PENNINGTON COUNTY 
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MINUTES
August 25, 2009

A Special Meeting of the Pennington County Board of Commissioners was held on Tuesday, 
August 25, 2009, in the Commissioners' meeting room of the Pennington County Courthouse.  
Chairperson Brenda Young called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. with the following 
Commissioners present:  Gale Holbrook, Jim Kjerstad, Ethan Schmidt, and Nancy Trautman.

2010 BUDGET DISCUSSION

DAKOTA LEGAL PLAINS SERVICES:  MOVED by Kjerstad and seconded by Trautman to 
leave the present contract unchanged at the funding level of $186,000.  Vote:  Unanimous.

ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARY:  MOVED by Schmidt and seconded by Trautman to request 
a proposal for a wage study with the first part being for elected officials and following with a full 
scale wage study.  The RFP should include a cafeteria-style bid.  Request by Schmidt to 
withdraw Motion.  No objection.  Motion withdrawn.

MOVED by Schmidt and seconded by Trautman to request a proposal for a wage study for 
elected officials only.  Vote:  Unanimous.

REGRADE, RECLASS & SALARY FREEZE:  MOVED by Trautman and seconded by 
Kjerstad to rescind the motion of the August 4, 2009 Board of Commissioners’ meeting to freeze 
salaries of all elected officials, department heads, chief deputies, and assistants to (department 
heads), and reclassifications and regrades of county employees.  Vote:  Yes:  Holbrook, Kjerstad, 
Trautman, and Young.  No:  Schmidt.  Motion passes 4 to 1.

PROPOSED COUNTY LIBRARY AT WDTI

MOVED by Kjerstad and seconded by Trautman to express interest in proceeding with a 
potential bond of up to 1 Million to Western Dakota Technical Institute for a library.  Vote:  
Unanimous.

BUILDING PROJECTS

MOVED by Trautman and seconded by Kjerstad to allocate in the 2010 budget an additional 
$150,000 to capitol improvement projects to be spent only on those projects.  Vote:  Unanimous.

COMMISSIONER BUDGET

MOVED by Trautman and seconded by Holbrook to restore $100 back to the commissioners’ 
salary for a total of $1100 per month.  Vote:  Unanimous.

HIGHWAY BUDGET

MOVED by Kjerstad and seconded by Holbrook to increase the Highway budget by $400,000 to 
offset lost revenue from continual annexations, TIF programs, and road districts from General 
Fund into Road & Bridge.  Vote:  Yes:  Holbrook, Kjerstad, Trautman, and Young.  No:  
Schmidt.  Motion passes 4 to 1.

FAIR BOND PAYMENT

MOVED by Kjerstad and seconded by Schmidt to move the bond payment for the Fair to 
General Fund.  Request by Kjerstad to withdraw the Motion.  No objection.  Motion withdrawn.  

ADJOURN

MOVED by Trautman and seconded by Schmidt to adjourn the meeting at 12:00 noon.   

Julie A. Pearson, Auditor

Published once at the total approximate cost of _______________.

Publish:   September 9, 2009

August 25, 2009




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