County Passes Budget, Levy

By Jill Fennema –

At last week’s county board meeting, the county board of commissioners set the 2022 levy and operating budget. The county levy was increased by 8.62 percent, for a total levy of $7,952,656. The county’s total operating budget for 2022 is $21,410,616.

Commissioner Dan Wildermuth commented that he appreciated all the hard work the administration and staff did to make a balanced budget. “Fiscally, the county is doing well,” he said. “We have no debt and are not spending out of reserves with this budget.”

The board recognized Assistant County Attorney Scott Barduson for his work with the county for the past 43 years. “We sure appreciate that longevity and years of service,” said Board Chairman Luke Johnson. Barduson could not be at the meeting to accept his plaque or peace pipe.

The board approved salary increases for the elected officials. The sheriff’s salary was increased by 5.75 percent. The county attorney, assistant attorney, and recorder each received a 5 percent increase.

The union and non-union employees were also approved for a 2.5 percent salary increase.

The board also voted to increase their own compensation by 2.5 percent.

Commissioner Dan Wildermuth did not vote for the increase, after commenting that he thought they were already generously compensated by the people of Pipestone County. The stipend increase was passed, with a vote of 3 to 1, with Dallas Roskamp not present at the meeting.

The 2022 compensation to each county commissioner will be $22,734.

Nick Bergman gave the update from the highway department. He requested that the county make final payments for several projects that have been completed this past year.   The board approved those payments as well as the purchase of new tires for a motor grader. Normally, Bergman would not need to ask the board to purchase tires, but they are getting so expensive that the purchase required board action. The cost for 8 new tires was $12,702 from Royal Tire.

In other matters, County Auditor/Treasurer Amanda Sandy came to the board to request approval for the 2020 restricted and assigned funds accounts, which the board approved.

Casey Sievert, the EMS/EM director, came to the board to request adjustments to the ambulance fee schedule and increase the pay for ambulance personnel. The board approved those changes. The last time the fee schedule was updated was 2018 and the last time the stipends for the EMS personnel was updated was 2017.

Pipestone currently has a hardship variance allowing first responders (EMRs) to drive the ambulance due to a decrease in volunteers over the past five years. State statute and the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board require that an additional crew be staffed during transfers, which is addressed with standby pay for primary, secondary, and tertiary crews.

As of last Monday, the Pipestone County Ambulance Service had reached a record level number of calls at just over 1,000 calls; of those calls, around 300 were transfer calls.

County Administrator Steve Ewing, who formerly served as the EMS director, commented, “I remember when we did 300 calls a year and thought we were busy.”

Eventually our county EMS goal is to staff a 911 crew on weekends and nights, because there are fewer people who respond to “all calls” during those times.

Wildermuth thanked Sievert and the EMS staff for their work, adding. “ We don’t truly appreciate what we have until it is gone.”

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