Jason Hutchinson, 52, is in custody at an Ohio federal prison facing charges for allegedly sexually victimizing two children and being in possession of a large quantity of child pornography.
The regular Dunn County Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 7, involved allegations of misconduct, an ongoing property dispute and a discussion about a golden doodle puppy.
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS DUNN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS January 4, 2023 Members Present: Commissioners Lundberg, Dolezal, Buehner, Kleemann and Pelton Others Present: Sally Whittingham, David Lym, Carl Rohde, Darin Schaeffer, Dessie Calihou, Del Olson, Gary Kuhn, Jeremy Wood, Christina Kissinger, Adeline Ingold, Julie Karey, Willard Tormaschy, James Walz Motion by Commissioner Dolezal seconded by Commissioner Buehner, to approve the December 21st minutes. All voted aye, motion carried. Additions to the agenda, to add the Strategic plan by Commissioner Dolezal. Motion by Commissioner Pelton, seconded by Commissioner Buehner to accept the agenda with the change. All voted aye, motion carried. Superintendent of the Road Department, David Lym introduced James Walz, a new employee with the road dept. Carl Rohde appeared for Civil Science to give updates on the projects his firm is working on. 86th Ave SW, 92nd Ave SW and updated on 2024 Projects. The bid opening for 15th St. Box Culvert was on June 1st. Edward Schwartz Construction was the low bidder. Darin Schaeffer with Bartlett & West updated on the projects for his company. The corp permit has been submitted for 2nd St. NW/84th Ave. NW. Manning improvements, continue to adjust grades and profiles for drainage. David Lym reported for James Kadrmas with Interstate Engineering. 109th Ave. SW, 82nd Ave. SW, 26th St. SW and 27th St. SW. Jeremy Wood with Northern Plains Engineering appeared to update the commission on the projects his firm is working on. Upadating on 25th St and 88th Ave. SW. This will require mitigation of approximately 0.9 acres. Commissioner Dolezal moves that we purchase the easement for offsite mitigation of 25th and 88th , seconded by Commissioner Buehner. Roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. David Lym thanked the road department for all their hard work during the December snow storms. Will Albrecht appeared to discuss his 2023 budget making his part-time person full time and to hire a new Assistant Building and Grounds employee, and increase in payroll of approximately $42798.08. He also asked for and additional $20,000.00 for care and supplies on the road shops. Motion by Commissioner Pelton and seconded by Commissioner Kleemann to approve an increase of $62,798.08 to the budget for the Building and Grounds Department. Roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. Carie Boster with the Park Board appeared to discuss the appointment to their board. Casey brew resigned with the park board. They have two people interested in being appointed. Daryl Dukart and Bob Brew. Motion by Commissioner Buehner to appoint Bob Brew, seconded by Commissioner Kleemann. All voted aye, motion carried. Carie Boster discussed the SW Reap Board appointees. Cliff Ferebee retired, Sandy Rohde is interested and she asked to appoint Sandy Rohde. Motion by Commissioner Buehner to appoint Sandy Rohde to the SW Reap Board, seconded by Commissioner Dolezal. All voted aye, motion carried. Director of HR, Dessie Calihou appeared to discuss the NDACo High Performance Leadership Academy. They have added two more classes to their curriculum. She is asking for money to send the interested individuals to the classes. She explained how the classes work. Motion by Commissioner Dolezal to approve to pay for the classes for those employees that would like to attend, this would include Social Services and NDSU Extension. Seconded by Commissioner Pelton. Roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. Oaths of Office were given for Gary Kuhn/Sheriff, Lisa Guenther/Recorder & Ex-Officio Clerk of Court and Christina Kissinger/States Attorney. Commissioner Dolezal discussed doing a new strategic plan for the county. The last one ended in 2022. She would like us to work on the plan for the next three years using a facilitator to help with the plan. We have used Jason Matthews in the past. This would be for the years 2023-2025. Motion by Commissioner Lundberg to move forward with the strategic plan, seconded by Commissioner Dolezal. Roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 2023 Commissioner Portfolio Assignments as agreed upon by the Commissioners Planning & Zoning – Commissioner Dolezal, Airport Authority- Commissioners Pelton &Lundberg, Badlands Human Service Center Representative-Commissioner Dolezal, Housing Authority-Commissioner Kleemann, Park Board-Commissioners Dolezal & Kleemann, SWMCCC Representative – Commissioner Dolezal, Job Development Authority – Commissioner Kleemann, Road Department Commissioners Pelton & Lundberg, Sheriff Office – Commissioner Kleemann, Buildings Committee – Commissioners Pelton & Buehner, Human Resources – Commissioners Buehner & Dolezal, NDSU Extension – Commissioners Kleemann & Lundberg, Tax Director – Commissioner Kleemann, School District Reorganization Committee- Commissioner Lundberg, States Attorney – Commissioner Buehner, County Building & Grounds – Commissioners Kleemann & Buehner, Emergency Manager -Commissioner Pelton, 911- Commissioner Pelton, Vision West Committee/Board – Commissioner Dolezal, Roosevelt Custer Regional Council – Commissioner Lundberg, Dunn County Fair Board – Commissioner Lundberg, Food Pantry- Commissioner Lundberg. Tate Harris appeared to get authorization from Dunn County for construction/operation of the Water Depot Reservoir encroaching of the section line between the SE4 of section 26-144-97 and the NE4 of section 35-144-97 in Dunn County. of a section line encroachment. Motion by Commissioner Lundberg, seconded by Commissioner Dolezal, to approve the authorization of construction/operation as presented. Roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. Christina Kissinger, States Attorney appeared to discuss the pay scale presented for the state’s attorney. Christina is requesting a higher salary based on her school and experience as an attorney and stated she is her to serve the county. She said positions around the state are starting at $93,000.00 and would like to be in that salary range. Motion by Commissioner Pelton to start Christina at $88,000.00 plus cola, seconded by Commissioner Kleemann. Roll call vote, Commissioners Dolezal, Buehner & Lundberg voted no. Commissioners Kleemann & Pelton voted aye. Motion failed. Motion by Commissioner Buehner to start the salary at the $82264.00 as suggested by the pay scale, seconded by Commissioner Dolezal. Roll call vote. Commissioners Buehner, Dolezal & Lundberg voted aye, Commissioners Pelton and Kleemann voted no. Motion carried. Leisa Moore with the States Attorney Office appeared to discuss funding for the Care Program. The program is for victims of crime and in need of assistance. She is requesting that $500.00 be put into the existing account. Motion by Commissioner Dolezal, seconded by Commissioner Buehner to table the discussion. All voted aye, motion carried. Interim Auditor Whittingham asked for approval for an application for a Special Events Permit for the Pipe Bar & Grill for Bull Days. Motion by Commissioner Kleemann, seconded by Commissioner Buehner to approve the application for a permit. All voted aye, motion carried. Beth Dooley with SEH Engineering appeared via teams to discuss the NDDOT Overlay Project. They are consultants for the DOT. They are currently working on a Highway 22 project. They are requesting a temporary construction easement. This will disappear after the project is over. SEH is requesting to have the temporary easement approved and signed. Motion to approve by Commissioner Pelton and seconded by Commissioner Buehner. All voted aye, motion carried. Motion to reconsider the States Attorneys pay by Commissioner Dolezal, seconded by Commissioner Pelton. All voted aye, motion carried. Commissioner Dolezal requested to amend the offer to the State’s Attorney to a 25 percentile into the pay scale to bring the amount offered to $90504.00 annually. This would keep all offers consistent. Motion by Commissioner Dolezal, seconded by Commissioner Kleemann to make the States Attorney salary $90204.00. This will amend the first offer of $82,664.00 annually. Upon roll cal
Dunn County candidates for office participated in a Southwest Patriots Coalition debate in Dickinson on Tuesday night in an event that featured several area candidates not in attendance.