult to secure long-term protection at affordable prices for average income earners.

The South Dakota Association of County Commissioners has entered

into an agreement with Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company to provide South Dakota counties the Employee Life Option (ELO), which is a whole life permanent insurance program. Boston Mutual Life Insurance Com-pany has been in business since 1891 and has an excellent financial insur-ance rating, competitive premiums, commitment to service and stature in the industry.

The ELO program is completely vol-untary and is being offered via payroll deductions. It is not meant to duplicate or replace any current benefits. It is available to all elected officials and employees, as well as their spouses, dependent children and grandchildren. A family member can be covered without the employee or elected of-

ficial personally buying cover-age. Neither the employee/elected official nor eligible family members can be turned down for certain guaranteed amounts due to past or present health problems and no physical or blood testing is required. How-ever, a spouse may be subject to medical ques-tions if treated in a medical facility within the prior six months of enrolling.

Premiums are guaranteed to never increase. The face amount,

cash values and paid-up benefits will never decrease. Cash values are currently earning 4.25 percent. The insured can continue the ELO upon retirement or termination of employ-ment with no increase in premiums or decrease in benefits.

Many units of government offer group term insurance that provides insur-ance for a specific period of time in the event the insured dies prematurely. Few, if any, offer permanent life insur-ance which combines death protection with savings no matter when death occurs. Less than 2 percent of the policyholders ever collect benefits from term insurance while 100 percent collect benefits from permanent life insurance.

The Boston Mutual Life Insurance ELO is serviced and enrolled by Haus-er and Associates Insurance Services. The agency’s reputation for service, integrity and professionalism is well documented. Their experience with county government was critical in the decision to endorse this product. Their commitment to the customer’s interest is also well recognized.

This is an opportunity for govern-ments to offer an insurance product to their employees and families at no additional cost to the taxpayers. Many of these employees are otherwise unable to obtain life insurance in the conventional market for their personal long-term and post-retirement needs. Identifying and addressing employee’s needs is a means to improved perform-ance, a more content workforce and a higher appreciation of the employer.

For more information contact the South Dakota Counties office at (605) 224-4554 or by email:[email protected].


County NewsHighway Construction Zone Safety Expect the Unexpected… (con’t)

edge of the roadway. Debris from work projects, especially dust, dirt, and gravel, may cause added dis-ruption. Regular traffic lanes are often shifted to temporary lanes and shoulders that may not provide the stability regular traffic lanes offer. Transportation safety professionals say it is equally important for drivers to exercise caution after passing through a construction zone. Additional pre-cautions include:• Being aware of motorists who may attempt to pass on the right.• Watching for construction equipment beyond the designated work area.• Staying in your lane to allow other motorists who can accelerate more quickly maneuver around you.Above all, experts agree it is essential that all drivers stay focused on the task at hand and avoid distracting activities.Each of us, as a safe driver, has a responsibility to exercise caution and good judgment regardless of the behavior other motorists’ display. Con-sideration for the safety of construc-tion workers and other motorists can help turn highway construction areas into “safe zones” for everyone.

"DISCLAIMER The information con-tained in this document is for informa-tional purposes only and is not intend-ed as, nor does it constitute, legal or professional advice to the reader.

Continued from page 5LYMAN COUNTY HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT/WEED SUPERVISORThe Lyman County Commission is taking applications for a Highway Superintendent/Weed Supervisor. Starting salary is $40,865.00 with a full benefit plan. To obtain a county application for employment and a complete job description please contact the

Lyman County Auditor’s Office, PO Box 38, Kennebec SD 57544, Phone 605-869-2247. Mail applications to: Lyman County Commission,

PO Box 38, Kennebec SD 57544. Resumes may be attached to applications.Lyman County is an equal employment opportunity employer.


Senator Tim Johnson136 Hart Senate Office BldgWashington, DC 20510(202) 224-5842Fax: (202) 225-5823

Aberdeen (605) 226-3440Rapid City (605) 341-3990Sioux Falls (605) 332-8896

Senator John ThuneUnited States Senate SR-493Washington, DC 20515(202) 224-2321Fax: (202) 228-5429

Aberdeen (605) 225-8823Rapid City (605) 348-7551Sioux Falls (605) 334-9596

Representative Kristi Noem226 Cannon House Office BldgWashington, DC 20515(202) 225-2801Fax: (202) 225-5823

Rapid City - (605) 791-4673Sioux Falls (605) 367-8371

Congressional DelegationNew Opportunity to Serve South Dakota by Senator John Thune

After being elected by my colleagues to serve as the Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference at the end of last year, I offi-cially assumed

the role and responsibilities of the Chairmanship on January 26th.

In this new position, I will help lead our Conference’s efforts in communi-cating our positive vision for putting Americans back to work and growing our economy.

Serving as the Chairman of the Con-ference will give me a greater voice at the leadership table to represent the priorities of South Dakota and the country, and to help shape an agenda

consistent with the values of South Dakota.

As a member of the Senate Republican leadership, I believe there are critical areas where both sides of the aisle can and should work together, including fundamental tax reform, regulatory re-lief, and energy security. Even though it is an election year, I believe that Republicans and Democrats in Con-gress can come together to accomplish some common-sense solutions to our country’s most pressing challenges. I do not think we have the luxury of time to delay on many of these issues as Americans throughout the country are hurting from a weak economy.

Our Conference will continue to focus on ways to strengthen our economy and getting government off of the backs of job creators. I am commit-ted to putting in place policies that will increase the standard of living for

folks in our state and throughout the country, while regaining our country’s global competitiveness.

Throughout my town halls and meet-ings with South Dakotans, I consist-ently hear that the government must rein in its unsustainable level of spending and borrowing, especially since roughly 40 cents of every dollar the federal government spent last year was borrowed. This will certainly continue to be a priority for me at the leadership table.

Representing the great state of South Dakota in the Senate and in Repub-lican leadership is an honor and a privilege. I look forward to working in my new capacity to further the priori-ties of South Dakotans and make our country stronger.

website: http://thune.senate.gov/


by Senator John Thune

County News

County officials across the country can generate positive publicity at home through National County Government Month (NCGM) celebrations in April.

It’s up to county officials as leaders in our communities to educate the public about the essential programs and services their county provides. The best way to accomplish this task is through a care-fully planned and executed celebration of National County Government Month.

This year’s theme is “Healthy Counties, Healthy Families.” Counties could link their own county government month activi-ties to this theme by promoting local health services and wellness programs.

NCGM activities do not have to be lim-ited to specific health services. Does your county participate in the NACo Prescrip-tion Discount Card Program? If so, why not visit community centers and hold public events highlighting the success of the program? Tout the total money saved by local residents and how easy it is for anyone – regardless of income or health condition –to obtain and use the free dis-count cards.

Consider other county services and pro-grams that are important to communicate to the public. Transportation, infrastruc-ture, public safety, green government, housing, economic development, parks and recreation – the choice is yours and the possibilities are countless to plan fun and informative community outreach efforts.

A booklet full of ideas to celebrate NCGM is available on the NCGM page located on the NACo website. The booklet contains suggested community activities, a draft proclamation, a sample news release, me-dia outreach strategies, and much more.

What’s important is to find effective ways to discuss new county services and pro-

grams, highlight existing ones, or otherwise explain the role and responsi-bilities of county government.

“I encourage every county to start planning now for National County Gov-ernment Month,” President Eliason said. “Counties and the important serv-ices they provide are too often overlooked, underappreciated or unknown. It’s up to us as county officials to carry the flag for county government and champion what they do each day.”

2012 National County Government Month theme: “Healthy Counties, Healthy Families”

605.977.2727 | www.eidebai l ly.com

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SDACC Associate Member DirectoryAgriculture United of SDSteve DickPO Box 507Sioux Falls, SD 57101Phone: (605) 336-3622Agriculture

American Engineering TestingRobert Temme, PE1745 Samco RdRapid City, SD 57702Phone: (605) 388-0029Engineering

American State BankKelley VanLithPO Box 1178Pierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-9233Financial Services

Architecture IncorporatedSusan KahlerPO Box 2140Sioux Falls, SD 57101Phone: (605) 339-1711Architectural Firm

BankWestKristin Brost420 S Pierre StPierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-7391Financial services

Banner Associates, IncDoug WesselPO Box 298Brookings, SD 57006Phone: (605) 692-6342Engineering, Architecture, Surveying

Beckenhauer ConstructionRon StaufferPO Box 866Norfolk, NE 68702Phone: (402) 371-5363Construction Mgmt, Design Build

Best Western SD Ramkota HotelsJean Lacher3211 W Sencore DrSioux Falls, SD 57107Phone: (605) 334-2371Hotels, Accommodations

Black Hills PowerJulio “”Mutch” UseraPO Box 1400Rapid City, SD 57709Phone: (605) 716-3951Diversified energy holding company

Brosz EngineeringDerek McTighe, PE3030 Airport RdPierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-1123Architecture, Engineering, Surveying, Testing

Buskerud ConstructionDean HerllPO Box 187Dell Rapids, SD 57022Phone: (605) 428-5483Construction Services & Materials

Butler MachineryKelly Humble3401 33rd St SFargo, ND 58104Phone: (701) 298-1705SD Caterpillar dealer

CenturyLinkJeff Carmon125 S Dakota Avenue 8th FlSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 339-6871Communications

Clark EngineeringKevin Goff1410 W Russell StSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 331-25052301 8th Ave NE #125Aberdeen, SD 57402Phone: (605) 225-3494214 5th AveBrookings, SD 57006(605) 692-8799Engineering & Surveying

Correctional Risk ServicesDJ Kreal215 Jamestown Park Dr #201Brentwood, TN 37027Phone: (615) 376-6101Inmate Excess Medical Insurance

Diamond Mowers IncDavid Burkhart27134 Parklane DriveSioux Falls, SD 57106Phone: (605) 368-5865Agricultural Mowers

Diesel Machinery IncDon Mosey4301 N Cliff AveSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 336-0411Construction Equip Distributor

Dougherty & Company LLCTom Grimmond110 S Phillips Ave Suite 203Sioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 339-9800Finance

Election Systems and SoftwareMike Hoversten11208 John Galt BlvdOmaha, NE 68137Phone: (402) 938-1305Elections Services

G & R ControlsBrandy ThompsonPO Box 85661Sioux Falls, SD 57118Phone: (605) 336-3788Building automation/Temp controls

Hagan Benefits IncJeff PedersonPO Box 903Sioux Falls, SD 57101Phone: (605) 334-1030Liability & Property Insurance

Howard R. Green IncChad Hanisch, PE431 N Phillips Avenue Suite 400Sioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 334-4499Engineering/Consulting

Insurance Benefits IncKaren Ripperda4901 Isabel Place #110Sioux Falls, SD 57108Phone: (605) 334-7252Insurance

Jebro IncMike Spohr2303 Bridgeport DriveSioux City, IA 51111Phone: (800) 831-8037Asphalt Products Supplier

Johnson Controls IncMichael Hubbard3413 Gateway BlvdSioux Falls, SD 57106Phone: (605) 361-0680Energy efficiency/facility management

Kadrmas, Lee & JacksonRod SennPO Box 1157Bismarck, ND 58502Phone: (701) 355-8773Engineers, Surveyors, Planners

Lankota Custom TruckJerry Galloway1800 E Benson RoadSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 336-1727Truck & construction equipment

McLeod Printing & Office SuppliesBrad Zimmerman1011 S EdgertonMitchell, SD 57301Phone: (605) 996-5151Printing and office supplies

Metal Culverts, IncMichael L. RackersPO Box 330Jefferson City, MO 65102Phone: (573) 636-7312Corrugated metal pipe & drainage

Mryl and Roy’s Paving, IncPatty Nohr1300 N Bahnson AveSioux Falls, SD 57103Phone: (605) 334-3204Asphalt Const & Aggregate Supply

NACo Prescription Drug Card Brad Stone620 Epsilon DrPittsburgh, PA 15238Phone: (412) 967-2307Prescription Drug Card

Nationwide Retirement SolutionsTom Sierakowski5404 D J LaneSchofield, WI 54476Phone: (715) 355-9889Retirement Programs

Northland Securities215 W Sioux AvePierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-5557Public Finance

RDO EquipmentBrad Gietzen2801 N Louise AveSioux Falls, SD 57107Phone: (605) 336-2730John Deere Equip Sales & Service

Sayre Associates, IncMonty Miller, P.E.216 S Duluth AveSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 332-7211Civil Engineering & Land Surveying

Sheehan Mack Sales & EquipEric Matzen901 E 60th St NSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 336-2000Contractors’ Equip & Supplies

Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc Alec Boyce401 E 8th Street, Suite 309Sioux Falls, SD 57103Phone: (605) 330-7000Engineering, Architectural Consulting

Simplifile, LCDallen Miner4844 N 300 W, Suite 202Provo, UT 84604Phone: (800) 460-5657E-Recording

Subsurface, IncKen Moulds2815 E Whisper TrailSioux Falls, SD 57108Phone: (605) 838-8384Culvert cleaning, lining, joint repair, void grouting

Team Laboratory Chemical CorpMichelle MaierPO Box 1467Detroit Lakes, MN 56502Phone: (218) 846-9490Industrial Chemical Sales

The Sidwell CompanyKaren Fouts675 Sidwell CourtSt. Charles, IL 60174Phone: (630) 549-1000GIS, Aerial Photography

Titan MachineryMatt Leighton4201 N Cliff AveSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 336-34341741 Deadwood AveRapid City, SD 57702Equipment Dealer

TriMin Government SolutionsBill Juergens2277 Hwy 36 W, Suite 101ERoseville, MN 55113Phone: (651) 604-3617Land Records Mgmt System

TrueNorth SteelShane DavidsPO Box 1439Huron, SD 57350Phone: (605) 352-8643Corrugated culverts & steel tanks

Tyler TechnologiesBrad King5519 53rd StLubbock, TX 79414Phone: (800) 646-2633Computer Software & Services

Ultra/ Connecting PointDoreen Singrey504 Jenson Ave SEWatertown, SD 57201Phone: (605) 882-1555Computer Hardware and Software


SDACO Associate Member DirectoryActive Data SystemsDamon Durick2504 W 46th StSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 335-5906www.activedatasystems.com

American State BankKelly Van Lith, VP of Marketing700 E Sioux AvePierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-9233www.asbpierre.comBanking Services

BankWest, Inc.Kristin Brost, VP of MarketingPO Box 998Pierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-7391www.bankwest-sd.comBanking, Insurance, Trust, Brokerage

Brosz EngineeringDerek McTighe, PE3030 Airport RdPierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-1123Architecture, Engineering, Surveying, Testing

Computer Software AssociatesAustin Bunning, Territory Manager11 N 26th StBillings, MT 59101Phone: (800) 247-1161www.csa-inc.netDocument Pro-Indexing and Imaging Solution

D.A. Davidson & CoGerald Spethman, Jr111 North 102nd Court, Suite 300Omaha, NE 68114E-mail: [email protected]: (402) 392-7933Financing

DeMersseman Jensen Tellinghuisen Stanton & Huffman, LLPRoger Tellinghuisen516 Fifth StreetRapid City, SD 57701E-mail: [email protected]: (605) 342-2814Law Firm

Eide BaillyDanny Reynolds200 E 10th St Ste 500Sioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 977 - 2742E-mail: [email protected] Services

Election Systems & SoftwareMike Hoversten, Regional Acct Mgt11208 John Galt Blvd.Omaha, NE 68137Phone: (612) 940-5962E-mail: [email protected] Equipment, Supplies and Services

Hagan Benefits, Inc.Jeff Pederson, President1741 S Cleveland Ave, Ste 200Sioux Falls, SD 57103Phone: (605) 334-1030www.hagangroup.comAdministrator and Marketing forSouth Dakota Public Assurance Alli-ance (liability and property pool)

hal Systems CorporationKathy Taylor, Consultant8111 Lyndon B. Johnson Frwy, #860Dallas, TX 75251E-mail: [email protected]: (303) 791-5688 or(800) 442-9273Fax: (214) 691-4730www.halFILE.comwww.CountyRecords.comAffordable records management

Insurance Benefits, Inc.Karen Ripperda,SDML WC Fund Administrator4901 Isabel Place, Ste 110Sioux Falls, SD 57108Phone: (800) 233-9073www.sdmlwcfund.comSDML Worker’s Compensation Fund

Legal Support ServicesSteve Polley19 Nickel PlaceSpearfish, SD 57783Phone: (800) 583-0365

McLeod's Printing & Office SupplyBrad Zimmerman1011 S EdgertonMitchell, SD 57301Phone: (800) 952-2201Printing

Microfilm Imaging Systems, Inc.Curt Reiter2530 Harney StOmaha, NE 68131Phone: (402) 346-7211Document Imaging & Scanning, Scan Plats & Maps, Service & Sell Micro-film Equipment

Northland Securities, LLC215 W Sioux AvenuePierre, SD 57501Phone: (877) 224-5557www.northlandsecurities.comPublic Finance

Pierre Area Chamber of CommerceLaura Schoen Carbonneau, CEO800 W Dakota AvePierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-7361www.pierre.org

PryntCommTom Roberts, Sales Manager303 E. Sioux AvePierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 224-9999www.pryntcomm.comCommercial printing

Ramkota Hotels of SDGloriann Kueter3211 W Sencore DriveSioux Falls, SD 57101Phone: (605) 965-1423www.regency-mgmt.comHotels, Restaurants, Conference Centers

Risty BenefitsRoger R. Risty,PresidentPO Box 90335Sioux Falls, SD 57118Phone: (605) 338-1489www.ristybenefits.comEmployee Benefits – Medical plans, Life, Disability, Homeowners/Auto Workers Compensation Commercial Casualty

SimplifileDallen MinerVice President4844 North 300 West, Ste, 202Provo, UT 84604E-mail: [email protected]: (800) 460-5657Fax: (801) 373-1417www.simplifile.comProvider of e-recording services

Software Services Inc.Patti Guthrie614 N Kiwanis AveSioux Falls, SD 57104Phone: (605) 334-5200

TriMin Government SolutionsBill Juergens, Account Executive2277 Hwy 36 West, Suite 101ERoseville, MN 55113E-mail: [email protected]: (651) 604-3617www.trimingov.comLand Records Management Systems Cashiering, Web Access, e-recording, Auto Indexing, Imag-ing, Redaction

Tyler Technologies - Local Govt Brad King, Territory Sales Manager4021 W 23rd St.Sioux City, IA 51103E-mail: [email protected]: (712) 258-1143 or(800) 747-8649www.tylertech.com

Ultra Inc./Connecting PointDoreen Singrey504 Jenson Ave SEWatertown, SD 57201Phone: (800) 529-5500www.connectingpoint.bizCounty Software, HardwareNetworking

Wells Fargo Real Estate Tax ServiceTheresa Sheerin,Client ServiceOne Home Campus Mac #X2301-026Des Moines, IA 50328Phone: (800) 499-4829 ext. 40550Procure & payment of real estate taxes

PeriodicalSD Ass’n of County Commissioners211 E Prospect AvePierre, SD 57501Ph: 605-224-4554, 1-800-439-5672Fax: 605-224-4833email: [email protected]

All we cover are South DakotaPublic Entities. You are our business.

Endorsed by:

For More Information Contact:

Hagan Benefits, Inc.Celebrating 25 Years of Service!Liability & Property877-273-1712www.hagangroup.com

For More InformationContact:

Workers’ Compensation800-233-9073

www.sdmlwcfund.com

Sponsored by:SD Association of

County Commissioners

Specializing inWorkers’ Compensation

forPublic Entities

Stable Rates Financial Stability Investment in SD

Banks Free Loss Control

Your County AssociationSponsored Program

South Dakota PublicAssurance AllianceCelebrating 25 Yearsof Service

The MAJORITY of the CountyOfficials protect their Tax Payers byhaving their Liability and PropertyCoverages through the SDPAA.

We have broad specializedcoverage for public entities inthe following areas:• General Liability• Automobile Liability• Automobile Physical Damage• Public Officials Liability• Law Enforcement Liability• Property Coverage• Boiler CoverageVolunteers, Appointed andElected Officials are included.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

South Dakota Counties211 E ProspectPierre, SD 57501Ph: 605-224-4554, 1-800-439-5672Fax: 605-224-4833email: [email protected]: [email protected]

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAberdeen, SDPermit No. 200

Documents

March County Comment