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# Meade County considers auditor and commissioner appointments Tuesday as Rapid City reviews airport loan
- URL: https://www.bunchgrass.org/meade-county-considers-auditor-and-commissioner-appointments-tuesday-as-rapid-city-reviews-airport-loan/
- Published: 2026-11-08T16:36:22.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-08T16:36:22.000Z
- Description: This week in Black Hills local government: Meade County considers appointing an auditor and a District 5 commissioner, Rapid City committees review an $18.8 million airport loan and OneHeart lease, and Hill City takes up its 2027 budget.
- Author: Bunchgrass Staff
- Tags: Black Hills, #look-ahead

The Meade County Commission on Tuesday will consider appointing a county auditor and a District 5 commissioner after the county auditor's resignation took effect Nov. 6 and Commissioner Richard Liggett resigned effective Nov. 9\. The same day in Rapid City, two council committees take up an $18.823 million loan from the city's Vision Fund to the airport for its terminal expansion and a new lease with OneHeart. On Monday the Hill City Common Council has the second reading of its 2027 budget and will consider approving the results of the vote on a 1% sales tax for water and sewer projects.

## Pennington County

### Pennington County Planning Commission

The Planning Commission meets Monday, Nov. 9, at 9 a.m. in the County Commissioners' Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 900 Concourse Drive, Rapid City. The [agenda](https://pennco.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=195&ref=bunchgrass.org) includes a comprehensive plan amendment and a rezoning, both continued from Oct. 13, for 16.25 acres at 12175 White Horse Road owned by Wheaton Enterprises LLC: changing the future land use from ranchette to rural residential and the zoning from agriculture to rural residential. Staff recommends approval of both. The consent agenda holds eight conditional use permit reviews, including ending two vacation home rental permits whose properties changed hands. The Board of Commissioners will take up the commission's recommendations Tuesday, Nov. 17\. Speaker request forms are at the back of the room; written comments go to penncoplanzone@gmail.com, and anyone wanting to appear by phone should call 605-394-2186 a day ahead.

The Board of Commissioners has no meeting this week. The special meeting it had set for Monday, Nov. 9, to appoint a temporary auditor was canceled after Auditor Sabrina Green told commissioners at their [Nov. 4 meeting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P63OfwR8CQ&ref=bunchgrass.org) that she was rescinding her Nov. 6 resignation and submitting a new one effective Jan. 16.

### Rapid City Public Works and Legal and Finance committees

Both committees meet Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 12:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 300 Sixth St., with the [Legal and Finance Committee](https://www.rcgov.org/agendas/legal-finance-committee-agendas/2026-legal-finance-agendas/2026-11-10-legal-finance-committee-agenda-15981.html?ref=bunchgrass.org) following the [Public Works Committee](https://www.rcgov.org/agendas/public-works-agendas/2026-public-works-agenda/2026-11-10-public-works-committee-meeting-15982.html?ref=bunchgrass.org). Their recommendations go to the Common Council on Monday, Nov. 16.

Legal and Finance will consider a memorandum of understanding for an [$18.823 million loan](https://www.rcgov.org/agenda-items/legal-finance-committee-agenda-items/2026-lf-agenda-items/lf111026-03-15935.html?ref=bunchgrass.org) from the Vision Fund to Rapid City Regional Airport for the terminal expansion, in addition to a $44.35 million Vision Fund capital contribution. The loan carries 4.966% interest over 30 years, and the staff summary says the rate would save the airport more than $4.2 million compared with borrowing on its own. Also on the non-consent agenda: Resolution 2026-085, a new lease with OneHeart to replace one that ends Dec. 31, under which the city would take on more maintenance, including major building systems and structural repairs; a request for proposals for a consultant to update the zoning ordinance, subdivision rules and future land use plan, estimated at up to $300,000 over 18 months and not yet budgeted; and the second reading recommendation on Ordinance 6758, moving the community enrichment division to the finance department.

The Legal and Finance consent agenda includes Resolution 2026-087, setting 2027 fees, with a 5% increase in landfill tipping fees and about a 10% increase in water reclamation permit fees, according to the [staff summary](https://www.rcgov.org/agenda-items/legal-finance-committee-agenda-items/2026-lf-agenda-items/lf111026-01-15933.html?ref=bunchgrass.org), and the purchase of two transit buses for $1,621,190, 85% federally funded. Public Works will consider changes to the agreement for public improvements that governs subdivision construction, which staff recommends, and a request by Renner Associates for an exception allowing more than 40 homes on a single access, with no staff recommendation. Each committee takes public comment on consent and non-consent items and general public comment on matters not on the agenda.

### Hill City Common Council

The council meets Monday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 243 Deerfield Road, with a phone option listed on the [agenda](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bZB%5FzYVDVpLNvr4BGve647rYwmCrcWCw/view?ref=bunchgrass.org). Action items include approving the election results and signing Ordinance 2026-03, the 1% sales tax for capital projects under House Bill 1245\. Voters approved the tax with 77% of the vote, and it runs from January 2027 through 2031, or until the designated water and sewer projects are funded if sooner, [the Rapid City Post reported](https://rapidcitypost.com/what-was-the-ballot-question-for-hill-city?ref=bunchgrass.org). The council also has the second reading of the 2027 budget, Ordinance 2026-01; the first reading of Ordinance 2026-02, supplemental appropriations; Resolution 2026-21, an interfund transfer from the general fund to debt service; a funding mechanism for phase III of the wastewater treatment plant; and 2027 liquor and wine license renewals. Public comment is limited to 15 minutes in all and three minutes per speaker.

## Meade County

### Meade County Commission

The commission meets Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m. in the Commission Meeting Room of the Erskine Office Building, 1300 Sherman St., Sturgis. The [agenda](https://go.boarddocs.com/sd/meade/Board.nsf/Public?ref=bunchgrass.org) opens with action on the resignation of Commissioner Richard Liggett from the District 5 seat, effective Nov. 9, and the appointment of a replacement from that district. State law gives the remaining commissioners 35 days, or until the end of their second regular meeting after the vacancy, whichever is later, to fill it, and when an even number of commissioners remain, the county auditor acts as a member of the board for that vote, according to the statute quoted on the agenda.

Commissioners will also consider appointing a county auditor. Auditor Dawn Christenson resigned effective Nov. 6 and also resigned as auditor-elect, according to the agenda; she starts as Sturgis finance officer designate Nov. 9, [KOTA reported](https://www.kotatv.com/2026/11/07/meade-county-auditor-dawn-christenson-selected-next-sturgis-city-finance-officer/?ref=bunchgrass.org). Resolution 2026-28, setting the auditor's salary, is on the agenda ahead of the appointment.

Other action items include an amendment to the county's joint powers agreement with the South Dakota Department of Transportation for New Underwood Road, a continued hearing at 10 a.m. on 2027 liquor and wine renewals, rescinding the burn ban adopted Aug. 6, which Sturgis Fire Chief Scott Lensegrav requested after consulting other fire chiefs in the county, and the final plat for Infinity Landing Subdivision, with 48 lots, which the county planning board approved Nov. 2 and now comes to the commission for action. Public comment comes under routine business, after the appointments.

## Lawrence County

### Lawrence County Commission

The commission meets Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 8 a.m. in the Commission Room, 90 Sherman St., Deadwood, with a GoTo Meeting link on the [agenda](https://lawrence.sd.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1457?fileID=21278&ref=bunchgrass.org). At 9:15 a.m. it has the first reading of Ordinance 2026-02, authorizing the county emergency manager to put burn bans in place; the second reading is scheduled Nov. 24\. Highway Superintendent John Bey brings the first reading of an amended ordinance on utility installation in county right-of-way, also with a second reading set for Nov. 24, and Sheriff Brian Dean brings two agreements with the City of Spearfish, one to share public safety resources and one for E-911 and dispatching services.

Also scheduled: the second reading of a rezoning from A-1 to A-2 for a limited subdivision off Colorado Boulevard for April and Brian Burton, five plats, a review of the CloudPermit software contract, possibly in executive session, and 2027 opioid settlement funding requests, with [grant agreements](https://lawrence.sd.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1457?fileID=21270&ref=bunchgrass.org) of $50,000 for Action for the Betterment of our Community and $35,000 for Compass Point. Items from the public are at 8:45 a.m., three minutes per person.

### Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission

The commission meets Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 102 Sherman St. The agenda, [posted on the city's CivicClerk portal](https://deadwoodsd.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream%28fileId=2932,plainText=false%29?ref=bunchgrass.org), includes adopting the final historic preservation fund budget, a revolving loan request for a retaining wall at 40 Jefferson St. and applications for exterior work at 79 Stewart St., continued from the last meeting, and 62 Denver St. Citizens may raise items not on the agenda, with no action taken.

### Spearfish City Council study session

The council's study session is Thursday, Nov. 12, at 4:15 p.m. at City Hall, 625 N. Fifth St. Its agenda had not been posted by Saturday; it will appear on the city's [CivicClerk portal](https://spearfishsd.portal.civicclerk.com/?ref=bunchgrass.org).

## Further out

The Pennington County Board of Commissioners meets Tuesday, Nov. 17, when it is scheduled to take up again a house height variance it continued at its [Nov. 4 meeting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P63OfwR8CQ&ref=bunchgrass.org) and, sitting as the Board of Adjustment, hold a hearing on revoking a solar energy permit. The Rapid City Common Council, Spearfish City Council, Deadwood City Commission, Custer City Council and Hot Springs City Council meet Monday, Nov. 16\. The Box Elder City Council meets Tuesday, Nov. 17; its 2027 budget, Ordinance 810, still needs a second reading.

Who sits on each board, when it meets and how to comment: [Black Hills local government](https://www.bunchgrass.org/black-hills-local-government/).