[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6195884,"mediaKeyId","3858922-dc613e690fa38522bc385d224185710d","parentId",3858922,"title","At-a-glance: Pennington County commissioners approve appointments, contracts and planning items; treasurer requests FTEs deferred","audioSeconds",6027,"startMs",1413000,"endMs",7440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858922-dc613e690fa38522bc385d224185710d&start=1413&end=7440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858922-dc613e690fa38522bc385d224185710d/thumbnail_1413000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6195884/Pennington-County/South-Dakota/At-a-glance-Pennington-County-commissioners-approve-appointments-contracts-and-planning-items-treasurer-requests-FTEs-deferred","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195884-a38ea7c407fa1136cbcc3df227c47ad2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148388&Signature=G80s3JPbVDq4vOckjUSvLAk5WXssZwXefZ20Go2Itg6sl4fafaaXi09d47dYGgci7MVW3085otEdighqUPZL5wfa~SdqW~NtkORNINPCqw5aleFVKmPmFU~watRkqbTMYBh1IcY-9SPtld0jGayqLmLkgdu0JgxOh3Hanbz35VEKhCJNxCmJym~EOCHceoLmjw-eBApoAPbbMi3qfpEUQ7boG~OTnBupHBSEOXfWw9~OEgy-XxenZuYSfdLPwtv~SQfACQdJYEwjYjf078i3b~teVIdU8q0XMimfoR66q8H8trRmITLQ1jbW3jIrVtCck66ghXUnFQDZF1JhpiYr-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennington County, SD","date","2025-06-18T12:14:58.167Z","article","Pennington County commissioners on June 17 handled a range of routine and contested matters: they approved appointments to advisory panels, awarded contracts for highway materials and fuel, endorsed several planning and zoning items, deferred a treasurer staffing request pending a data review, and authorized a formal request to the Bureau of Land Management on prairie dog cooperative management.

Key votes at the meeting (outcomes and brief details):

- Personnel step increases (Consent item 5g): Approved 3–2. (See separate article.)

- 4‑H Extension Advisory Board appointment (Denise Maher): Approved 4–1. Commissioner Drews moved the appointment and a second was recorded; Maher introduced herself and said she would bring volunteer experience and 4‑H familiarity to the advisory board.

- Planning Commission appointment (Matt Small): Approved by substitute motion, 3–2. The board considered three candidates and appointed Matt Small after a substituted nomination carried on a 3–2 vote.

- Black Hills Energy briefing: No action. (County emergency management and Black Hills Energy agreed to continue data exchanges and coordination; see separate article.)

- Cohort craft brewery retail license (new on/off-sale malt beverage, SD farm wine, wine & cider retail license): Approved unanimously.

- Highway purchases: Authorized guardrail purchases from state contract and added diesel/gas purchasing through the state contract addendum. County staff said bulk purchasing from state contracts saved significant per-gallon and unit costs.

- Treasurer request for three FTEs (Annette Brandt): Deferred. Treasurer Brandt asked to add three full‑time equivalent positions to handle increased transaction workloads under the new state vehicle/titling system. Commissioners requested additional analysis (transaction times, five‑day vs. four‑day service scenarios and staffing comparisons) and a data package to be returned for consideration; the treasurer offered to supply raw data and a staff-assisted analysis with a target update at the next meeting.

- Fireworks season briefing and legal review: County fire and the state fire marshal and state attorney’s office briefed the board on county limitations, enforcement windows and public safety. Legal counsel reiterated that county authority to prohibit fireworks is limited by state statute and usually applies in extreme grassland-fire-index conditions and only in defined time windows; municipalities retain broader local authority.

- Natural resources: The board authorized staff to submit a formal request to the Bureau of Land Management for cooperative management action on prairie‑dog impacts to adjacent private land.

- Multiple planning and land‑use approvals (variances, rezones, preliminary plans and a conditional-use overlay for the Institute for Creation Research visitor/education use): The Planning Department and Planning Commission recommended approval of several items; the board concurred and approved the listed rezones, variances and preliminary plans.

- Executive session: The board met in executive session for personnel evaluation and pending litigation matters, then returned and authorized settlement for an outstanding litigation matter as recorded in the public minutes.

What’s next: The treasurer will return with the requested analysis of staffing scenarios, queue-system metrics and a comparison of transactions-per-employee so the board can evaluate the March FTE request during budget preparations. County staff will continue dialog with Black Hills Energy on outage-mapping and medically vulnerable-population datasets ahead of the late‑summer fire-weather window.

Votes at a glance (selected motions and outcomes):
- Approve personnel step increases (consent 5g): Approved 3–2 (Ayes: Durden, Hadcock, Wyvenbach; Noes: Drews, Rossknecht).
- Appoint Denise Maher, 4‑H Extension Advisory Board: Approved 4–1 (mover: Drews; second: Durden).
- Appoint Matt Small, Planning Commission: Approved 3–2 (substitute motion carried).
- Approve new retail license (Cohort craft brewery): Approved unanimously.
- Authorize guardrail purchase (state contract): Approved unanimously.
- Authorize bulk fuel purchases via state contract addendum: Approved unanimously.
- Treasurer request 3 FTEs: Deferred; additional data requested (target update: next meeting).
- Authorize letter to BLM for cooperative management (prairie dogs): Approved unanimously.
- Approve multiple planning items (rezones, variances, preliminary plans, conditional use overlay): Approved, per agenda (see official minutes for itemized roll calls).

For full roll-call tallies, motions and the precise language of conditions attached to planning approvals, readers should consult the official meeting minutes and staff reports posted on the county website.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pennington County Board of Commissioners Meeting 6-17-25 LIVE WILL BE DELETED WHEN VIDEO IS UPLOADED","oneSentenceSummary","The Board approved several appointments, vendor contracts and land-use actions, deferred the treasurer’s request for three additional full‑time equivalents pending more data, and authorized a letter asking the BLM to pursue cooperative prairie-dog control.","taxTitle","Pennington County, South Dakota","taxId",2745,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6195889,"Commission approves personnel step increases for recent hires after split vote; commissioners debate policy and budget impacts",475,895000,1370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858922-dc613e690fa38522bc385d224185710d&start=895&end=1370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858922-dc613e690fa38522bc385d224185710d/thumbnail_895000.jpg","/articles/6195889/Pennington-County/South-Dakota/Commission-approves-personnel-step-increases-for-recent-hires-after-split-vote-commissioners-debate-policy-and-budget-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195889-74bbdf7ce66ab9fd3127a3ed1b941e44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148388&Signature=dQhWgJu4bu8rQol5m1lI2cFr3BGgTqw-vPvBOEER2QTYddwFKu0ELYuu1UcqZm~jRY94g2hh1~YuWmThewM0-vRaJYIA43I5W9RT1RCWr-J87pKe4EnYW6dblGSLTeTMFCeg-OGAGpBA-05FAmdpyDufcYro864PCGYvcAFBbViOXjfPCLCYnj5UHmF354ROgjymUFVZtAjUwgyUrgxTrUROLQtKfcN8tVjXcqEy2~oICOtnqc-yISSc3HHo6nApXybA1CKaAa0Ihg9tZpfvX7tAauOgqf8LjJK42HvYEUnJ1mlJPQF5ogvKDQ7NFl6Y5caL~OnkWZwzTpUF-jRBrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A three-to-two majority of the Pennington County Board of Commissioners on June 17 approved personnel step increases for two recently hired human-resources positions, a routine action under the county’s personnel policy that drew sharp debate about fairness and budgeting.

Commissioners approved the consent-agenda item removing the personnel actions from the consent calendar and then voting to adopt them. The motion passed 3–2 (Ayes: Commissioners Durden, Hadcock and Chair Wyvenbach; Noes: Commissioners Drews and Rossknecht).

Carol Bancroft, Pennington County HR director, told commissioners the increases were being requested under the county policy that allows step adjustments during the first 12 months of employment. “Both of those are close to their one year, which the policy states that within their first year, first 12 months, that there can be an increase in steps,” Bancroft said. She said the policy allows employees to move up to 10 steps and that the two individuals in question were well below that limit.

Commissioner Drews questioned whether it was too soon to give substantial step increases, noting one change proposed for the marketing manager would amount to “over $3,200 increase in salary, and that doesn’t include the normal increase.” Drews and Commissioner Rossknecht both urged review of the policy’s discretion to permit large moves for new hires, and asked for a more uniform, budget‑driven approach to step increases.

Commissioner Hadcock said the practice has been applied consistently across departments and defended the department heads’ decision to use the policy now; Hadcock also offered to consider a future policy change to create uniform limits. Bancroft said the two employees were within policy limits and that one was at step five and the other at step three of the job progression.

After discussion, the board approved the requested personnel actions by roll call. The HR director said staff will follow the same policy process in future personnel reports and that commissioners who want a policy change can forward specific edits through the HR office for a future agenda.

No further motions were made to change the county personnel policy at this meeting; commissioners directed staff to include stepped-pay practices and clearer hire-date information in future personnel reports so the board can evaluate budgetary implications during the next budget cycle.","Pennington County commissioners approved routine step increases for two recent HR office hires under the county’s personnel policy, after a 3–2 roll-call vote that followed extended debate about early promotions, budgeting and consistent countywide practice.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6195894,"County emergency officials press Black Hills Energy on planned power shutoffs, urge local coordination",5729,2241000,7970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858922-dc613e690fa38522bc385d224185710d&start=2241&end=7970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858922-dc613e690fa38522bc385d224185710d/thumbnail_2241000.jpg","/articles/6195894/Pennington-County/South-Dakota/County-emergency-officials-press-Black-Hills-Energy-on-planned-power-shutoffs-urge-local-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195894-c86f4ff0ed20c860218286698d881897/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148388&Signature=i6fe-vdB-Lpbl7~T7S84qxeQkZLrKIfeh5CQgIMnoFbTDhI6eJDUqLUgKOy5IcPeqcQxEyAyO3Kwm0TmxK5CbJcBQbvkWvFOshU5vi-7IKBi6BqK1yITQjQkyaZumWVmz~hf~n4M5iahHE9MT55f4mlcTHyijfOyAgaQFnbUEr3XK8VQSelbEUqDHUkq4AztvuJNhEty3V7LVfkD7s8ECs5qXJ6ue6m90DHtqMFPCvEytzqZN8TEBGInCV5uIY~9TKfl0xWPjtpQjDx5Qo62~3gDsbIw7WJw943JehK1~qbw801EBcQ16JovPkW-H91aAFAEYK6JYkNQwbAv0eUQYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pennington County emergency management officials on June 17 pressed Black Hills Energy for details about the utility’s planned public safety power shutdowns — preemptive de-energizations of lines intended to reduce wildfire ignitions — and asked for sharper, local coordination to protect medically vulnerable residents and critical infrastructure.

Dustin Willett, Pennington County director of emergency management, told the Board of Commissioners the tool is already in use in other Western states and that local planning must focus on residents who rely on electricity for life-sustaining medical devices, on water systems that need electric pumps, and on telecommunication and public-notification capabilities. “Our concern is if these shutdowns are long duration — and our definition for long duration power loss is over 24 hours — there are cascading consequences,” Willett said.

Willett and other county officials said they have been meeting with Black Hills Energy (BHE) and are seeking data the county needs to estimate the scope of harm: the number and locations of electricity-dependent medical-device users, the mapping of distribution circuits that could be de-energized, and inventories of wells, lift stations and other critical infrastructure that lack backup power.

Steven Dunn, vice president of pipeline compliance and asset management at Black Hills Energy, told the commissioners BHE treats a public safety power shutoff as a “tool of last resort” and that the company uses site-specific weather and fuel-condition data to make decisions. “A public safety power shutoff is not like the first lever that we look to pull,” Dunn said, adding the company is aiming for targeted outages and earlier, proactive notifications so customers can prepare. Dunn said the company uses localized weather stations and meteorologists and that historical shutoffs elsewhere have an average duration around 48 hours, though the range varies.

County officials pressed specific operational and policy questions: what geographic units would be de-energized; how many customers could be affected; how much advance notice customers can expect; whether telecom systems and water systems would remain reliable; and who would pay for large-scale public response operations if outages drive costly sheltering, water distribution or medical shelter needs.

Mark Hughes, chief deputy sheriff, said first responders and dispatch centers want clearer rules for response and public messaging. “This is touted as a public safety initiative, and the public is not ready for this to take place,” Hughes told the commission. Stephanie Olsen, deputy director of the county 9-1-1 center, said the dispatch center will push non-emergency questions to 211 and is preparing ways to send callers direct links to maps and guidance to reduce call volumes.

Willett described three near-term lines of work for emergency management: (1) map the likely course of harm by overlaying vulnerable populations (for example, people on oxygen) with circuits that may be affected; (2) ramp up public-preparedness messaging — including guidance for food, water and generator safety; and (3) finalize response plans and cost estimates for logistics such as community reception centers, bottled water distribution and limited sheltering. He said the county is coordinating with the state Department of Health on an “EMPOWER” dataset of electrically dependent medical-device users.

Black Hills Energy said it has been sharing information with local stakeholders and is building customer-facing web tools and notifications. Dunn said the company is working to reduce impacts by isolating high-risk segments where possible and upgrading equipment, and emphasized that shutoffs are not triggered by routine “red flag” days but by more extreme combinations of wind, humidity and local fuel conditions.

Commissioners and county staff asked BHE to provide more granular, circuit-level maps and to continue direct engagement with county emergency planners, fire districts and law enforcement. The county also requested clarity on timelines and financing if local jurisdictions must support large-scale response operations.

No formal action was taken; county staff said they would continue regular meetings with Black Hills Energy and push for the datasets and mapping the county needs to finalize response plans and public-notification protocols.","Pennington County emergency managers and public-safety officials raised questions about Black Hills Energy’s plan to de-energize power lines during extreme wildfire risk, seeking local data, notification thresholds and support for residents who depend on electricity for medical devices.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

At-a-glance: Pennington County commissioners approve appointments, contracts and planning items; treasurer requests FTEs deferred

Commission approves personnel step increases for recent hires after split vote; commissioners debate policy and budget impacts

County emergency officials press Black Hills Energy on planned power shutoffs, urge local coordination