Jeff Hargens – Highway Superintendent
Dan Fischer – Assistant Highway Superintendent
Jeff Phinney – Shop Manager
Chris Schaefers – Office Manager
Nicole Gortmaker – Auditor Liaison
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810 E 2nd Street
Miller, SD 57362
(605) 853-3292
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Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 7:00 – 5:30
Click on image to enlarge
Click on image to enlargeThe Hand County Highway department maintains 230 miles of paved roads and 185 miles of gravel roads on the county road system. They maintain 107 bridges on the state inspection list as well as numerous smaller bridges, box culverts, metal culverts and the waterways on which the right-of-way is located. The department has 13 full time employees which includes three administrative personnel, and on occasion seasonal employees.
We are responsible for the coordination of the maintenance of the Hand County Highway system. We perform maintenance, snow removal and function as project coordinator on gravel, bridge, and right-of-way projects as well as other necessary jobs and activities. We are subject to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week including all holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Harrison Township is the only unorganized township in the county. Inherently by default their roads fall under the responsibility of the Hand County Highway department. Any problems with the roads in other townships should be directed to the Township Chairman. To find out who your chairman is, click on the link below.
If any of the information on this list is out of date please let us know.
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ATTENTION ALL TOWNSHIPS: Funding opportunity available
Does you’re Township have small bridges or culverts you need to replace? The South Dakota Legislature created the Rural Access Infrastructure Fund to help townships and counties repair and replace culverts and bridges on township and county secondary roads.
For this particular program Townships need to fill out their own applications individually.
Check out the Townships section of our website under the Auditors menu or click on this link to go to the South Dakota Townships website. They are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the RAIF program.
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5 YEAR CONSTRUCTION PLAN
These are the problem areas we are planning to address in the near future. Please note these plans are tentative and susceptible to changes as scheduling and other issues arise.
2023-2027 Five Year Plan (7/1/23)
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NOTICE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY LAWS
For reasons of liability, it is necessary for Hand County to enforce the state laws that protect the county right-of-ways. Anyone who compromises the roadway or its right-of-way can be charged, based on SDCL 31-32-7
Examples are, but not limited to: planting in right-of-way, irrigation water going onto roads, dumping trash in ditches and pushing snow into ditches. The charge depends on the severity of the offense and the intention of the offender. Any crops planted in the road right-of-way of county maintained roads will be removed by the Hand County Highway Department and the expense will be added to the taxes on that property.
It is the intention of the Hand County Highway Department, Hand County Planning and Zoning, and the Hand County Commissioners to support and encourage other county officials in the enforcement of these laws so as to extend the life of the county roads, reduce maintenance and replacement costs in the future, and for liability reasons. Hand County Officials ask for your cooperation in this matter.
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