LEGAL NOTICES

PLEASE NOTE:  Legal Notices are “perfected” by publication in the county’s designated newspaper, The Miller Press.

Any differences between the content here and in the Miller Press are not intentional and the published version shall be considered official.  These notices are here as a matter of law and courtesy.

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NOTICE OF POST-ELECTION AUDIT

 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a post-election audit of the Hand County General Election, Precincts 1 shall be held in the commission chambers, second floor of the courthouse on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 beginning at 7:00 P.M.

The purpose of the post-election audit is to compare the results of the tabulating equipment to the results of the manually counted ballots for the same precinct.

During the canvass of the election, Precinct 1 was selected and the results of Initiated Measure 29 and Amendment G will be audited by the five-person board.  Additionally, although not required, the auditor board will also review the presidential race.

The post-election audit is a public meeting and will be streamed live on the Hand County Auditor’s YouTube channel with a link on the County’s Facebook page.

Authority:  Doug DeBoer – Auditor

Posted 11/10/24

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NOTICE OF TESTING AUTOMATIC TABULATING EQUIPMENT

Notice is hereby given that the automatic tabulating equipment will be tested to ascertain that it will correctly count the votes for all offices and measures that are to be cast at the primary election held on the 5th day of November 2024.

The test will be conducted on the 30th day of October, 2024, at 3:00 o’clock p.m. at the following location: Hand County Courthouse, Second Floor, Commission Chambers, 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, South Dakota.

This test is open to the public.  The process will also be streamed live on the Hand County Auditor’s YouTube channel with a link posted on the county’s Facebook page.

Dated this 9th day of October 2024       /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

10/09/24

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NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION

A General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in all the voting precincts in Hand County.  The election polls will be open from seven a.m. to seven p.m. central daylight savings time on the day of the election.  The polling place in each precinct of this county is as follows:

Precinct # 1      Includes the townships of Plato, Wheaton, Burdette, Gilbert, York, Saint Lawrence (including Saint Lawrence Town), Grand (Including that portion of Wessington in Hand County), Hulbert, Pearl, Hiland, Rose Hill, Bates and Spring Lake.  These voters will vote at the Doug Schiltz home located at 19951 369th Avenue, Wessington which is just west of Vayland and south of the railroad tracks.

Precinct # 2      Includes that portion of the City of Miller east of SD HWY 45 / Broadway Avenue between 4th Street SE (Miller Legion grounds) and East 9th Street (Subway corner), then straight east to the city limits, then south, southeasterly following the city limits to East 7th Street (northeast of Miller school campus), south following 7th Avenue (east side of the Miller school campus) to 2nd East (County Highway warehouse corner), then following the city limits to the west, south west until arriving back at SD HWY 45 / Broadway Avenue.  These voters will vote at the Miller Community Center located at 526 North Broadway Avenue in Miller.

Precinct # 3      Includes that portion of the City of Miller west of SD HWY 45 / Broadway Avenue from 4th Street SE to 9th Street (Subway corner), then east but on the north side of the street / alley to the east city limits, then north along the city limits boundary to East 15th Street and 3rd Avenue, then north to the north city limits (includes the industrial park lots), then west to SD HWY 45 (Forman Bus Sales).  It then follows the highway south and west to the Ree Creek crossing under US HWY 14.  From that point, it follows the city limits as it meanders south and returns to the point of origin at the Miller Legion Grounds corner.  These voters will also vote at the Miller Community Center located at 526 North Broadway Avenue in Miller.

Precinct # 4      Includes the townships of Pleasant Valley, Mondamin, Como, Cedar, Glendale, Ohio, Logan, Rockdale, Spring Hill and that portion of the City of Miller not within Precincts 2 and all of Miller township outside the city limits of Miller.  These voters will vote in the east gymnasium of the Sunshine Bible Academy.

Precinct # 5      Includes the townships of Harrison, Spring, Park, Linn, Carlton, Howell, Fairview, Ontario, Campbell, Alden, Florence, Holden, Alpha, Greenleaf, Riverside, Ree Heights (including the town of Ree Heights) and Midland.  These voters will vote at the former Polo School Building).

Any voter who needs assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact the county auditor’s office at 605-853-2182 before the election for information on polling place accessibility for people with disabilities.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Hand County Auditor [SDCL: 12-12-1]

10/09/24

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NOTICE OF DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

Voter registration for the Primary Election to be held on November 5, 2024, will close on October 21, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Failure to register by this date will cause forfeiture of voting rights for this election. If you are in doubt about whether you are registered, check the Voter Information Portal at www.sdsos.gov or call the county auditor at 605–853-2182.

Registration may be completed during regular business hours at the county auditor’s office, municipal finance office, secretary of state’s office, and those locations which provide driver’s licenses, SNAP, TANF, WIC, military recruitment, and assistance to the disabled as provided by the Department of Human Services. You may contact the county auditor to request a mail-in registration form or access a mail-in form at www.sdsos.gov.

Any voter who needs assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact the county auditor for information and special assistance in voter registration.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – County Auditor

Hand County South Dakota

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of the Hand County Board of County Commissioners will take place on Wednesday, September 25, at 5:00 P.M. in the commission, second floor of the courthouse.

The primary purpose of the special meeting is to formally adopt the 2025 provisional budget as the official proposed budget for the coming calendar year.  The second purpose is to conduct a public hearing to receive feedback on the proposed Hand County Five Year Road Improvement Plan.

The public is welcome to attend this and any other public meetings of the board.

An agenda and link to the video stream will be posted on the county’s Facebook page and the commission webpage located at https://hand.sdcounties.org/commission/agendas/

Doug DeBoer – County Auditor

Published in The Miller Press September 14 & 21

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners of Hand County will meet during regular session, in the commission chambers of the courthouse (415 W. 1^st Avenue, Miller, SD) on Tuesday September 3, 2024 beginning at 1:00 P.M.  At 2:00 P.M. or as soon as thereafter the commissioners will consider the foregoing PROVISIONAL BUDGET for the calendar / budget year 2025 and the various items, schedules, amounts and appropriations set forth therein and as many days thereafter as to be deemed necessary until the final adoption of the budget on the 26^th day of September, 2024.

At such time any interested person may appear either in person or by a representative and will given an opportunity for a full and complete discussion of all purposes, objects, items, schedules, appropriations, estimates, amounts and matters set forth and contained in the PROVISIONAL BUDGET.

Signed this 20^th day of August and to be published in The Miller Press August 24^th and August 31^st 2024.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

Appropriations by department / function followed by means of finance for each department / function.

PROVISIONAL BUDGET FOR HAND COUNTY, SD for the year January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.

Published in the Miller Press on 08/24/2024 & 08/31/2024

Click here to see the graphic.

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NOTICE OF REQUIREMENT TO CLEAR TOWNSHIP ROAD DITCHES

 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to South Dakota Codified Law 31-31-2, “The owner or occupant of any land abutting or adjoining upon township roads shall cut, remove, or destroy or cause to cut, removed, or destroyed, grass, weeds, trees, and brush growing on or in the right-of-way of such roads…”  Failure to comply is a petty offense.

NOTICE FURTHER GIVEN that SDCL 31-31-3 specifies that such work shall be completed between September 1 and October 1 of each year, “or between dates annually fixed by the [township] board of supervisors”.  Should the occupant or landowner fail to perform such work, SDCL 31-31-5, the board of township supervisors “…may employ a person or persons to immediately cut and remove the grass, weeds, trees, and brush…” and SDCL 31-31-6 grants authority to the township board of supervisors to recover the expense in that, “The amount shall be extended on the tax list…and shall become a tax on the land adjoining the highway”

Owners or occupants are encouraged to contact their township boards or if in within the unorganized territory of Hand County, the Hand County commission, for additional information.

Authority /s/ Doug DeBoer, County Auditor

Published in the Miller Press on 08/24/2024.

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NOTICE OF SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following surplus property will be sold at public auction via the Purple Wave Auction service.  Purple Wave is an online auction platform.  Persons wishing to bid on the items will need to register for an account prior to bidding.  The Purple Wave website is:  www.purplewave.com.  The login or register link is in the upper righthand corner of the home page.

Those without online access can visit the Hand County Library during business hours to use their public access computer equipment.  The address is 402 North Broadway Avenue, Miller, South Dakota.

Item 1: 2012 Mack CXU613 semi-truck.  VIN: 1M1AW09Y0CM018152, 617,758 (computer miles), 33,396 (speedometer miles), 19,395 hours.  Direct URL: https://www.purplewave.com/auction/240813/item/OD9601/2012-Mack-CXU613-Trucks-Truck_Tractor-South_Dakota (more details and photos in listing)

Item 2: 2012 Mack CXU613 semi-truck.  VIN: 1M1AW09Y6CM018141, 561,324 miles, 17,067 hours.  Direct URL: https://www.purplewave.com/auction/240813/item/OD9601/2012-Mack-CXU613-Trucks-Truck_Tractor-South_Dakota (more details and photos in listing)

Inspection of the two items can be done by contacting the highway department during business hours.  Call 605-853-3292 (M-Th) 8-5 to schedule an inspection.  The highway department will not proxy for bidders.

The online auction will close on August 13, 2024.

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners in and for Hand County will hold a special meeting on Wednesday July 10^th, 2024, beginning at 7:00 PM.  The meeting will be held in the commission chambers, second floor of the courthouse.

The meeting will also be available on the auditor’s YouTube channel with a link on the county’s Facebook page.

The main topic will be planning for the 2025 annual budget through the adoption of a provisional budget.  Other business may also be added to the agenda.

All meetings of the county commission are open to the public.

Authority:  Doug DeBoer, Auditor

07.04.2024

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NOTICE RELATED TO STORM DAMAGES 

(June 20th through June 22nd)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that any town or township which suffered damage as the result of the rain and subsequent flash flooding and continued flooding during the period of June 20^th through June 22^nd, 2024 will need to start and have their pre-disaster assessment (PDA) ready because they will be due at the office of South Dakota Office of Emergency Management within two (2) weeks of the Governor declaring the event a state level disaster, which triggers a request for federal aid through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the pre-disaster assessment will become your post-disaster request for assistance and the preferred method of recording your damage assessment is by use of “CRISIS TRACK”.  Crisis Track is online platform for recording damages and submitting them directly into the system.  If your town or township is not currently on the Crisis Track platform, you will need to contact the Hand County Emergency Manager (605-204-0267) as soon as possible.

If the Governor has not yet declared a state level disaster by the time this notice is published, the two-week time period starts following the formal declaration whenever made.

Town or township boards that have any questions or concerns related to this event are encouraged to contact the emergency manager (605-204-0267 or [email protected]) as soon a possible to ensure your questions or concerns are addressed timely.

Authority:  Arlen Gortmaker, Emergency Manager for Hand & Buffalo Counties. (June 26, 2024)

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NOTICE OF POST-ELECTION AUDIT

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a post-election audit of the Hand County Primary Elections, precincts 1 and 3 shall be held in the commission chambers, second floor of the courthouse on Thursday, June 20, 2024 beginning at 7:00 P.M.

The purpose of the post-election audit is to compare the results of the tabulating equipment to the results of the manually counted ballots for the same precincts.

Although only a portion of the precincts is required to be audited (Precincts 1 & 3), the audit board will audit all five precincts of Hand County.  There were three contests on the ballots, Democratic Presidential race, South Dakota House of Representatives race and South Dakota Senate race.

The post-election audit is a public meeting and will be streamed live on the Hand County Auditor’s YouTube channel with a link on the County’s Facebook page.

Authority:  Doug DeBoer – Auditor

Posted:  06.11.2024

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NOTICE OF PRIMARY ELECTION

A Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in all the voting precincts in Hand County.  The election polls will be open from seven a.m. to seven p.m. central daylight savings time on the day of the election.  The polling place in each precinct of this county is as follows:

 

Precinct # 1        Includes the townships of Plato, Wheaton, Burdette, Gilbert, York, Saint Lawrence (including Saint Lawrence Town), Grand (Including that portion of Wessington in Hand County), Hulbert, Pearl, Hiland, Rose Hill, Bates and Spring Lake.  These voters will vote at the Doug Schiltz home located at 19951 369th Avenue, Wessington which is just west of Vayland and south of the railroad tracks.

 

Precinct # 2        Includes that portion of the City of Miller east of SD HWY 45 / Broadway Avenue between 4th Street SE (Miller Legion grounds) and East 9th Street (Subway corner), then straight east to the city limits, then south, southeasterly following the city limits to East 7th Street (northeast of Miller school campus), south following 7th Avenue (east side of the Miller school campus) to 2nd East (County Highway warehouse corner), then following the city limits to the west, south west until arriving back at SD HWY 45 / Broadway Avenue.  These voters will vote at the Miller Community Center located at 526 North Broadway Avenue in Miller.

 

Precinct # 3        Includes that portion of the City of Miller west of SD HWY 45 from 4th Street to 9th Street (Subway corner), then east but on the north side of the street / alley to the east city limits, then north along the city limits boundary to East 15th Street and 3rd Avenue, then north to the north city limits (includes the industrial park lots), then west to SD HWY 45 (Forman Bus Sales).  It then follows the highway south and west to the Ree Creek crossing under US HWY 14.  From that point, it follows the city limits as it meanders south and returns to the point of origin at the Miller Legion Grounds corner.  These voters will also vote at the Miller Community Center located at 526 North Broadway Avenue in Miller.

 

Precinct # 4        Includes the townships of Pleasant Valley, Mondamin, Como, Cedar, Glendale, Ohio, Logan, Rockdale, Spring Hill and that portion of the City of Miller not within Precincts 2 and all of Miller township outside the city limits of Miller.  These voters will vote in the east gymnasium of the Sunshine Bible Academy.

 

Precinct # 5        Includes the townships of Harrison, Spring, Park, Linn, Carlton, Howell, Fairview, Ontario, Campbell, Alden, Florence, Holden, Alpha, Greenleaf, Riverside, Ree Heights (including the town of Ree Heights) and Midland.  These voters will vote at the Richard Clement Post 299 of Polo South Dakota, located at 35413 SD HWY 26, Orient (Polo).

 

Any voter who needs assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact the county auditor’s office at 605-853-2182 before the election for information on polling place accessibility for people with disabilities.

 

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Hand County Auditor [SDCL: 12-12-1]

05/21/24

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NOTICE OF CHANGE IN POLLING PLACE

PRECINCT 5

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the location for Precinct 5 voting has changed from the Polo gym to the Richard Clement Post 299 of Polo South Dakota which is located at 35413 SD HWY 26, Orient (Polo).  A “Vote Here” banner will be positioned at the driveway entrance to the property.

All voting / poll activities which would have taken place at the Polo Gym will now be held at the Legion building.  This change is the result of a scheduling conflict beyond our control.

Authority:  Doug DeBoer – Auditor

05/21/24

 

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NOTICE OF TESTING AUTOMATIC TABULATING EQUIPMENT

Notice is hereby given that the automatic tabulating equipment will be tested to ascertain that it will correctly count the votes for all offices and measures that are to be cast at the primary election held on the 4th day of June, 2024.

The test will be conducted on the 29th day of May, 2024, at 3:00 o’clock p.m. at the following location: Hand County Courthouse, Second Floor, Commission Chambers, 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, South Dakota.

This test is open to the public.  The process will also be streamed live on the Hand County Auditor’s YouTube channel with a link posted on the county’s Facebook page.

Dated this 21st day of May, 2024              /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE OF DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

Voter registration for the Primary Election to be held on June 4, 2024, will close on May 20, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Failure to register by this date will cause forfeiture of voting rights for this election. If you are in doubt about whether you are registered, check the Voter Information Portal at www.sdsos.gov or call the county auditor at 605–853-2182.

Registration may be completed during regular business hours at the county auditor’s office, municipal finance office, secretary of state’s office, and those locations which provide driver’s licenses, SNAP, TANF, WIC, military recruitment, and assistance to the disabled as provided by the Department of Human Services. You may contact the county auditor to request a mail-in registration form or access a mail-in form at www.sdsos.gov.

Any voter who needs assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact the county auditor for information and special assistance in voter registration.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – County Auditor

Hand County South Dakota

• Posted 04.15.2024
• 1st Publication 04.27.24
• 2nd Publication 05.04.24

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ATTENTION TAXPAYERS:

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF $0.80 PER $1,000 OF VALUATION

 THE GOVERNING BOARD OF HAND COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA states that the above said board is unable to properly maintain, repair, construct, and reconstruct roads and bridges in HAND COUNTY. Law now permits the governing board of said entity to establish a tax amount which may be levied and such amount can increase each year with the amount of inflation and new construction. Therefore, the board does now establish a base property tax in the amount of $ 0.80 per $1,000 of taxable value starting with calendar year 2024 taxes payable in the calendar year 2025. This action has been taken by the board and approved by at least a two-thirds vote of the board.

This decision may be referred to a vote of the people upon a petition signed by at least five percent of the registered voters in the district and filed with the governing body [at the county auditor’s office] within twenty days of the second publication of this decision.

Unless this action is referred to a vote of the people and reversed by such vote, this resolution authorizes the county auditor to spread a levy to raise tax dollars in the above stated amount, allowing for percentage increases from inflation and new construction in subsequent years.

Signed:

/s/: Jim Eschenbaum, Board Chairman

/s/: Greg Palmer, Board Member

/s/: Daniel Jensen, Board Member

/s/: Luke Wernsmann, Board Member

/s/: Jim Jones, Board Member

ATTEST: /s/: Doug DeBoer, Auditor

DATED: APRIL 2, 2024

Date of 1^st Publication:  04/06/2024

Date of 2^nd Publication: 04/13/2024

Published online: 04/03/2024

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RESOLUTION 2024-10

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF $0.80 PER $1,000 TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUE

 

A RESOLUTION FOR THE IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION

OF A ROAD AND BRIDGE TAX LEVY IN HAND COUNTY

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to SDCL 10-12-13, “The board of county commissioners may levy an annual tax as a reserve fund to be accumulated and used for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, constructing, and reconstructing roads and bridges as follows:

• A levy not to exceed one dollar and twenty cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation, if the total

taxable valuation of the county is one billion dollars or less;

• A levy not to exceed ninety cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation, if the total taxable valuation

of the county is more than one billion dollars but less than two billion dollars; and

• A levy not to exceed sixty cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation, if the total taxable valuation

of the county is two billion dollars or more.

Money in the fund may be expended in the laying out, marking, maintaining, constructing, and reconstructing roads and maintaining, constructing, and reconstructing bridges, under the jurisdiction of the board of county commissioners. The tax levy shall be in addition to all other levies authorized to be made by the board of county commissioners for road and bridge purposes provided for in § 10-12-21. The proceeds of such levy shall be placed in a special fund to be known as the county highway and bridge reserve fund. Any increased tax levy imposed pursuant to this section is exempt from the provisions of chapter 10-13, if the county establishes the amount of revenue payable from taxes on real property pursuant to § 10-12-13.1.

The total amount of revenue payable from any increased tax levy imposed pursuant to this section may increase no more than the lesser of three percent or the index factor, as defined in § 10-13-38, over the amount of revenue payable in the preceding year. After applying the index factor, a county may increase the revenue payable from taxes on real property above the limitations provided by this section by the percentage increase of value resulting from any improvements or change in use of real property and any adjustments in taxation of property separately classified and subject to statutory adjustments and reductions under chapters 10-4, 10-6, 10-6A, and 10-6B, except § 10-6-113, only if assessed the same as property of equal value”; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to SDCL 10-12-13.1, “The governing body of the county may, by resolution, impose the increased tax levy provided in § 10-12-13 with an affirmative two-thirds vote of the governing body on or before July fifteenth. The action of the governing body to authorize an increased tax levy shall be published within ten days of the action and shall be published at least twice in each legal newspaper designated by the county. The action to authorize an increased tax levy is subject to the referendum process in accordance with chapter 7-18A.

The governing body of the county may continue to impose the increased tax levy authorized by this section in subsequent years in accordance with the limitation on the amount of revenue payable from property taxes provided under § 10-12-13.

The governing body of the county may increase the amount of revenue payable from property taxes in excess of the limitation provided under § 10-12-13 if the increased tax levy is authorized by the governing body of the county in accordance with the requirements of this section.”; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to SDCL 10-12-14, “Payment to municipalities from federal matching-aid levy. In all municipalities, twenty-five percent of the money raised by the levy made pursuant to § 10-12-13 within said municipalities shall be paid by the county treasurer to the treasurer of said municipality to be expended by the governing body of said municipality for bridge and street purposes within said municipality.”; and

WHEREAS, inflation, material and fuel costs have caused maintenance and construction costs to increase significantly, reducing the amount of work that can be done with current funding sources; and

WHEREAS, The Road and Bridge Fund has been operating at a deficit for at least five years; and

WHEREAS, continuing to operate in this manner is adversely impacting the county.

WHEREAS, the Hand County Commission has determined that the Road & Bridge Department must remain operational for continued maintenance of our roads and the safety of our travelers.

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE HAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS that a Road & Bridge Tax is imposed in and for Hand County, SD as follows:

Section 1.        Pursuant to SDCL 10-12-13, a Road and Bridge tax is imposed upon all property owners as defined in SDCL 10-12-13 and registered in Hand County as follows: A levy of 0.80 cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation; and

Section 2.        Pursuant to SDCL 10-12-13, the proceeds from such Road & Bridge tax shall be retained by the County, deposited in the County Road and Bridge Reserve Fund, and the revenue shall be used only for Road & Bridge Department Fund expenses.

Section 3.        The collection of the Road and Bridge tax imposed by this Resolution shall commence on January 1, 2025, for all taxable properties and shall continue for all subsequent months thereafter.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, this Resolution is necessary for the support of the county government and its existing public institutions.

Roll Call Vote:  Palmer voted yes, Jensen voted yes, Wernsmann voted yes, Jones voted yes, Eschenbaum voted yes.

Dated this 2nd day of April, 2024, at Miller, Hand County, South Dakota

HAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS [-] BY: /s/: Jim Eschenbaum, Chairman [-] Attest: /s/: Doug DeBoer, Auditor

This decision may be referred to a vote of the people upon a petition signed by at least five percent of the registered voters in the county and filed with the auditor within twenty days of the second publication of this decision.

Unless this action is referred to a vote of the people and reversed by such vote, this resolution authorizes the county auditor to spread a levy to raise tax dollars in the above stated amount, allowing for percentage increase from inflation and new construction in subsequent years.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the Board of Hand County Commissioners will meet in the Commission Chambers at Miller, South Dakota, on April 2, and hold a public hearing between 1:00 p.m. and adjournment, pursuant to SDCL 7-21-22, for the purpose of adopting the following supplements to the 2024 Budget: A supplement adding to the Highway Budget in the amount of $143,442.08; the sum received from the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management using both Federal / FEMA ($126,566.54 – CFDA 97.036) and State ($16,875.54).  Said funds were received as the result of damage to a bridge during the 2023 Spring Flooding (FEMA-4718-DR-SD).

The funding received will be used to repair a bridge on 176^th Street in Plato Township.  The remaining portion of the cost, $25,313.31, will be the responsibility of Hand County.

The public hearing is open to all interested parties. Anyone unable to attend the public hearing can submit written comments to the Hand County Auditor at 415 W. 1^st Ave., Suite 202, Miller, SD 57013. Written comments will be reported to the County Commission on the date of the hearing. Individuals needing special accommodations are asked to contact the Hand County Auditor at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. Any interested person may appear either in person or by a representative.

Dated this 15th day of March 2024.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

Posted 03/19/24

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NOTICE OF MEETING OF COUNTY EQUALIZATION BOARD

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners, sitting as a Consolidated Board of Equalization of Hand County, South Dakota will meet in the Commissioners’ Chambers in said County on Tuesday, the 9th day of April, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. for the purpose of reviewing, correcting and equalizing the assessment of said County for the year 2025 and shall continue in session and may adjourn from time to time until all properly filed appeals have been determined and equalization is completed but no later than April 30, 2024.

All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment, are required to submit written notice to the Hand County Auditor-415 W. 1^st Avenue, Suite 202, Miller, SD 57362 no later than April 2, 2024.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Hand County Auditor

Posted: 03/19/24

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Hand County Tax Exempt Organizations  2024

 

[10-4-15.1. Publication of list of tax–exempt property.

The director of equalization shall publish at least six days prior to the last Tuesday of March of each year in the official newspapers published in the county a list showing the legal owner, utilization, and a description of all property for which tax–exempt status is claimed under §§ 10-4-9 to 10-4-14, inclusive.]

2024 Tax Exempt

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF ANNUAL TOWNSHIP MEETINGS The citizens of the Townships of Hand County, South Dakota who are qualified to vote at the general election are hereby given notice that the annual township meeting of said townships will be held on: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 as follows:

ALDEN: Rob Schlecther’s home @ 7p.  ALPHA at Gary Wagner’s Shop @ 7p.  BATES: Lee Allen Teveldal’s home @ 2p.  BURDETTE: Shirley Schultz’s home @ 1:30p.  CAMPBELL: Dave Pratt’s home @ 7p.  CARLTON: Jonathan Hurd’s home @ 2p.  CEDAR: Arlen Harvey’s home @ 7p.  COMO: Werdel’s Shop @ 6p.  FAIRVIEW: School @ 7p.  FLORENCE: Brueggeman’s shop @ 7p.  GILBERT: Max Conkey’s home @ 7:00p.  GLENDALE: Robert Tong’s home @ 7:30p.  GRAND: Dan Schilling’s home @ 7p.  GREENLEAF: Chuck Steptoe’s home @ 7p.  HILAND: Daniel Keck’s home @ 8p.  HOLDEN: Kelvin Grey’s home @ 7p.  HOWELL: Lee Naber’s home @ 7p.  HULBERT: Roy Mehling’s home @ 7p.  LINN: Bruce Hoffman’s home @ 7:30p.  LOGAN: Don Pugh’s home @ 1:30p.  MIDLAND: Dan Koeck’s home @ 7p.  MILLER: Courthouse @ 1p.  MONDAMIN: Terry Johnson’s home @ 7:30p.  OHIO: Jim Eschenbaum’s home @ 7p.  ONTARIO: Cory McKinstry’s garage @ 7p.  PARK: House on SE 1/4 28-116-68 @ 2p.  PEARL: Eric Fanning’s home @ 7:30p.   PLATO: Kevin Harr’s home @ 1:30p.  PLEASANT VALLEY: Doug Edwards’ home @ 7p. REE HEIGHTS: Eagle Pass Lodge @ 7p. RIVERSIDE: Melvin Gimbel’s home @ 7:30p.  ROCKDALE: Neil Stevens’ shop @ 7:30p.  ROSE HILL: Lori Boomsma’s home @ 7:30p.  SAINT LAWRENCE: Saint Lawrence Fire Hall @ 1p.  SPRING: Becky Martinmaas’s home @ 7p. SPRING HILL: Dennis Fawcett’s home @ 7p.  SPRING LAKE: Brian Winter’s home @ 7p.  WHEATON: Landon & Anita Bushong’s home @ 1p.  YORK: Ranch Café @ 1:30p.

 

The purpose of this meeting is to elect one Supervisor for a three-year term; one Clerk, one Treasurer, set levies and to do any business proper to be done at said meeting when convened.

Posted 02/21/24

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that competitive bids and non-competitive bids are being sought for the following commodities and services for a period which begins in March 1, 2024 and ends March 31, 2025.  All items are F.O.B to the county seat of Miller unless specified differently.

Non-competitive / non-exclusive bids are being sought by the county highway department for backhoe, excavator (track hoe), and crane, based on an hourly rate for the equipment and operator with transportation calculated into the hourly rate.  Bidders are to specify the size, type and details of their equipment.

Non-competitive / non-exclusive bids are being sought by the county highway department for semi-truck and flatbed trailer, semi-truck and gravel trailer based on a per mile rate. Bidders are to specify the size, type and details of their equipment.

Competitive bids are being sought by the county highway department for an estimated 25,000 gallons of bulk #1 dyed diesel fuel and 50,000 gallons of bulk #2 dyed diesel fuel. Delivery sizes shall be no less than 1,700 gallons and no more than 2,000 gallons.

Competitive bids are being sought by the county highway department for approximately 1500 Tons of AE150, 600 Tons of CRS-2 and 100 Tons of MC-3000 either separately or together.

Competitive bids are being sought by the county courthouse (janitorial department) for bulk furnace fuel, delivered to the county courthouse, for the projected amount of 15,000 gallons delivered in 4,000 to 7,000 gallon increments.

Competitive bids are being sought by the county for gasoline and diesel fuel, dispensed in Miller at metered pumps available every hour of the day.  Bids should be submitted as a discount per gallon off the pump price.  Additionally, all taxable deductions are to be administered by the vendor.

Competitive bids are being sought by the county for gravel crushing bid at price per ton.  Hand County may strip and reclaim pits.  Hand County will designate the location and quantities needed at each pit.  The 5/8” and ¾” crushed gravel shall conform to section 881.2 type 3 (A&B) of the SDDOT STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, 2015 edition.  The ½” crushed gravel shall conform to section 880.2 class D, type 2 of the SDDOT STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, 2015 edition.  All excess oversize rock screened off during crushing operations for Hand County shall be stockpiled and shall be the property of Hand County.  Hand County reserves the right to test all material before payment is made and all materials not conforming to the specifications will be rejected.  Gravel will meet SDDOT specification within the first 1,000 ton crushed and retain that specification. Hand County reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive technicalities, and make award(s) as deemed to be in the best interest of the county.

When submitting bids, the bidder must include in their submission their business name, the point of contact within the business, the business’ full address, the business’ main telephone number, an alternate number if available and an email address.

All bidders must also submit IRS form W-9, a South Dakota Sales Tax license, a copy of their fuel dispensary license and for equipment, their current insurance or bond certificate.

Those submitting bids should have them delivered to the auditor’s office by first class mail by the close of business (5 P.M.) on March 15th, 2024.  Mail to: Hand County Auditor’s Office, 415 W. 1^st Ave., Suite 202, Miller, SD 57362-1377.

Questions for the highway department can be directed to Jeff Hargens at 605-853-3292.  Questions for non-highway department bids can be directed to Doug DeBoer at 605-853-2182. Bids will be opened and read aloud on March 16, 2024 by the auditor and highway superintendent and presented to the county commission for consideration during their April 5^th meeting unless a meeting is held between March 15^th and April 5th.

/s/: Authority Nicole Gortmaker, Deputy Auditor

Posted 02/13/2024

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Notice of Meeting–

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Hand County Commissioners will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday, February 26, 2024 in the Meeting Room of the Miller Community Center, 526 N Broadway Ave, Miller, SD, where there will be a presentation on the possible Road & Bridge Tax Levy. We encourage all interested citizens to attend and ask questions about the current state of the county and the effect a levy would have on each citizen.  No official agenda or decisions will be made at this meeting.  In case of weather we will reschedule for Monday, March 4^th at 7:00 pm.

/s/: Nicole Gortmaker, Deputy Auditor

Posted 02/13/2024

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Notice of Intent to Continue Operation – South County Pit

Notice is hereby given that the Sand/Gravel mining operation being conducted by the Hand County Highway Department, 810 E 2^nd St, Miller, SD 57362-1606 will continue its mining operation located at N1/2 Sec 9; T109N – R68W, Hand County, SD  The general location of the mining operation is 17 miles South of Miller on SD Hwy 45 and then 1 ½ West on 215^th Street. The operation was originally advertised to be completed by 01/01/2025, will be extended to 01/01/2035. Proposed future use of the affected land will remain as originally advertised.  For additional information contact HAND COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT or the SD Dept of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Minerals, Mining & Superfund Program, 523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501-3182, phone 605-773-4201

/s/: Jeff Hargens, Hand County Highway Superintendent

Posted 02/13/2024

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Notice of Intent to Continue Operation– Ufen Pit

Notice is hereby given that the Sand/Gravel mining operation being conducted by the Hand County Highway Department, 810 E 2^nd St, Miller, SD 57362-1606 will continue its mining operation located at N1/2 NE1/4 Section 8; T109N – R68W, Hand County, SD  The general location of the mining operation is South of Miller 17 miles on SD Hwy 45 then 2 miles West on 215^th St.  The operation was originally advertised to be completed by 01/01/2025, will be extended to 01/01/2035.  Proposed future use of the affected land will remain as originally advertised.  For additional information contact HAND COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT or the SD Dept of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Minerals, Mining & Superfund Program, 523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501-3182, phone 605-773-4201

/s/: Jeff Hargens, Hand County Highway Superintendent

Posted 02/13/2024

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Notice of Intent to Continue Operation– Woodruff Pit

Notice is hereby given that the Sand/Gravel mining operation being conducted by the Hand County Highway Department, 810 E 2^nd St, Miller, SD 57362-1606 will continue its mining operation located at SW1/4 Section 31;T110N – R66W, Hand County, SD  The general location of the mining operation is 14 ½ miles South of Vayland on 369^th Ave. The operation was originally advertised to be completed by 01/01/2025, will be extended to 01/01/2035. Proposed future use of the affected land will remain as originally advertised.  For additional information contact HAND COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT or the SD Dept of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Minerals, Mining & Superfund Program, 523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501-3182, phone 605-773-4201

/s/: Jeff Hargens, Hand County Highway Superintendent

Posted 02/13/2024

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Notice of Intent to Continue Operation–  Martinmaas Pit

Notice is hereby given that the Sand/Gravel mining operation being conducted by the Hand County Highway Department, 810 E 2^nd St, Miller, SD 57362-1606 will continue its mining operation located at NE1/4 Section 3: T115N – R70W, Hand County, SD  The general location of the mining operation is approximately 20 miles North of Ree Heights on 348^th Avenue. The operation was originally advertised to be completed by 01/01/2025, will be extended to 01/01/2035. Proposed future use of the affected land will remain as originally advertised.  For additional information contact HAND COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT or the SD Dept of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Minerals, Mining & Superfund Program, 523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501-3182, phone 605-773-4201

/s/: Jeff Hargens, Hand County Highway Superintendent

Posted 02/13/2024

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NOTICE OF COUNTY OWNED LAND LEASE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of Commissioners, Miller, South Dakota, will meet in regular session on the 5^th day of March, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., in the commission chambers of the courthouse, to lease, at public auction, county owned property (in Pleasant Valley Township) described as follows: 40 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the SE ¼, NE ¼ [Record No. 9053], 40 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the NE ¼, SE ¼ [Record No. 9054], 80 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the S ½, SE ¼ [Record No. 9055], 160 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the W ½, W ½ [Record No. 9057], 80 acres, more or less, in 8-109-68, in the N ½, NE ¼ [Record No. 9153]

The lease shall be for a three (3) year period, the terms of the lease shall be cash. Dated this 6^th day of February, 2024.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

posted 02/07/2024

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Auditor’s Office will be closed on February 28 and 29 so that staff may attend training ahead of the 2024 election cycles.

The auditor’s office will reopen on Friday March 1 at 8 A.M.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

posted 02/07/24

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NOTICE OF DEADLINE FOR FILING NOMINATING PETITIONS FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND FOR FILING INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE PETITIONS

The deadline for filing nominating petitions for the primary election is March 26, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. central time. If a petition is mailed by registered mail by March 26, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.  central time, it is considered filed.

The deadline for filing nominating petitions to run as an independent candidate in the primary election is April 30, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. central time. If a petition is mailed by registered mail by April 30, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. central time, it is considered filed. For the offices of Precinct Committeeman, Precinct Committeewoman, County Commissioner – District 2, County Commissioner – District 4, States Attorney, Coroner, Treasurer, Heartland Consumers Power District-Subdivision No. 3, Delegates and Alternates to the National Party Convention, Delegates to the State Party Conventions, nominating petitions must be filed in the office of the Hand County Auditor, and nominating petitions for the offices of  District 23 State House of Representatives and State District 23 Senator, U.S. House of Representatives, Public Utilities Commission and Legislature must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD 57501.

The deadline for filing nominating petitions to run as an independent candidate for president in the general election is August 6, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. central time. If a petition is mailed by registered mail by August 6, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. central time, it is considered filed.

Nominating petitions for the offices of (here list county offices) must be filed in the office of the county auditor during regular business hours. Nominating petitions for the offices of (here list legislative, state, judicial, and federal offices) must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD 57501, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. central time.

/s/: Hand County Auditor Doug DeBoer

Posted 01/17/2024

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NOTICE OF MEETING FOR THE BENEFIT OF CIVIL TOWNSHIPS IN HAND COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting will occur for the benefit of townships in Hand County South Dakota on Friday January 26, 2024 beginning at 3 P.M. sharp.  The meeting will take place in the Hand County Courthouse, Courtroom, Third Floor.

The Hand County Director of Equalization, Auditor, Sheriff and Highway Superintendent (and possibly others) will be present to discuss and answer questions related to townships, in particular, the Rural Access Infrastructure Fund (grant), township annual meetings, township equalization meetings, CPI for 2024 tax levy calculations, opt outs, road and bridge levies and much more.

Special guests will include representatives from the South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships and the South Dakota Local Transportation Assistance Program (SD-LTAP).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that it is possible that more than a quorum of county commissioners may be present during this meeting as spectators but should questions arise for them, this will serve as public notice of that meeting.

Township Chairmen, Clerks and Treasurers are the focus audience but all township board members are welcome to attend.

Authority:  Jaime Russell & Doug DeBoer

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NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUPPLEMENT BUDGETS AND ADMINISTER TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of County Commissioners will hold a budget supplement and/or FUND transfer hearing during the regular commission meeting on December 5, 2023 at or after 1 P.M.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Hand County Board of County Commissioners will also hold a budget supplement and/or FUND transfer hearing during the special, year-end, commission meeting to be held on December 28, 2023 at or after 8 P.M.

The purpose of the two hearings is to make budget and fund modifications which are in the best interest of and out of necessity for the transaction of business for and within the county.

Authority:  Auditor Doug DeBoer

Posted 11/07/2023

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NOTICE OF MEETING SCHEDULE, VENDOR SUBMISSION DEADLINE and YEAR END MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of County Commissioners will meet in regular session on December 5, 2023 at 1 P.M.  in the commission chambers of the courthouse.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that vendors with claims against the county are advised to have their claims presented to the various departments by December 1, 2023 so they can be processed for payment on December 5^th.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that vendors with year-end claims against the county are advised to have their claims presented to the various departments by December 22, 2023 so they can be processed for payment on December 28^th.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a special, year-end, meeting of the county commission will occur on December 28, 2023 at 7 P.M. in the commission chambers of the courthouse.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the January 2024 meeting will take place on January 4, 2024 at 1 P.M. in the commission chambers of the courthouse.

Vendors with questions should contact the departments they are doing business with.

Posted 11/07/23

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NOTICE OF POST ELECTION AUDITS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to statute, Hand County South Dakota will conduct post-election audits for the primary and general elections in the 2024 election cycle.  To facilitate such audits, Hand County will employ Hand County registered voters from each of the major parties to audit the ballots of the primary and general elections in an effort to determine if the ballot tabulators are accurately reporting the votes present on the ballots.

Post-election auditors will count the required number of ballots and the required number of races thereon and then present the results for comparison to the results produced by the election night tabulation.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that Hand County, through its auditor’s office, seeks Hand County registered voters from each of the major parties to submit their names as possible post-election auditors.  Those chosen to be employed will be compensated for their attendance at training and while completing the audit.

Those interested in being considered for the position of post-election auditor should submit their names either by email to [email protected] or by mail to:  Auditor’s Office, 415 W. 1^st Avenue, Suite 202, Miller, South Dakota 57362 prior to November 1, 2023 so the county commission can review the submissions on November 7, 2023.

Dated this 5^th day of October, 2023.

Authority:  Doug DeBoer – Hand County Auditor

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of County Commissioners will meeting in special session for the purpose of discussing and approving the provisional budget for FY2024. The meeting will begin at 7 P.M. on Wednesday September 20, 2023 and be held in the commission chambers of the courthouse.

A public hearing was held on September 5, 2023 during which the commission reviewed the budget requests and determined that the uncertainty of revenues may lead to cuts in expenditures.

Interested parties are welcome to attend or they may watch via YouTube live stream.  Visit www.youtube.com  and search for “Hand County Auditor”.  A link will also appear on the county’s Facebook page.

Authority:  /s/ Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of County Commissioners will hold a hearing during the September 5, 2023 regular meeting, at or shortly after 3 P.M. for the purpose of receiving testimony on the proposed changes to the Hand County Five Year Road Improvement plan.

Interested parties are encouraged to attend and be heard or inquire of commission and staff of the proposed changes. Details on the proposed changed can be obtained in advance by contracting the Hand County Highway Department by calling 605-853-3292, Monday through Thursday and between 8am and 5pm.

Authority:/s/: Jeff Hargens – Highway Superintendent

Published August 26th and September 2nd 2023, at the approximate cost of $8.00 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com.

Posted: 08/24/2023 (Published in the Miller Press on 08/26/23 & 09/2/23)

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners of Hand County, will meet during regular session, in the commission chambers of the courthouse (415 W. 1st Avenue, Miller, SD) on Tuesday September 5, 2023 beginning at 1:00 P.M. At 2:00 P.M. or as soon as thereafter the commissioners will consider the foregoing PROVISIONAL BUDGET for the calendar / budget year 2024 and the various items, schedules, amounts and appropriations set forth therein and as many days thereafter as to be deemed necessary until the final adoption of the budget on the 26th day of September 2023.

At such time any interested person may appear either in person or by a representative and will be given an opportunity for a full and complete discussion of all purposes, objects, items, schedules, appropriations, estimates, amounts and matters set forth and contained in the PROVISIONAL BUDGET.

Signed this 15th day of September 2023 and to be published in THE MILLER PRESS on August 19th and August 26th 2023. /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

Appropriations by Department / Function
PROVISIONAL BUDGET FOR HAND COUNTY, SD
For the Year January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024

Click here to open a PDF file containing the report of the expenditures and revenues.

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Hand County Board of Adjustment Notice of Public Hearing

for A Conditional Use Permit

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held in the commission chambers, on the second floor, of the Hand County Courthouse at 1 p.m. or thereafter, on Tuesday September 5, 2023, for the purpose of the Hand County Zoning Board of Adjustment to hear the Conditional Use Permit application for a 4,800 head deep pit swine barn by Millerdale Hutterian Brethren, Inc. The deep pit swine barn will be located in the SW ¼ 1-110-69, Glendale Township, Hand County.

Dated this 16^th Day of August, 2023.

Signed, Jaime L. Russell, Director of Equalization, Zoning Admin

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NOTICE OF REQUIREMENT TO CLEAR TOWNSHIP ROAD DITCHES

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Sample Ballot for the Secondary Roads District Opt-Out Election on June 27, 2023.  

Click on Image to Enlarge

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NOTICE OF DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

Voter registration for the County’s Secondary Road System Opt Out Election to be held on June 27, 2023 will close on June 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Failure to register by this date will cause forfeiture of voting rights for this election. If you are in doubt about whether you are registered, check the Voter Information Portal at www.sdsos.gov or call the county auditor at 605-853-2182.

Registration may be completed during regular business hours at the county auditor’s office, municipal finance office, secretary of state’s office, and those locations which provide driver’s licenses, SNAP, TANF, WIC, military recruitment, and assistance to the disabled as provided by the Department of Human Services. You may contact the county auditor to request a mail-in registration form or access a mail-in form at (www.sdsos.gov or https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/VoterRegistrationFormFillable.pdf ).

Any voter who needs assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact the county auditor for information and special assistance in voter registration.

The county’s secondary road system is comprised of the unorganized townships of Fairview, Harrison, Howell, Ree Heights and Spring.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special “town hall” type meeting will occur on Monday, May 15, 2023 in the former Polo School Auditorium at 8:00 P.M. The purpose of the meeting is to receive feedback and answer questions related to the imposition of an additional property tax to property owners in the unorganized territories (unorganized townships) which constitute the “secondary highway system” for Hand County.

The unorganized territories include Ree Heights Township (excluding the Town of Ree Heights), Harrison Township, Spring Township, Fairview Township and Howell Township. Only property located in the unorganized territories is subject to the additional tax via the “opt out” from the property tax limitations imposed by the legislature.

Chairman and District 5 commissioner Luke Wernsmann and County Highway Superintendent Jeff Hargens will explain the basis for requesting the opt out and Auditor Doug DeBoer will be present to answer questions related to how the opt out will impact the calculations of additional tax levy.

Authority: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS The commissioners of Hand County, South Dakota, hereby request formal, competitive, quotes for employee health insurance coverage.  To participate, the prospective provider, their agency and company they represent must be licensed by the state of South Dakota.  Copies of said licensures must be provided with the proposals.  The representative agent must also provide the company’s current agent certificate which shows they are in good standing to offer the products requested.

Hand County has an average of 30 (those working 25 hours or more) employees who may be eligible for coverage.  The average total employee population is 52.  In addition, we have approximately six elected officials who may be considered eligible if approved by the governing board.

In addition, prospective providers will need to complete all employee questionnaires, interviews, and data collection independently of the county so as to avoid any possibility of favoritism.  The auditor is authorized to provide a list of employee names and their work station.  The provider will be responsible for all contact with the employees.

The current renewal cycle is September 1 to August 31 of the following year but proposals are to be in final form and filed in the office of the Hand County Auditor by 4 P.M. on June 27th, 2023.  All proposals must be in printed form suitable for presentation to five county commissioners, one for public inspection and one the county auditor.  A digital copy of the proposal must be provided on a memory stick so it may be loaded onto the county’s website as a PDF.

The provider will be responsible for redaction of any information which would identify a particular employee or condition.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING The Hand County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting for the purpose of conducting business which was presented after the normal meeting agenda was posted.

Agenda items include agreements for services, ratification of truck purchases from Federal Property, review of: purchase documents, financing documents or purchase orders for road graders, possible approval of a disaster declaration related to spring snow melt and subsequent flooding and other business which may be presented prior to the posting of this meeting’s agenda on Thursday, May 4th at 4p.  The meeting will be held in the commission chambers of the Hand County Courthouse, by telephone or video conference on May 8, 2023 at 4p.  The meeting will also be live streamed via YouTube with a link on the county Facebook page.  The public is welcome to join in person at the courthouse.  /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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Hand County Board of Adjustment Notice of Public Hearing for A Conditional Use Permit

 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held in the commission chambers, on the second floor, of the Hand County Courthouse at 1 p.m. or thereafter, on Tuesday May 2, 2023 for the purpose of the Hand County Zoning Board of Adjustment to hear the Conditional Use Permit application for a T-Mobile telecommunications facility on behalf of Curt Walter for Vertical Bridge. The cell tower will be located in the SW ¼ 36-109-67, Spring Lake Township, Hand County.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the elevator is out of service but physical and virtual accommodations are available for those with mobility issues.  Requests for accommodations should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting by calling the Zoning Administrator’s office at 605-853-2115.

Dated this 6^th day of April, 2023.

Signed; Jaime L. Russell, Director of Equalization, Zoning Admin

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REQUEST FOR CHEMICAL SUPPLY BIDS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hand County South Dakota by and through its Weed and Pest Board is seeking competitive bids on the following agricultural chemical products:  200 gallons of 2,4-D Amine, 30 gallons of “Spreader 90” surfactant, 40 pounds of dry Imazuron, 10 gallons of Aquaneat and 10 gallons of Arsenal. Vendors may submit “equivalent” products so long as they meet or exceed the specifications of the named product.

The 2, 4-D product must be labeled for aquatic, roadside, pasture, fallow, non-crop and cropland uses in South Dakota.  The product labels will need to be applicable to all practical county weed and pest department uses and consistent with the needs of the department.  If a label is not submitted with the bid, the product will not be considered.  Additionally, each product bid should be accompanied by the MSDS product sheet.

Venders interested in submitting bids for any or all of the aforementioned products should submit an itemized proposal, quote or draft invoice detailing the product and price per unit delivered to the Weed and Pest Office in Miller.  The bids should be submitted to: Hand County Weed and Pest Board, 1208 East 3rd Avenue, Miller, South Dakota 57362 prior to 5:00 PM on April 24, 2023.

If the product bid is awarded, Hand County will provide two days of advanced notice to the vendor when ordering.  Payment of awarded and purchased product will available twice monthly.

Direct any questions to Randy Peck, Weed and Pest Supervisor at 605-853-3802 or 605-204-0295.

Authority:  /s/: Randy Peck

04.03.2023

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NOTICE OF MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of County Commissioner, also meeting as the Hand County Planning, Zoning and Board of Adjustment, will hold a special meeting on April 11, 2023 beginning at 1:00 PM CST.

The purpose of the special meeting is to handle business, which was originally intended to be held on April 4, 2023 but postponed due to an approaching winter storm.

The agenda for the original meeting, which was to be held on April 4, 2023 will be the foundation for the meetings on the 11th.

Agendas can be found online at: https://hand.sdcounties.org/commission/agendas/ or by searching the internet using Hand County Agendas.

Authority: /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE OF MEETING OF CONSOLIDATED EQUALIZATION BOARD
SDCL 10-11-66

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners and Local Board(s) of equalization, sitting as a Consolidated Board of Equalization of Hand County, South Dakota will meet in the Commissioners’ Chambers in said County on Tuesday, the 11th day of April, 2023 (being the 2^nd Tuesday in April) at 7 p.m.  for the purpose of reviewing, correcting and equalizing the assessment of said County for the year 2023.

NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that any local board of equalization, whether township, municipality or school district may participate with the Consolidated Board of Equalization of Hand County as provided in SDCL 10-11-66 as amended.

All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment were required to submit written notice to the County Auditor no later than April 5th, 2023.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

03/27/23

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NOTICE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL NOXIOUS WEEDS AND DECLARED PESTS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to SDCL 38-22 as amended to all owners, occupants, agents and public officials in charge of lands in Hand County, South Dakota, that they are responsible for the suppression, control, and eradication of noxious weeds and declared pest infestations that may exist on such lands.

Chemical, biological, and / or cultural control methods used for the suppression, control and eradication of noxious weed and declared pest infestations shall be those approved for such purposes by the Hand County Weed and Pest Supervisor.

Upon failure to observe this notice, the county weed and pest board is required to proceed pursuant to the law and have the noxious weeds or declared pests destroyed by such methods as they may find necessary, the expense of which shall constitute a lien and be entered as a tax against the land, and be collected as other real estate taxes are collected, or by other means as provided by law.

Plants and animals designated as being noxious weeds and declared pests in the State of South Dakota are Absinth Wormwood, Canada Thistle, Hoary Cress, Leafy Spurge, Perennial Sow Thistle, Purple Loosestrife, Salt Cedar, and Gypsy Moth. In addition, Bull Thistle, Yellow Toad Flax, Musk and Plume less Thistle have been approved by the South Dakota Weed and Pest Control Commission as locally noxious weeds are subject to the same suppression, control and eradication requirements as the before mentioned plants and animals.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that upon establishing probable cause to believe a noxious weed or declared pest infestation exists upon any property in Hand County, a representative of the Hand County Weed and Pest Control board will enter upon said property for the purpose of inspecting and confirming that such infestation actually exists.

/s/: Rand Peck, Supervisor

(03/23/23)

Dated July 15, 2022 (ddb)

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NOTICE OF TESTING AUTOMATIC TABULATING EQUIPMENT

Notice is hereby given that the automatic tabulating equipment will be tested to ascertain that it will correctly count the votes for all offices and measures that are to be cast at the primary election held on the 7th day of June, 2022.

The test will be conducted on the 31st day of May, 2022, at 3:00 o’clock p.m. at the following location: Hand County Courthouse, Second Floor, Commission Chambers, 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, South Dakota.

Dated this 17th day of May, 2022              /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE OF PRIMARY ELECTION

                A Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022, in all the voting precincts in Hand County.

The election polls will be open from seven a.m. to seven p.m. central time on the day of the election.

The polling place in each precinct of this county is as follows: Precinct 1 votes at Doug’s Schiltz’s home located at 19951 369th Avenue, rural Wessington.  Precinct 2 votes at the Miller Community Center located at 526 N. Broadway Avenue, Miller.  Precinct 3 also votes at the Miller Community Center located at 526 N. Broadway Avenue, Miller.  Precinct 4 votes at the east gym on the Sunshine Bible Academy campus, 400 Sunshine Drive, rural Miller.  Precinct 5 votes at the former Polo school gym located at 17989 Polo Drive, rural Orient.

Any voter who needs assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact the county auditor at 605-853-2182 before the election for information on polling place accessibility for people with disabilities.

Authority:  /s/ Doug DeBoer – Auditor

Posted 05-09-2022

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Statewide Ballot Measure

Constitutional Amendment C

Title: A Constitutional Amendment Requiring Three-Fifths Vote for Approval of
Ballot Measures Imposing Taxes or Fees or Obligating over $10 Million.

Attorney Explanation:
Currently the constitution requires that any new tax or tax increase must be approved either by voters or by two-thirds of the members of each legislative branch. To be approved by voters, such a measure must obtain a majority of the votes cast. This constitutional amendment requires that any initiated measure, proposed constitutional amendment, or referred measure imposing or increasing taxes must obtain three-fifths of the votes cast to be approved.
This constitutional amendment also adds the requirement that any initiated measure, proposed constitutional amendment, or referred measure obligating the state to appropriate $10 million or more in any of the first five fiscal years must obtain three-fifths of the votes cast to be approved.
This constitutional amendment additionally requires any initiated measure, proposed constitutional amendment, or referred measure which imposes or increases fees to obtain three-fifths of the votes cast to be approved.

Vote “Yes” to adopt the amendment
Vote “No” to leave the Constitution as it is.

Full Text of Constitutional Amendment C:
A JOINT RESOLUTION, Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next primary election a new section to Article XI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, relating to a three-fifths vote requirement for certain initiated or Legislature-proposed constitutional amendments and initiated or Legislature-referred measures.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein:

Section 1. That at the next primary election held in the state, the following amendment to Article XI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, as set forth in section 2 of this Joint Resolution, which is hereby agreed to, shall be submitted to the electors of the state for approval.

Section 2. That Article XI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:

§16. Constitutional amendments or measures–Taxes or fees–Certain funding obligations–Vote required.
Any initiated constitutional amendment, initiated measure, constitutional amendment proposed and submitted to the people by the Legislature, or measure referred to the people by the Legislature that imposes or increases taxes or fees, and any initiated constitutional amendment, initiated measure, constitutional amendment proposed and submitted to the people by the Legislature, or measure referred to the people by the Legislature that obligates the state to appropriate funds of ten million dollars or more in any of the first five fiscal years after enactment, to be annually adjusted for inflation as determined by the Legislature, shall become part of the Constitution or statute only if approved by three-fifths of the votes cast thereon.

Posted 05-09-2022

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NOTICE REGARDING USE OF DROP BOXES FOR ELECTION MATERIALS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that drop boxes will not be used in Hand County during the 2022 election cycles for neither the primary nor the general elections.

The drop box which was installed in 2020 will remain at the west door of the courthouse for use for other purposes but voters need to be aware that election materials of any type are inherently valuable and need to remain secure. The drop box was used during the pandemic to mitigate voter concerns over face-to-face contact. Those concerns have diminished to a point where the extraordinary measure of using a drop box is no longer needed nor allowed as we have it installed. The box is not secure enough and it is not continually monitored by staff or appropriate video surveillance.

Voters who have election related materials, including but not limited to, voter registry documents, applications for absentee ballots, or actual ballots for absentee voting will have to obtain them from and present them back to the staff in the auditor’s office or use the US POSTAL SERVICE for delivery in lieu of personal delivery. South Dakota also allows for absentee voting in person, in the auditor’s office, ahead of the elections. An acceptable photograph identification card is required when voting.

Absentee voting applications are available online through the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office (https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/AbsenteeApplication_202012.PDF) or on the Hand County Elections (https://hand.sdcounties.org/auditor/elections/) websites. Box 7 on the form defines the identification validation process that is required in order to vote absentee. Please read it with care and call the auditor’s office (605-853-2182) if you have any questions. If a form is submitted and an error found, the application cannot be processed until it is corrected.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – County Auditor

04-02-22

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AMENDED NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on April 6, 2022 the candidate order for the primary election contests for county sheriff and county commissioner (district 1) shall be obtained by draw of lots in which identical items will be placed into a container and the first one drawn from the blind shall be placed first upon the ballot, the next drawn shall be second and this shall continue until all lots are drawn.  The drawing shall take place at 1:00 P.M. in the commission chambers of the Hand County Courthouse located at 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, South Dakota 57362.  “Each candidate has the right to be present or represented when the arrangement is to be determined.”  The drawing will also be broadcast live via the auditor’s YouTube channel with a link present on the county’s Facebook page or visit https://hand.sdcounties.org/auditor/elections/ for links and information on how to watch online.  Authority:  /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS The commissioners of Hand County, South Dakota, hereby request formal, competitive, bids for employee health insurance coverage.  To participate, the prospective provider, their agency and company they represent must be licensed by the state of South Dakota.  Copies of said licensures must be provided with the proposals.  The representative agent must also provide the company’s current agent certificate which shows they are in good standing to offer the products requested.

Hand County has an average of 30 (those working 25 hours or more) employees who may be eligible for coverage.  The average total employee population is 52.  In addition, we have approximately six elected officials who may be considered eligible if approved by the governing board.

In addition, prospective providers will need to complete all employee questionnaires, interviews, and data collection independently of the county so as to avoid any possibility of favoritism.  The auditor is authorized to provide a list of employee names and their work station.  The provider will be responsible for all contact with the employees.

The current renewal cycle is September 1 to August 31 but proposals are to be in final form and filed in the office of the Hand County Auditor by 4 P.M. on June 29th, 2022.  All proposals must be in printed form suitable for presentation to five county commissioners, one for public inspection and one the county auditor.  A digital copy of the proposal must be provided on a memory stick so it may be loaded onto the county’s website as a PDF.

The provider will be responsible for redaction of any information which would identify a particular employee or condition.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hand County is seeking competitive bidders to submit by sealed bid for the following items, products, supplies and equipment rentals, to wit: ROAD OIL:  Approximately 100 tons of MC 800 or MC 3000, approximately 800 tons of AE 150S, approximately 400 tons of CRS-2 and Approximately 100 ton of CSS1H.  BULK MOTOR FUELS: Approximately 75,000 combined gallons of dyed diesel fuel, both grade 1 and grade 2. PUMP VENDED GASOLINE or DIESEL FUEL: Unleaded, 10% ethanal, premium, #1 diesel, #2 diesel and off-road/dyed diesel.  GRAVEL CRUSHING: approximately 50,000 tons.  EQUIPMENT RENTALS:  Backhoe, excavator, crane, end dump truck, belly dump truck, and side dump truck all with an operator and / or support staff.  Please contact the highway department prior to bidding for exact specifications and to obtain an official submission form on each type of item.  Motor fuels vended at the pump are for all departments of the county.  A portion of the heavy fuels are for furnace oil at the courthouse.

Bids will be received by the Board of Hand County Commissioners, Miller, South Dakota, at the office of the Hand County Highway Department located at 810 E. 2nd St., Miller, South Dakota, 57362-1606.  Telephone: 605-853-3292.   until 3:00 p.m., on Monday, February 28, 2022, after which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. The Highway Superintendent will present the bids to the county commission at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Hand County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive informalities.

Dated this 2nd day of February, 2022.

/s/: Doug DeBoer, Auditor

VENDOR BIDDING FORMS:  (print and submit as one page, double sided)

• 2022 Petroleum Products Submission Form
• 2022 Equipment Rental Submission Form
• 2022 Road Oil Submission Form

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I, Sheri Koeck, Treasurer of Hand County, South Dakota do hereby certify that the taxes and special assessments on the following list of real property have become delinquent for the year 2020.

Interest will be added to the amounts set forth below.

This list may not reflect changes in recorded ownership.

In testimony, I, Sheri Koeck,  Treasurer of Hand County hereto set my hand and seal.

December 10, 2021

/s/: Sheri Koeck

LARRY BAWDON SPRING HILL NE 1/4 7-111-70 978.93

LARRY BAWDON SPRING HILL NW 1/4 7-111-70 (LOTS 1-2) 299.67

LARRY BAWDON SPRING HILL SW 1/4 7-111-70 (LOTS 3-4) 163.37

LARRY BAWDON SPRING HILL SE 1/4 7-111-70 797.43

BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC MILLER CITY LOT 3 & THE E. 25′ LOT 4 ATLANTIC RESUBDIVISION BLOCK 6 259.64

DWIGHT D BOTTUM BURDETTE NW 1/4 NE 1/4 22-114-66 (DESCRIBED AS WEST 933.38′ OF NORTH 933.38′ OF SAID QUARTER) 139.40

DWIGHT D BOTTUM BURDETTE E 1/2 NE 1/4 & SW 1/4 NE 1/4 22-114-66 842.82

DWIGHT D BOTTUM BURDETTE NW 1/4 NE 1/4 22-114-66 (EXCEPT 20 SQUARE ACRES IN THE NORTHWEST THEREOF) 122.14

ROGER J BOWAR & JOHN ALFRED BOWAR JTWROS MILLER CITY LOT 9 BLOCK 5 JOHN W. COQUILLETTE’S ADDITION 135.17

ROGER J BOWAR MILLER CITY LOTS 10 & 11 BLOCK 5 JOHN W. COQUILLETTE’S ADDITION .79.58

ROGER J BOWAR MILLER CITY LOT 9 BLOCK 6 WILLIAM.H. MILLER’S ADDITION .81.60

ROGER J BOWAR SAINT LAWRENCE TOWN LOTS 20 & 21 BLOCK 20 PORTER & DRIVER’S 1ST ADDITION .58.65

PAUL A COSS MILLER CITY N 1/2 OF LOTS 8 & 9 BLOCK 35 NORTH ADDITION 377.99

DARRELL G & ELAINE PETERMAN ETAL JTWROS SAINT LAWRENCE TOWN LOTS 22-24 INCL. BLOCK 12 PORTER & DRIVER’S 1ST ADDITION, PLUS S 10′ VACATED ALLEY 193.43

ANTHONY EHRICH LINN NE 1/4 13-116-67 (BRUEGGEMAN TRACT 1)163.92

ANTHONY EHRICH PLATO NW 1/4 20-116-66 1801.77

ANTHONY EHRICH PLATO SW 1/4 20-116-66 2356.10

ANTHONY EHRICH PLATO W 1/2 NE 1/4 29-116-66 741.84

GRASS LAKE GRAZING ASSOCIATION INC PLATO NE 1/4 10-116-66 (EXCEPT OUTLOT A) 1820.12

GRASS LAKE GRAZING ASSOCIATION INC PLATO NW 1/4 10-116-66 2256.14

GRASS LAKE GRAZING ASSOCIATION INC PLATO SW 1/4 10-116-66 2245.57

GRASS LAKE GRAZING ASSOCIATION INC PLATO SE 1/4 10-116-66 (EXCEPT OUTLOT A) 2043.78

GRASS LAKE GRAZING ASSOCIATION INC PLATO SW 1/4 11-116-66 2495.83

MARK GUPMAN SPRING SE 1/4 16-116-69 1785.78

CLINTON W & APRIL L HAIGH JTWROS HULBERT SW 1/4 SE 1/4 & SE 1/4 SW 1/4 30-111-66 (DELVAUX OUTLOT 1 – 17.00 ACRES) .77.71

CLINTON W & APRIL L HAIGH JTWROS HULBERT NE 1/4 31-111-66 1267.37

CLINTON W & APRIL L HAIGH JTWROS HULBERT NW 1/4 31-111-66 (LOTS 1-2 & E 1/2) 1673.78

KAREN J HAIGH & CLINTON HAIGH HULBERT NE 1/4 30-111-66 (EXCEPT LOT PT#1-3.67 ACRES) 1336.73

KAREN J HAIGH HULBERT NW 1/4 30-111-66 (LOTS 1-2 & E 1/2) 1597.41

KAREN J HAIGH & CLINTON HAIGH HULBERT SW 1/4 30-111-66 (LOTS 3-4 & E 1/2) (EXCEPT DELVAUX OUTLOT 1) 1592.37

KAREN J HAIGH & CLINTON HAIGH HULBERT SE 1/4 30-111-66 (EXCEPT DELVAUX OUTLOT 1)1497.68

KAREN J HAIGH & CLINTON HAIGH PEARL NE 1/4 35-111-67 1170.69

NATHAN J KOLDA FAIRVIEW NE 1/4 20-115-69 LOT 1 KOLDA ADDITION 135.19

SHAWN MCFARLANE MILLER CITY LOT 12 BLOCK 36 NORTH ADDITION 518.98

EUGENE C MOSER REE HEIGHTS TOWN LOTS 35-42 INCL. BLOCK 17 CORPORATION ADDITION 146.72

DAVID J & SONDRA A NABER JTWROS SAINT LAWRENCE TOWN LOTS 1 & 2 BLOCK 42 PORTER & DRIVER’S 3RD ADDITION .97.72

RICKY C & LORI L NORTON JTWROS MILLER CITY SE 1/4 SW 1/4 10-112-68 (PARCEL 10) 1.02 ACRES 1212.10

RICK & LORI L NORTON JTWROS MILLER CITY S 1/2 SE 1/4 11-112-68 (OUTLOT A LOT 1) 1.55 ACRES 1312.36

SHIRLEY PECK SAINT LAWRENCE TOWN LOTS 11-13 INCL. BLOCK 14 PORTER & DRIVER’S 1ST ADDITION & N 10′ VACATED ALLEY 356.88

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS COMO NE 1/4 31-109-70 448.72

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS COMO SE 1/4 31-109-70 719.06

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS COMO NE 1/4 32-109-70 1127.32

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS COMO W 1/2 NW 1/4 32-109-70 246.81

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS COMO SW 1/4 32-109-70 794.87

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS COMO SE 1/4 32-109-70 453.43

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS COMO NW 1/4 33-109-70 (EXCEPT NW1/4) 805.13

WADE SIVERTSEN COMO NW 1/4 NW 1/4 33-109-70 287.54

ANDREW R & SAVANNAH F STELTZ JTWROS GRAND SE 1/4 7-112-66 (ROWEN OUTLOT 1)14.11 ACRES 848.67

DANIEL L & JODI L TEDROW JTWROS REE HEIGHTS TOWN LOTS 1-14 INCL. BLOCK 4 ORIGINAL ADDITION 91.01

ELGIN PAWLOVICH REE HEIGHTS TOWN LOTS 18-22 INCL. BLOCK 8 CORPORATION ADDITION .23.69

DANIEL L & JODI L TEDROW JTWROS REE HEIGHTS TOWN LOT 23 & THE E. 9′ OF LOT 24 BLOCK 8 CORPORATION ADDITION 84.97

DANIEL L & JODI L TEDROW JTWROS REE HEIGHTS TOWN LOTS 15 & 16 BLOCK 9 CORPORATION ADDITION 19.29

DARIN JOSEPH WIESELER PARK W 1/2 SW 1/4 15-116-68 1002.33

SCOT & JOELLEN WIESELER PARK NE 1/4 15-116-68 784.45

SCOT & JOELLEN WIESELER PARK NW 1/4 15-116-68 966.28

DWIGHT & ANN BOTTUM NE 1/4 22-114-66 BUILDING ON LEASED SITE-MH 83.34

WADE SIVERTSEN NW 1/4 NW 1/4 33-109-70 MOBILE HOME 373.68

GARY T & ROBIN R SIVERTSEN JTWROS NW 1/4 NW 1/4 33-109-70 HOUSE ON LEASED SITE 1039.77

SCOT & JOELLEN WIESELER NE ¼ 16-116-68 BUILDING ON LEASED SITE 132.54

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Weed and Pest Board will hold a Board meeting thursday december 2nd 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at the weed and pest office.

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on December 7, 2021 at 1:45 PM, or shortly thereafter, in the Commission Chambers, Second Floor of the Courthouse. The purpose of this hearing is to explain the proposed decennial revision of the commissioner districts to interested persons, to answer questions regarding this item and to hear public comment on this item. The proposed decennial revision of the commissioner districts is available for public review at the Auditor’s Office and via the internet at: https://hand.sdcounties.org/commission/notices/ . All interested persons are invited to attend and offer comments. Those interested persons not able to attend are invited and encouraged to send written comments, prior to the hearing, to the Hand County Commission, 415 West 1^st Avenue, Mail slot 7, Miller, SD 57362 or by email to [email protected]. Written comments are due by December 6 at 12 PM. Dated this 16th day of November, 2021 /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

• District 1, 4 and 5 which are primarily rural districts.
• District 1, 4 and 5 with “Block Data” which is population by census block.
• Districts 2 and 3 within and around the City of Miller.
• Districts 2 and 3 within and around the City of Miller with “Block Data” which is population by census block.

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NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received by the Hand County Board of County Commissioners, Miller, South Dakota at the office of the Hand County Highway Department until 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 30, 2021 after which time the bids will be publicly opened and read.  The Highway Superintendent will present the bids to the County Commissioners on Tuesday December 7^th, 2021 for the following:  A stockpile containing approximately 50,000 tons of ¾” crushed gravel.  Said stockpile is to be located in the NW corner of Hand County.  The bid specifications and bid sheets may be obtained from the Hand County Highway Department located at 810 E. 2^nd St., Miller, SD 57362 or by calling 605-853-3292.  Hand County reserves the rights to accept or deny any or all bids and waive informalities.  Dated this 11^th Day of November, 2021.  /s/: Doug DeBoer, Hand County Auditor

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HAND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION AND HAND COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE 2021-03

A TEMPORARY ORDINANCE REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF LOCAL MEDICAL CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENT PERMITS AND/OR LICENSES

The Hand County Planning Commission and the Board of Hand County Commissioners will hold a joint public hearing on October 5^th, 2021 at 3 P.M. at the Hand County Courthouse located at 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, SD. All interested persons are encouraged to attend in person and comment on Ordinance 2021-03, A temporary ordinance regarding the issuance of local medical cannabis establishment permits and/or licenses. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission may pass a resolution recommending approval of Ordinance 2021-03, with or without amendment, to the Board of County Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners may have first reading of Ordinance 2021-03 by title and set a 2nd reading date. The proposed Ordinance 2021-03 will be made available for public inspection at the Hand County Auditor’s Office at 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, SD and on-line at https://hand.sdcounties.org/commission/notices pursuant to SDCL Section 11-2 and amendments thereto. Written comments may be filed by emailing the Auditor at [email protected] or by mailing them to the Auditor at 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, SD, SD 57362 on or before noon on October 2nd, 2021.

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NOTICE OF SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY: WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Hand, South Dakota, has directed the within described real property acquired by said County by Tax Deed from owner to be sold as provided by law. NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Commissioners of Hand County, South Dakota, notice is hereby given Hand County will sell by sealed bids to the highest bidder, subject to confirmation of the Commissioners of said County at the meeting of the Hand County Commissioners in the City of Miller, County of Hand, State of South Dakota, on the 5^th day of October, 2021, at the hour of 2:00 p.m. of said day, when such sealed bids shall be opened and read aloud; the  following described real estate situated in the County of Hand, State of South Dakota, to-wit: The West 100 feet of the North ½ of Lot 17 and the West 100 feet of Lot 18, Block 28, North Addition to the City of Miller, Hand County, South Dakota  Previous street address: 522 West 1^st Avenue, Miller, South Dakota The terms of the sale are cash at the time of the sale.  The property listed will be sold to the highest accepted bid so long as it exceeds the appraised value of $2,120.45. The sealed bids must be personally delivered to the auditor’s office by 5 PM on Friday October 1, 2021, whether by mail or by hand.  The Board may reject all bids, per SDCL 6-13-6.

Hand County makes no warranties or guarantees regarding the real estate and the property sells as-is with transfer by Quitclaim Deed.

 

Dated this 15th day of September, 2021

By authority of the board, Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2022 PROVISIONAL BUDGET OF HAND COUNTY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners of Hand County will meet at the Hand County Commission Chambers On Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. for the purpose of considering the forgoing Provisional Budget for the year 2022 and the various items, schedules, amounts, and appropriations set forth therein and as many days thereafter as is deemed necessary until the final adoption of the budget on the 21st day of September, 2022. At such time any interested person may appear either in person or by a representative and will be given the opportunity for a full and complete discussion of all purposes, objectives, items, schedules, appropriations, estimates, amounts and matters set forth and contained in the Provisional Budget.

Posted 08/19/2021

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT PURSUANT TO SDCL 31-31-2 et seq., “The owner or occupant of any land abutting or adjoining upon township roads shall cut, remove, or destroy or cause to cut, removed, or destroyed, grass, weeds, trees, and brush growing on or in the right-of-way of such roads…”  Failure to comply is a petty offense.

SDCL 31-31-3 specifies that such work shall be completed between September 1 and October 1 of each year, “or between dates annually fixed by the [township] board of supervisors”.  Should the occupant or landowner fail to perform such work, SDCL 31-31-5, the board of township supervisors “…may employ a person or persons to immediately cut and remove the grass, weeds, trees, and brush…” and SDCL 31-31-6 grants authority to the township board of supervisors to recover the expense in that, “The amount shall be extended on the tax list…and shall become a tax on the land adjoining the highway”

Posted 08.03.2021

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NOTICE OF HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET to provide additional spending authority to purchase 10 acres of land and to buy out an equipment lease (JD Dozer).

The Hand County Commission will hold a hearing at 3 p.m. on June 1st, 2021, in the Commission Chambers, to consider supplementing the 2021 Annual Budget as follows:

From the General Fund to the following budgets:

Acct# 322-431 – Solid Waste (Rubble Site) $50,000

Acct# 322-434 – Solid Waste (Rubble Site) $53,600

Dated this 13th day of May, 2021.  /s/: Doug DeBoer, Hand County Auditor

[Posted 05.13.21)

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TAX EXEMPT STATUS FOR THE

 FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2021

[10-4-15.1. Publication of list of tax–exempt property.

The director of equalization shall publish at least six days prior to the last Tuesday of March of each year in the official newspapers published in the county a list showing the legal owner, utilization, and a description of all property for which tax–exempt status is claimed under §§ 10-4-9 to 10-4-14, inclusive.]

American Legion – Miller Post #38 Part of SE ¼ NE ¼ 15-112-68     21.76 acres,

American Legion -Richard Clement Post #299 Outlot 1; E. 75’ of Outlot 2 & Outlot 3 in     NW ¼ NW ¼ 14-115-69   1.46 acres

Assembly of God Church DBA- New Beginnings Worship Center  Lots A, B & C Assembly Addition to the  City of Miller   2.04 acres

Assemblies of God SD District Council (Parsonage) S. 90’of Lots 1 & 2, Block 8 Atlantic Addition   to the City of Miller

Beulah Community Church  Beulah Cemetery Part of NW ¼ 17-113-66   1.09 acres,   Part of SW ¼ 8-113-66   1.50 acres

Burdette Cemetery  Part of NE ¼ 8-114-66   3.50 acres

Catholic Cemetery Association  NE ¼ SW ¼ of 11-112-68 2.00 acres described: Beginning at the NW corner of the SW ¼ of Sec. 11 S 20’ E 144 Rods S 20 Rods E 160 Rods N 20 Rods W 16 Rods & St. Ann’s Cemetery Addition   2.00 acres

Cedar Cemetery Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament W 32 rods of S 32 rods in NW ¼ 2-109-70 6.4 acres Old Cemetery no longer organized

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints LDS Lot in Northview Addition to the City of Miller 1.38 acres   

Community Church of St. Lawrence Community Church Out lot,  St. Lawrence  a part of the S ½ SE ¼ of 12-112-68 5.00 acres

Community Day Care, Inc. W. 20’ of Lot 3 & all of Lots 4-6 incl.,Block 11, McWhorter Resurvey Addition to  the City of Miller

Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society  Good Samaritan Center-Miller Nursing Home   Lots 1-3 incl. Block 8, McWhorter Addition

Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery NE ¼ 32-109-67 2.00 acres Not organized – Old Cemetery

 First Baptist Church & Parsonage   Conerton Out lot A – City of Miller  2.89 acres

First Church of the Nazarene Parsonage Lot 1, Zens Addition & Lots 3-6 incl.,  Block 17, Garlick Addition to the City of Miller   Lot 6 & the E ½ of Lot 7, Park Row Addition to the City of Miller

First Presbyterian Church of Miller Parsonage E. 100’ of Lots 1-4 incl., Block 20, W.H. Miller  Addition to the City of Miller Lots 5 & 6, Block 20, E. J. Miller Addition to the City of Miller   S ½ of Lot 9 & all of Lot 10, Block 20, E.J. Miller Addition to the City of Miller

First United Methodist Church Miller & Parsonage Lots 1-12 incl., Block 2, McWhorter Resurvey   Addition to the City of Miller

4-H Leaders Association (4-H Grounds) 4-H Lot 1 in the NE ¼ SE ¼ 15-112-68  4.04 acres

G.A.R. Cemetery Part of SE ¼ SE ¼ & N ½ SE ¼ 15-112-68 22.00 acres

Hand County Memorial Hospital W. 55’ of Lots 8 & 9, Block 18, W.H. Miller (Former IOOF Hall) Addition to the City of Miller, (Former Craig & Pam VanZee)  Lot 11, Block 18, W.H. Miller Addition to the City Property of Miller, (Former Harold Kenaston property)  E. 80’ of Lots 13 & 14, Block 18 W. H. Miller Addition to the City of Miller, (Former Ruth Roeber property) W 10’ of Lots 8 & 9 & all of Lot 10, Block 1, Coquillette’s Addition, (Former Ruth Roeber property) Parcel 6 in NE ¼ SW ¼ 10-112-68 .20 acres in City of Miller

Howell Cemetery Association Part of the NE ¼ 14-115-68   1.71 acres

Huron Area Center for Independence, Inc. (Home) Lots 23-28 incl., Block 1, Original Miller  Addition to the City of Miller, Bus Garage & Lot W. 107’ of Lots 21 & 22, Block 1, Original Miller Addition to the City of Miller Parking Yard N 5’ of E 58’ of Lot 22 Block 1 Original Miller Addition

David Johnson – D & J Hillcrest Cemetery E. 726’ of the W. 1320’ of the N. 678’ of the  NW ¼ SW ¼ 10-112-68   11.03 acres

Mid-Dakota Rural Water Systems, Inc. Operating & Maintenance Center On Hand Development Corp. Lot 1 in S ½ SW ¼ 3-112-68 ` 4.62 acres, Storage On Hand Development Corp. E 723.50’ Of Lot 2 in a pt of S ½ SW ¼ 3-112-68 8.36 acres,   Bare Lots  Rolling Thunder Subdivision in S ½ SW ¼ 3-112-68 5.03 acres, (Pressure Reducing Station) MDRWS Lot 1 in the NE ¼ 9-112-68   1.62 acres,  (James Danielson Site)  MDRWS Tract #1 in the NE ¼ NE ¼   23-112-69   .31 acre, (Miriam L. Taylor Site)  MDRWS Tract #1 in the SE ¼ SE ¼ 11-110-69   .31 acre , (Johnson Homestead PTR Site)  MDRWS Tract #1 in the NW ¼ NW ¼ 25-110-69   2.00 acres, (Bowar, Christopherson, Crary MDRWS Lots 1 & 2 in the NE ¼ 11-112-70  Site-Pump Station) (Lot 1 – .68 acre & Lot 2 – 2.77 acres), (Collins Slough Tank) MDRWS Lot 1 in the NE ¼ NE ¼ 26-111-69 2.29 acres,  (James Beatty Site) MDRWS Tract #1 in the NE ¼ NE ¼ 16-109-67   .31 acre (Redfield Tank Site)  MDRWS Tract #1 in the SE ¼ SE ¼ 14-115-66   2.27 acres, Tower T02 NW ¼ NW ¼ 14-115-69 (Leased site),  Tower T03 NE ¼ NE ¼ 19-114970 (Leased site)

Miller Rough Riders  Miller Rough Rider Lot 1, a part of W ½ SW ¼ 14-112-68  3.46 acres

Morningside Cemetery Part of NW ¼ 13-112-70   2.00 acres

On Hand Development Corporation N 6” of Lot 9, all of Lots 10, 11 & 12 & the S   6” of Lot 13, Block 10 William H Millers Addition Lots 1-18 & 20’ X 300’ Vacated Alley Block 27 North Addition Lot 5 First Subdivision of Miller Development Corporation 1^st Addition Pt of SE ¼ 3-112-68   1.63 acres,  N 22’ 10” of Lot 10, Block 4 Original Miller Addition

Pleasant Valley Church & Parsonage A part of the NW ¼ 11-109-68   4.00 acres

Polo Fire Department Lot 21, Block 3, Polo 1^st Addition, Polo Volunteer Fire Department Lot 22, Block 3, Polo 1^st Addition,  Polo Fire District Lot 5, Block 1, Polo, Polo Fire District   Lot 14, Block 2, Polo

Prairie View Cemetery NE corner of the NE ¼ 11-116-69 (32 Rods N. & S. by 16 Rods E. & W.) 3.20 acres

Ree Heights Congregation Church Lots 20-22 incl & the W 12’ of Lot 23, Block 18, Corporation Addition to the Town of Ree Heights

Ree Heights Fire Department Lot 12, & 13 Block 2 Valentines Addition Lots 20, 21 & 22 Block 9 Loves Resurvey Addition

Rose Hill Cemetery Part of NE ¼ NW ¼ 33-110-66 2.16 acres

St. Ann’s Catholic Church St. Ann’s Addition to the City of Miller Parsonage & CCD Center 1.50 acres

St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery Part of the NW ¼ NE ¼ 1-111-66 2.15 acres

St. Lawrence Cemetery Part of NE ¼ 7-112-67   10.00 acres

St. Liborious Catholic Church -includes Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Liborious Catholic Church Part of SE ¼ 10-115-69   10.00 acres   Lot 4, Block 1, Polo First Addition

St. Mary’s Catholic Church & Cemetery St. Mary’s Cemetery Outlot B in Part of NE ¼ 2-116-69   9.58 acres   Outlot C a Part of Lot 1 in NE ¼ 2-116-66 .15 acre

St. Michael’s Cemetery Part of SE ¼ 27-116-69   10.00 acres

South Hand Volunteer Fire Dept. In the SW ¼ SW ¼ 1-109-69 (Building on leased site)

Spiers Lodge #186 W. 125’ Lot 28, Block 11, Love Addition to the Town of Ree Heights  E 50’ of Lots 26, 27 & 28 Block 11 Loves Addition to the Town of Ree Heights

Sunbeam Cemetery Part of NW ¼ 24-114-67   2.00 acres

Sunshine Bible Academy Sunshine Bible Academy Part of SE ¼ 15-110-68   48.38 acres,    Part of NW ¼ 23-110-68   2.81 acres

Trinity Lutheran Church Parsonage Lots 13-18 incl. and the 20×150’ vacated alley,  Block 3, Garlick Addition to the City of Miller, Lot 8, Nelson Addition to the City of Miller

Wessington Cemetery Association Part of the NW ¼ NE ¼ 1-111-66 3.64 acres & Part of NE ¼ NW ¼ 1-111-66 1.36 acres, And part of the SW ¼ SE ¼ 36-112-66 5.00 acres

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NOTICE OF COUNTY OWNED LAND LEASE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hand County Board of Commissioners, Miller, South Dakota, will meet in regular session on the 6^th day of April, 2021 at 1:15 p.m., in the commission chambers of the courthouse, to lease, at public auction, county owned property (in Pleasant Valley Township) described as follows:

40 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the SE ¼, NE ¼ [Record No. 9053], 40 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the NE ¼, SE ¼ [Record No. 9054], 80 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the S ½, SE ¼ [Record No. 9055], 160 acres, more or less, in 9-109-68, in the W ½, W ½ [Record No. 9057], 80 acres, more or less, in 8-109-68, in the N ½, NE ¼ [Record No. 9153]

The lease shall be for a three (3) year period, the terms of the lease shall be cash. Dated this 10^th day of March, 2021.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE OF INTENTION TO TAKE TAX DEED BY HAND COUNTY

TO: ANDREW STERUD AND TO ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN CLAIMING ANY INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED BELOW.

Andrew Sterud, the owner of record herein after described real property; the person in possession of said property, the person in whose name said property is taxed and all judgment holders and creditors, Miller City, Hand County and all persons who claim any interest to the within described real property.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the following described real property situated in the County of Hand, State of South Dakota, and to-wit:  W 100’ of the N ½ of Lot 17 & the W 100’ of Lot 18 North Addition to the City of Miller

Was on the 19th day of December 2016, purchased by the County Treasurer of Hand County, South Dakota, for the sum of $603.38, said sum being the amount of taxes assessed against the real property for the year 2015, not including penalty, interest and costs of sale, a certificate of tax sale dated the 19th day of December, 2016, was duly issued by said County Treasurer to said County and that said County is now the legal owner and holder of said certificate of tax sale.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, That the right of redeeming said real property from the tax sale will expire sixty days from the date of the completed service of this notice, and that unless redemption is made from said tax sale within said time, a tax deed will be made and issued by the County Treasurer of the County of Hand, State of South Dakota, to said County of Hand, State of South Dakota, covering the above-described property.

 

Dated the 9th day of March, 2021

by

Sheri Koeck

County Treasurer of

Hand County, South Dakota

Holder of Tax Sale Certificate

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NOTICE OF MEETING OF CONSOLIDATED EQUALIZATION BOARD

SDCL 10-11-66

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners and Local Board(s) of equalization, sitting as a Consolidated Board of Equalization of Hand County, South Dakota will meet in the Commissioners’ Chambers in said County on Tuesday, the 13th day of April, 2021 (being the 2^nd Tuesday in April) at 7 p.m.  for the purpose of reviewing, correcting and equalizing the assessment of said County for the year 2021.

NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that any local board of equalization, whether township, municipality or school district may participate with the Consolidated Board of Equalization of Hand County as provided in SDCL 10-11-66 as amended.

Any municipality, school or township wishing to participate in the Consolidated Board of Equalization shall serve upon the county auditor, notice of intent to participate by Monday March 22nd, 2021.

All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment are required to submit written notice to the County Auditor no later than April 6th, 2021.

/s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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SCHOOL LAND LEASE AUCTION

A school land lease auction will be held at the Hand County Courthouse (Commissioners Room) in Miller, SD on April 9, 2021 at 3:30PM (CT).

A list of tracts available for lease may be obtained at the Hand County Auditor’s Office or by contacting the Office of School & Public Lands, 500 E Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD  57501-5070 or phone (605)773-3303.  A listing is available on the SPL website www.sdpubliclands.com. Phone bidding will be allowed on a recorded conference line at 1-848-777-1212 with access code of 18892020#.  Disabled individuals needing assistance should contact the Office of School and Public Lands at least 48 hours in advance of the auction to make any necessary arrangements.

[Lease: 20210025, Section 25, Township 114, Range 70.  Northeast 1/2, Tract 1.  158.99 acres.  Minimum price per acre: $9.66 or $1,535.84.  Current Lessee:  Doyle Davis-Jay Poindexter, 204 Hoyt Avenue SW, Howard Lake, Minnesota 55349.5114] Posted March 4, 2021

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Absinth Wormwood Added to the Statewide Noxious Weed List

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Weed & Pest Control Commission added Absinth wormwood, also known as wormwood sage, to the statewide noxious weed list. Absinth wormwood is a minty fragranced perennial with heavy, fibrous roots that requires early spring or fall detection.

Landowners are now required to control Absinth wormwood on their property and should be prepared to control the noxious weed during the 2021 growing season. Effective control measures include herbicide treatment prior to the plant reaching 12 inches tall. In 2020, county weed and pest boards reported approximately 178,000 acres infested with Absinth wormwood in South Dakota.

Previously, Absinth wormwood was listed as a locally noxious weed in more than 40 counties. Adding it to the statewide noxious weed list allows for uniform control across the state. Absinth wormwood joins six other statewide noxious weeds including Canada thistle, hoary cress, leafy spurge, perennial sow thistle, purple loosestrife, and salt cedar.

In other action, the Commission removed Russian Knapweed from the statewide noxious weed list due its limited presence in South Dakota.

If you have any questions on noxious weed control, please visit https://sdda.sd.gov/ag-services/weed-and-pest-control/weed-pest-control/sd-state-noxious-weed-declared-pest-list-and-distribution-maps/default.aspx or contact your local county weed supervisor or the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. (Published: Tuesday January 26, 2021)

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received by the Board of Hand County Commissioners, Miller, South Dakota, at the office of the Hand County Highway Department until 3:00 p.m., on Monday, March 10, 2021, after which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. The Highway Superintendent will present the bids to the county commission at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, April 6 , 2021, for the following: Approximately 100 ton of MC 800 or MC 3000 road oil, Approximately 1500 ton of AE 150S road oil, Approximately 500 ton of CRS-2 road oil, Approximately 100-ton CSS1H road oil. The above listed road oil must be delivered in transport loads as needed, F.O.B. job site (CRS-2 also needs to be quoted F.O.B. plant site). Gravel Crushing (minimum of 25,000 ton). Rental Equipment: Backhoe, excavator, trucks and crane (proof of insurance must accompany bid for rental equipment). No deposit check is required on the above.  Bid specifications and bid sheets may be obtained from the Hand County Highway Department, located at 810 E. 2nd St., Miller, South Dakota, 57362-1606.  Telephone: 605-853-3292.  Sealed bids should be submitted to the Hand County Highway Department prior to 3:00 p.m. on March 10, 2021.  All bids must be submitted on official forms.  The Hand County Commission reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive informalities.

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NOTICE OF BID LETTING FOR MOTOR PETROLIUM PRODUCTS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: The Board of Hand County Commissioners will receive sealed competitive bid proposals for the following petroleum supplies to be consumed during the calendar year 2021 by any and all offices, departments and function of the county.  Proposals are to be submitted by 5 p.m. on the 10th Day of March 2021, in the office of the county auditor.  The proposals are to be submitted in a sealed envelope with photocopies of South Dakota licensure(s) related to selling specified supplies.  SPECIFICATIONS and REQUIREMENTS: Gasoline motor fuels must be dispensable in the community of Miller twenty-fours a day either by attendant or at the pump by use of a unique card.  Bidders are expected to provide their fuel bids in the format:  Item 1 Unleaded gasoline, Item 2 10% Ethanal blended gasoline, Item 3 Premium gasoline, Item 4 #1 Diesel fuel, Item 5      #2 Diesel fuel, Item 6          Off-Road / Dyed Fuel.  Bulk Fuel:  approximately 75,000 gallons of diesel fuel from this bid letting until the 2022 bid letting.  Fuel shall be dyed.  Price will include all taxes.  Bid shall be F.O.B. County Shop.  Bid shall be a firm bid.  Quantities shall be a minimum of 1,700 gallons and a maximum of 2,000 gallons.  Bidder must bid all items. #1 Dyed Diesel Fuel F.O.B. County shop (25,000 gallons) #2 Dyed Diesel Fuel F.O.B. County shop (50,000 gallons) NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: The board of county commissioners will receive sealed competitive bid proposals for bulk furnace oil to be delivered to the Hand County courthouse at the address above.  The average annual consumption is 15,000 gallons per year.  Hand County reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive technicalities, and make award(s) as deemed to be in the best interest of Hand County.

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NOTICE OF HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

The Hand County Commission will hold a hearing at 2 p.m. on March 2nd, 2021, in the Commission Chambers, to consider amending and supplementing the 2021 Annual Budget as follows: General Fund: Revenue: VSO Reimbursement-Hyde Co and Expenditure: “VSO” (personnel and operations) $4,362.00.  Road and Bridge Revenue: “RD & BR Wheel Tax” and Expenditure: “RD & BR” (operations – projects) $175,000.00. Road and Bridge Salaries and benefits, $177,654.96 (three FTE added in late 2020) Dated this 16th day of February, 2021.  /s/: Doug DeBoer – Auditor

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF ANNUAL TOWNSHIP MEETINGS: [SDCL 8-3-1] The citizens of the Townships of Hand County, South Dakota who are qualified to vote at the general election are hereby given notice that the annual township meeting of said townships will be held on: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 as follows:

Townships which are underlined did not update their data from last year.

ALDEN: Rob Schlecther’s shop: 7p / ALPHA at Gary Wagner home: 7:00 p.m. / BATES: Lee Allen Tevedahl’s home: 2p / BURDETTE: David Simons’ home: 1:30p / CAMPBELL: David Pratt’s home: 7p. / CARLTON: Jonathan Hurd’s home: 2p. / CEDAR: at Arlen Harvey’s home: 7p / COMO: Ed Werdel’s home: 7p / FLORENCE:  Brueggeman Bros’ shop:  7:30p / GILBERT: Max Conkey’s home: 7:30p / GLENDALE: Robert Tong’s home: 7:30p / GRAND: Dan Schilling’s home: 7p / GREENLEAF: Chuck Steptoe’s home: 7:30p. / HILAND: Daniel Keck’s home: 7p / HOLDEN: Holden Township Hall:  2:00 p.m. / HULBERT: Roy Mehling’s home: 7p. / LINN: Bruce Hoffman’s home: 7:30p / LOGAN: Don Pugh’s home: 1:30 p  / MIDLAND:  Dan Koeck’s farm: 7p / MILLER: VSO Office: 1p / MONDAMIN: Terry Johnson’s home: 7:30p.  / OHIO: Jim Eschenbaum’ s home: 7p / ONTARIO: Doyle Foreman’s home: 7:30p / PARK: House on SE 1/4 28-116-68 2p. / PEARL: Eric Fanning’s home: 7p / PLATO: Kevin Harr’s home: 1:30 p.m. / PLEASANT VALLEY: Doug Edwards’ home: 7p / RIVERSIDE:  Melvin Gimbel’s home: 7:30p / ROCKDALE: Neil Stevens’ shop: 7:30p / ROSE HILL: Evelyn Moller’s home: 7:30p / ST. LAWRENCE: St. Lawrence Fire Hall: 1p / SPRING HILL: Dennis Fawcett’s home: 7:30p / SPRING LAKE: Brian Winter’s home: 7:00p. / WHEATON: Bob Nuhsbaumer’s home: 1p. / YORK: Tom Morog’s shop: 2p.

 

The purpose of this meeting is to elect one Supervisor for a three-year term; one Clerk, one Treasurer, and to do any business proper to be done at said meeting when convened.  /s/: Doug DeBoer – County Auditor

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Notice is hereby given that a public meeting and hearing will be held at or soon after 2 P.M. during the February 2nd county commission meeting for the purpose of reviewing, editing, and possibly adopting, either in whole or in part, of the county’s FIVE-YEAR HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN (Transportation Plan). The public is invited to comment on the Transportation Plan during the meeting or to provide written comment to the Hand County Commission prior to the meeting. A preliminary draft of the Transportation Plan is available for review at the office of the Hand County Auditor, located at 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, SD during regular business hours or by download from the commission meeting agenda and minutes page found at: https://hand.sdcounties.org/commission/agendas/

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Posted May 11, 2020

Images of Sample Ballots to be published in the Miller Press as required by law.

Posted May 4, 2020

NOTICE OF PRIMARY ELECTION

A Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in all the voting precincts in
Hand County. The election polls will be open from seven o’clock a.m. to seven o’clock p.m. central daylight savings time on the day of the election.

The polling place in each precinct of this county shall be as follows:

Precinct # 1 (including Precinct 3) The Townships of Alden, Alpha, Campbell, Fairview, Florence, Greenleaf, Harrison, Howell, Ontario, Park and Spring will vote at the Polo School

Precinct # 2 The Townships of Carlton, Linn, Plato and Wheaton will vote at the St. Mary’s Church Hall, Zell

Precinct # 5 (including Precinct 8) The Townships of Cedar, Como, Midland, Ree Heights, Riverside, Rockdale and Spring Hill and the Town of Ree Heights vote at the Ree Heights Auditorium

Precinct # 6 (including Precinct 4) The Townships of Burdette, Hiland, Holden, Pearl, St. Lawrence and York and the Town of St. Lawrence vote at the St. Lawrence Fire Hall

Precinct # 7 The Townships of Gilbert, Grand, Hulbert and Rose Hill and that part of Wessington west of the Hand/Beadle County line will vote at Doug Schiltz home, 19951 369 Ave., Wessington

Precinct # 9 (including Precinct 10) The Townships of Bates, Glendale, Logan, Mondamin, Ohio, Pleasant Valley and Spring Lake will vote at the Sunshine Bible Academy

Precinct #11 The East ½ of Miller City (from Broadway east) will vote at the Methodist Church

Precinct #12 The West ½ of Miller City (from Broadway west) and Miller Township will vote at the Hand County Courthouse Assembly Room.

Voters with disabilities may contact the county auditor for information and special assistance in absentee voting or polling place accessibility.

Dated this 5th day of May, 2020.

Doug DeBoer
Hand County Auditor

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Posted April 28, 2020

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Posted April 21, 2020

NOTICE OF DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

Voter registration for the Primary Election to be held on June 2nd, 2020, will close on May 18, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Failure to register by this date will cause forfeiture of voting rights for this election. If you are in doubt about whether you are registered, check the Voter Information Portal at www.sdsos.gov or call the county auditor at 605-853-2182.

Registration may be completed during regular business hours at the county auditor’s office, municipal finance office, secretary of state’s office, and those locations which provide driver’s licenses, SNAP, TANF, WIC, military recruitment, and assistance to the disabled as provided by the Department of Human Services. You may contact the county auditor to request a mail-in registration form or access a mail-in form at www.sdsos.gov

Any voter who needs assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact the county auditor for information and special assistance in voter registration.

Doug DeBoer
County Auditor, Hand County South Dakota

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Posted April 9, 2020

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: Pursuant to SDCL 31-26, The Board of County Commissioners in and for Hand County, city of Miller, South Dakota, on the 5th day of May, 2020, at the hour of 10 A.M., at the Hand County Courthouse will meet in regular session, and during such session will reserve time for the purpose of giving consideration to the applicant for Authority to Construct or lay rural water pipelines as filed with the county auditor by WEB Water Development Association, Inc., of Aberdeen, South Dakota, a rural water system.
Any person, association, or corporation having objections to said application for the authority to construct or lay rural water pipelines may appear and be heard at the said time and place designated.
Dated this 9th day of April, 2020

Doug DeBoer – Auditor

[Published once at the total approximate cost of $_____]

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Posted March 9th, 2020:

NOTICE OF MEETING OF
CONSOLIDATED EQUALIZATION BOARD

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners and Local Boards of Equalization, sitting together as a Consolidated Board of Equalization of Hand County, South Dakota will meet in the Commissioners’ Chambers in said County on Tuesday, the 14th day of April, 2020, for the purpose of reviewing, correcting and equalizing the assessment of said County and associated local boards for the year 2020.

NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that any local board of equalization, whether township, municipality or school district may participate with the Consolidated Board of Equalization of Hand County as provided in SDCL 10-11-66 as amended.

Any municipality, school or township wishing to participate in the Consolidated Board of Equalization shall serve upon the county auditor, notice of intent to participate by Monday March 23rd, 2020.

All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment are required to submit written notice to the County Auditor no later than April 7, 2020.

Doug DeBoer
Hand County Auditor
Dated March 6, 2020

Published twice at the total approximate cost of $______.

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Posted February 27, 2020 / presented at the County Commission meeting on March 3, 2020.

Notice of Responsibility To Control Noxious Weeds and Declared Pests

Notice is Hereby Given this 3rd day of March 2020, pursuant to SDCL 38-22 as amended to all owners, occupants, agents and public officials in charge of lands in Hand County, South Dakota, that they are responsible for the suppression, control, and eradication of noxious weed and declared pest infestations that may exist on such lands.

Chemical, biological, and/or cultural control methods used for the suppression, control and eradication of noxious weed and declared pest infestations shall be those approved for such purposes by the Hand County Weed and Pest Supervisor, or the South Dakota State University Experiment Station.

Upon failure to observe this notice, the County Weed and Pest Board is required to proceed pursuant to the law and have the noxious weed or declared pests destroyed by such methods as they may find necessary, the expense of which shall constitute a lien and be entered as a tax against the land, and be collected as other real estate taxes are collected, or by other means as provided by law.

Plants and animals designated as being noxious weeds and declared pests in the State of South Dakota are Leafy Spurge, Perennial Sow Thistle, Russian Knapweed, Hoary Cress, Canada Thistle, Purple Loosestrife, Saltcedar (Tamarix ssp.), and Gypsy Moth.

In addition, Absinth wormwood, Musk Thistle, Plumeless Thistle, Scotch Thistle and yellow Toad Flax have been approved by the State Weed and Pest Control Commission, and are also subject to the same suppression, control and eradication requirements as the before mentioned plants and animals.

Notice is Hereby Given that upon establishing probable cause to believe a noxious weed or declared pest infestation exists upon any property in Hand County, a representative of the Hand County Weed and Pest Board will enter upon said property for the purpose of inspecting and confirming that such infestation actually exists.
Randy Peck, Weed Supervisor

Official publication and legal notice will appear in the Miller Press.

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NOTICE OF DEADLINE FOR FILING NOMINATING PETITIONS FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND FOR FILING INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE PETITIONS

The deadline for filing nominating petitions for the primary election is March 31, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. central time. If a petition is mailed by registered mail by March 31, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. central time, it is considered filed.

The deadline for filing nominating petitions to run as an independent candidate in the general election is April 28, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. central time. If a petition is mailed by registered mail by April 28, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. central time, it is considered filed. For the offices of County Commissioner – District 4, County Commissioner – District 2, States Attorney, County Coroner, County Treasurer, and County Sheriff, nominating petitions must be filed in the office of the Hand county auditor, and nominating petitions for the offices of U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Public Utilities Commissioner, State Senate, State Representatives must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD 57501.

The deadline for filing nominating petitions to run as an independent candidate for president in the general election is August 4, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. central time. If a petition is mailed by registered mail by August 4, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. central time, it is considered filed.

Nominating petitions for the offices of County Commissioner – District 4, County Commissioner – District 2, States Attorney, County Coroner, County Treasurer, and County Sheriff must be filed in the office of the county auditor during regular business hours. Nominating petitions for the offices of President, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Public Utilities Commissioner, State Senate, State Representatives and Heartland Consumer Power District Director must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD 57501, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. central time.

/s/:  Doug DeBoer
_____________________________________
Hand County Auditor

[Election Recourses offered by the Secretary of State are found at: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/default.aspx

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“ATTENTION GETTER”

The bulk of state offices will be closed on December 23rd and December 24th. This limits our county’s access to state recourses.

Because of this, the Register of Deeds Office WILL NOT be processing renewals on Commercial Driver Licenses. During the renewal process, the office must contact the SD-Department of Public Safety for the approval. When their offices are closed, this is not possible.

Additionally, the county courthouse will be closed the afternoon of December 24th and all day December 25th. We will, however, be open on December 26th and 27th.

Please plan accordingly.

 

July 12, 2019:

HAND COUNTY ZONING BOARD

NOTICE OF MEETING

 A zoning board meeting will be held for the purpose of hearing a Conditional Use Permit application for a swine production facility by Ratio, LLC (Kirk Augenbaugh).  This facility will be located in the NE1/4 & NW1/4 section 32-111-67 (Pearl Township).  The meeting will be held Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. in the court room in the Hand County Courthouse.  Instructions for presenters, both proponents and opponents, will be posted on the assessor’s web page at http://hand.sdcounties.org/assessors.  Instructions can also be obtained by visiting the assessor’s office or calling 605 853-2115.

Instructions to those offering testimony:

Hand County has a policy to not discriminate in its treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction towards, a person based on the group, class, or category to which the person is perceived to belong. These include age, caste, color, criminal record, height, disability, ethnicity, family status, gender identity, generation, genetic characteristics, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.  Consequently, these topics will not be allowed during testimony.

The sole purpose of the hearing is to determine compliance with the following aspects of the Hand County Zoning standards and ordinances.

Testimony should be confined to these performance standards and compliance thereof.

Under Article 5, Section 515, Performance Standards to Commercial Feedlots and Animal Feeding Operations, All Commercial Feedlots and Animal Feeding Operations must meet each of the following requirements:

1. All such entities must submit animal waste management systems plans and specifications for review and approval prior to construction, and a Notice of Completion for a Certificate of Compliance, after construction, to the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
2. Prior to construction, all such entities shall obtain a storm water permit for construction activities from the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The storm water pollution prevention plan required by the permit must be developed and implemented upon the start of construction.
3. Animal waste facilities as adjuncts to such entities shall be no less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from the adjoining domestic ground and surface water supplies.
4. All such entities must submit nutrient management plans assuring offensive odors and runoff minimization. Such management plans must, at a minimum, include
   1. Proposed maintenance plans for animal west facilities.
   2. Nutrient transportation equipment miniatous plans.
   3. Planned land application processes and / or methods.
   4. A full and complete legal description and map depicting areas to be utilized for nutrient application.
5. Under no circumstances shall animal waste facilities be located closer than two (2) miles from any incorporated municipality.
6. Animal waste facilities shall be located no closer than two (2) miles from any occupied residence, excluding owner / operator’s residential dwelling[s] if located within two (2) miles of the facility, unless sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3) of the full-time adult residents of the area within the two (2) mile residential setoff shall have waived the same and in writing.
7. Animal waste shall be transported no more than seven (7) miles from the point of origination for land application. However, the Commission may, on a case by case basis, permit applications beyond said seven (7) mile limitations upon its acceptance of proofs evidencing adequate undertakings to ensure both public safety and due deference to the environmental concerns.
8. Upon provision of three (3) hours written or oral notice to the owners[s] or operator[s] of any facilities governed by Section 515 standards, the Zoning Director or his authorized agent[s] may enter upon any such real property for the limited purpose of ascertaining premises / facility compliance with all applicable performance standards and / or other zoning ordinance regulations.

(Page 43, Article 5, Section 515 of the Hand County Comprehensive Plan)

How to become involved:

Prior to and during the public hearing / period for public comment, presenters, contributors, and those offering testimony on the topics in Article 5, Section 515, will be allowed to offer input by the following mechanisms:

• Written Testimony may be mailed to Zoning Board, % Assessor, 415 West 1^st Avenue, Suite 204, Miller, South Dakota 57362 or emailed to: [email protected] and to [email protected] .  Please do not send anonymous testimony.  Deadline is July 31, 2019.
• Oral Testimony: Materials, statistics, graphics or other viewable materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and due in the Assessor’s office by July 31, 2019.
• The July 31, 2019 deadline is to allow for public inspection of the submitted materials ahead of time. The materials will be loaded to the Assessor’s website (http://hand.sdcounties.org/assessor ) and also be available at the Assessor’s office during normal courthouse hours.

Manner of conduct during the public hearing:

• The proceedings will be under the control of the chairman of the board. The chairman will direct all proceedings, recognize those who wish to offer testimony and present them instruction when needed.
• All testimony is be directed to the board, not the proponents or opponents.
• Members of the gallery are asked to remain quiet and seated. To be recognized by the chairman, please raise your hand and stand.
• Proponents will be allowed to present first, followed by opponents, followed by rebuttal testimony and finally the board will have an opportunity to ask questions if there be any.
• The chairman reserves the right to call for a recess or to end the proceedings for any reason.
• At the conclusion of oral testimony, the board will have a work period to discuss amongst themselves and determine what action to take.
• Decisions of the zoning board will be forwarded to the county commission for disposition.
• The chairman reserves the right to extend or shorten oral testimony as he determines to be appropriate.

 

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June 6, 2019:

NOTICE lS HEREBY GIVEN to all users, owners, occupants, agents and public officials in charge of land in
Hand County, South Dakota. That Hand County intends to protect the right-of-way under its lawful
control from unlawful or unauthorized injury, obstruction, misuse, intrusion, constructions, destruction,
occupation by crops, or the artificial killing or stunting of natural vegetation, excluding recognized
noxious weeds.
NOTICE lS HEREBY GIVEN that an application to occupy, use, alter, build upon, build in or remove
features shall be commenced upon proper authorization of the Hand County Board of Commissioners
and issuance of a permit to occupy the right-of-way.
NOTICE lS HEREBY GIVEN that failure to comply with this notice, Hand County may pursue prosecution
and restitution for damages which result from a violation of SDCL Chapter 31-32 or any public offense as
appropriate in order to preserve the right-of-ways in Hand County.

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Notice is herby given that The Hand County Open Burning Advisory Board has voted to enact a burn ban effective June 8th, 2017. A complete copy of the burn ban ordinance can be found here: Burn Ban Ordinance NO. 08-01 Please contact the Hand County Emergency Management Office 605-204-0267 or the Hand County Sheriff’s Office 605-853-2408 for any burn ban questions.

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Notice is hereby given that Hand County through its Board of Zoning will hold a hearing for the purpose of taking testimony from interested parties who are either proponents or opponents of the requested application for conditional use permit requested by Northern Prime Feeders, LLC (proposing construction of a 50,000 head feedlot) located at the Eagle Pass Ranch property located in the SW 1/4 and W 1/2 SE 1/4 of section 20; N 1/2 NW 1/4 and NW 1/4 NE 1/4 of section 29; government lots 3 and 4 and SE 1/4 of section 19; and government lot 1 and N 1/2 NE 1/4 of section 30 all in township 112-70 (Ree Heights).  Prior to the meeting, the Zoning Administrator will receive written comments under the following conditions:

1.      They must be either printed or type written for legibility.

2.      They must be signed legibly by all parties represented in the comment.

3.      The comments must clearly state the person or persons or organization submitting the comment and who their spokesperson is.

4.      The writer must declare in the first paragraph if the comment is in support of, or against, or neutral as to adoption or passage of the conditional use permit.

5.      The comments are to either be delivered to or mailed in printed form to the Zoning Administrator c/o: Hand County Assessor’s Office, 415 West 1st Avenue, Miller, South Dakota 57362.

6.      The comment period begins March 12, 2014 and ends April 2, 2014.  Comments not postmarked or received by April 2, 2014 may not be considered for review.

7.      The writer acknowledges in presentation of the comment that it is a public record and open to inspection and reproduction upon request of any interested party.

 

A public hearing will be held on April 22, 2014 at 1 P.M. (CT) in the courtroom of the Hand County courthouse at which time public testimony will be taken from proponents and from opponents as it relates to passage of the conditional use permit.  Testimony can be offered under the following conditions:

 

1.      The person to offer testimony must notify the zoning administrator by April 18, 2014 and provide all printed materials for distribution.  The printed materials must be written in the same manner as the written comments above.

2.      Copies are to be provided by the presenter for each of the board members and any member of the gallery requested them. (local staff will not make copies)

3.      The person offering testimony must identify themselves to the panel and state whether they are speaking as a proponent, opponent or are neutral in their position.

4.      The person offering testimony is to speak clearly, loudly and to the panel, no comments will be addressed to the crowd, only the zoning board.

5.      Testimony is to be confined to the issuance of the conditional use permit.

6.      Each speaker will be allowed 3 minutes to offer testimony.  At the conclusion, the speaker will return to their seat.  There will be no “yielding” of one speakers time to another.

7.      Groups will be heard individually, by a single spokesperson and only if they are registered individually.

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The public safety exercise was completed on September 26 and by most accounts…went very well.  From a L.E. perspective we learned a great deal about what we lack in deploying help from assisting agencies.  Those problems are:  Lack of Communication.  We currently lack a full time officer manager / dispatcher and taking & placing calls from the field is very difficult and counterproductive.  The sheriff’s staff needs to engage the leadership of the fire departments and ambulance sooner to affect a coordinated response and defining leadership to the responders.

Nehemia and I would like to “THANK” everyone who helped with this exercise and let you know that it was taxing at times and also very gratifying to see things work.  You all did a great job, even when things didn’t feel like they were going well…in the end, progress was being made.

Doug

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September 26, 2012 PUBLIC SAFETY / ST. LAWRENCE EXERCISE:

Emergency Management Officials will hold a countywide public safety exercise on September 26, 2012.

The exercise will be centered out of St. Lawrence. This was done because most exercises have either been rural or in or close to Miller. The idea is expand into the communities and bring in new players, participants and environments.

There will be “no” explosions or fires set during this exercise. There will be people / responders on foot or in vehicles and they may engage anyone to achieve their response goals. We would encourage everyone; responder, volunteer or person contacted to “play along” as if was a real event and be truthful. The planning team has the agenda laid out so you will not need to pretend or makeup situations if approached by a responder.

If you are interested in participating, please check out this week’s Miller Press and then on Wednesday wait for the signal or information to be presented.

As with all planned exercises…safety is our first objective and we do not want anyone to place themselves for anyone else in harm’s way.

Sheriff Doug DeBoer & Emergency Manager Nehemia Volquardsen.

For full details, view this message on the web.

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04-01-2012:

FIRE PROTECTION:  The authority to activate or deactivate the “burn ban” rests with a committee which reports to the county commission.  This committee is comprised of one member from each organized fire department in the county, normally the fire chief, the county emergency manager and the county sheriff.  None of the cities are represented on the committee because the county does not have authority to regulate such matters within the confines of the cities.  Each city council is empowered to address that issue.

In times when a “burn ban” is not in place, the sheriff’s office through it’s dispatch function, notifies agencies over the mutual aid radio system, the NIXLE text / email alert system, or direct email or text, or other means if appropriate, of weather conditions which cause concern for open burning. We use the National Weather Service website as our tool for understanding fire conditions.  You too can access this information at www.weather.gov/abr .  Another useful link for fire danger is found at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/unr/firewx/rfd.php .  This link provides a visual dipiction of fire weather status for the state of South Dakota.

The website will give you the information you need to determine present weather conditions, fire hazards (red flag), and weekly forecasts.

Burn bans typically do not include the burning of household trash in a barrel or other enclosed container and also does not include large incinerators which are enclosed.

Open burning represents a threat for the day it occurs and the days that follow it.  A dormant fire can rekindle easily with the right mixture of wind and humidity.  “Cow patties” can lay burning, dormant for days and be rekindled with little change in the weather.  These types of fires should be monitored regularly.

Anyone who lets a fire spread without due caution or regard can be held criminally and civilly responsible through court action.  We suggest that those who burn exercise extreme care and caution and be mindful of your neighbors.

The sheriff’s office will not tell you that you “can not burn”, we will tell you it is not recommended.  The decision to light that fire rests with the person, agent or property owner who strikes up the source of ignition.  If a burn ban is issued, other consequences can be imposed in addition to those previously discussed.

Sheriff DeBo