Pennington County's auditor told commissioners Wednesday, Nov. 4, that she was rescinding her resignation and would stay through Jan. 16, so county commissioners no longer need to appoint a temporary auditor before the auditor-elect takes office. The same day, the Pennington County Board of Commissioners denied a $200,000 offer to settle about $1.1 million in delinquent taxes on the former Lodge at Mount Rushmore near Keystone. In Rapid City, the Common Council voted 7-3 on Monday, Nov. 2, to move general public comment to the end of its meetings, and Sturgis adopted its 2027 budget.
Pennington County
Pennington County Board of Commissioners
Auditor Sabrina Green had resigned effective Nov. 6. Auditor-elect Tina Mulally, who serves in the state House, has said she can take office in January, and staff said the board's only option for a vacancy was to appoint an auditor at a special meeting set for Monday, Nov. 9, now canceled. After an executive session at the Nov. 4 meeting, Green said she was rescinding her resignation and submitting a new one effective Jan. 16. Mulally said she would take office Jan. 19. Green said she starts another job Nov. 9, so the chief deputy auditor and three county employees returning from other departments will staff the office during business hours.
Winona Inn Limited Partnership had offered $200,000 for $1,112,984.52 in taxes, interest and fees on the closed hotel. Quinton Riggins, an attorney representing a prospective buyer, said his client plans to reopen it. The county planning director said the property has no working wastewater system and no approved federal permit for one. The treasurer said about $591,223 is taxes and the property goes to tax deed Nov. 23 unless paid. The board denied it by voice vote; commissioners said a new offer would need written commitments, such as a bond.
In other business, the board:
- Approved the 2026 budget supplement resolution after a public hearing with no comment. Its line items total about $8.1 million, mostly from fund balances, according to the agenda.
- Approved the $1.25 million sale of three county parcels in downtown Rapid City to Elevate Rapid City.
- Rejected, 3-2, a motion pairing a $204,000 Respec design contract for the plaza replacement with authority to shift leftover concourse roof money to it, then approved the design contract alone.
- As the Board of Adjustment, split on a variance for a house built about 8 feet over the 35-foot height limit: a motion to deny failed 2-3 and one to continue passed 3-2.
Coming up: The board will consider the height variance again, along with the Planning Commission's request to revoke a solar energy permit, at its regular meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the County Administration Building, 900 Concourse Drive, Rapid City.
Rapid City Common Council
The council voted 7-3 on Nov. 2 to adopt Resolution 2026-084, which moves general public comment on items not on the agenda to the end of each meeting. Comment on agenda items still comes before those items. Council members Josh Biberdorf and Stephen Tamang spoke against the change, and Bill Evans, Kevin Maher and Greg Strommen said it lets the council finish scheduled business first.
The council also:
- Approved on second reading a $6,131,686.58 supplemental appropriation for 2026.
- On the consent agenda, accepted a $7.125 million federal National Scenic Byways grant for Skyline Drive, approved a 2027 contract to provide ambulance service to Box Elder and adopted a resolution of intent to lease six city properties to OneHeart, according to the agenda.
- Waived a sidewalk requirement on Pioneer Drive, 7-3, after the city engineer said staff now recommend approval.
- Voted unanimously to give Breakroom Billiards and Darts one of the city's four available video lottery licenses without the drawing city ordinance calls for. The city attorney said the action falls outside the ordinance.
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Rapid City Planning Commission postponed proposed data center rules, Ordinance 6746, to its Jan. 21, 2027, meeting after about 940 survey responses, KOTA reported Nov. 5.
Box Elder City Council
The council voted 6-0 on Nov. 3 to approve on first reading Ordinance 810, the 2027 appropriations, after a hearing with no public comment, according to the draft minutes. The proposed budget totals $44,701,651, according to the meeting packet. It also passed rewrites of its subdivision, zoning, travel park and floodplain rules on first reading and approved its side of the 2027 ambulance agreement with Rapid City, all 6-0.
Coming up: Ordinance 810 needs a second reading; the council next meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at City Hall, 420 Villa Drive.
Meade County
Meade County Planning Board
At its Nov. 2 meeting in Sturgis, the planning board approved the final plat for Infinity Properties, 48 lots of about 1 to 3 acres, with the condition that no building permits be issued until the subdivision's roads and other improvements, which the developer has bonded, are finished.
Sturgis City Council
The council adopted the 2027 budget on second reading by a 7-0 roll call on Nov. 2 with $10,121,266 in general fund spending. It approved Mayor Rod Bradley's appointment of Meade County Auditor Dawn Christenson as finance officer designate. She is to succeed Finance Officer Ann Bertolotto, who retires Dec. 11.
The council also raised ambulance fees immediately, including emergency advanced life support from $1,500 to $1,700 and specialty care transport from $2,500 to $8,000, according to the fee schedule. It approved 2027 liquor and wine license renewals 6-1.
Coming up: The County Commission will consider the Infinity Properties plat and other planning board recommendations at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Erskine Office Building, 1300 Sherman St., Sturgis. The Sturgis Planning Commission will hold a hearing Tuesday, Dec. 1, and the council on Monday, Dec. 7, on a voluntary annexation of six lots in Pine Glenn Subdivision.
Lawrence County
Spearfish City Council
With four of six council members present on Nov. 2, the council approved a $1,228,285.28 transfer to make the final payment on a 2015 sales tax bond, a $130,409.45 agreement with Butte Electric Cooperative for service to the Sawmill tax increment district and the first reading of Ordinance 1433, a 2026 budget supplement, according to city minutes. All votes were 4-0.
Lawrence County Commission
Meeting in special session Nov. 5, the commission canvassed the general election and, after a hearing with no comment, approved a $204,289.19 supplemental budget for E-911 supplies. The E-911 board will repay the county.
The Deadwood and Lead city commissions met Nov. 2 with 2027 budget first readings on their agendas; outcomes had not been reported by Friday.
Coming up: The County Commission will consider a temporary burn ban ordinance on first reading at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 90 Sherman St., Deadwood.
Custer County
Custer City Council
The City of Custer council voted 6-0 on Nov. 2 to give the Custer Volunteer Fire Department $269,500 in additional 2026 funding, for $300,000 in total this year, according to city minutes. It also accepted, 6-0, a $227,450 proposal from Tank Maintenance Solutions to restore the northeast water tank in 2027 and adopted a construction codes ordinance.
Coming up: The building permit and planning commission ordinances need second readings. The council next meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at City Hall, 622 Crook St.
Fall River County
Hot Springs City Council
The council passed on first reading Ordinances 1294 and 1295 on Nov. 2, both 7-1 with Dave Burris opposed, according to unofficial minutes. The ordinances require homes moved into the city to be built after June 15, 1976, and to pass inspection; Burris said the date would close off some housing options. Mayor Bob Nelson said the city missed an Oct. 1 deadline to put its wastewater treatment plant project on the state water plan, so it is not eligible for first-quarter 2027 state funding and will apply in the second quarter.
During public comment, three people who are intervenors urged the council to act against two Powertech water rights applications tied to the company's proposed uranium mine.
The Fall River County Commission met Nov. 5 with its tax levy resolution on the agenda; the outcome had not been reported by Friday.
Coming up: Ordinances 1294 and 1295 need second readings. The council next meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the Mueller Civic Center, 801 S. Sixth St.
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