HURON — Beadle County commissioners heard about this year’s bridge inspection report from Jerrod Kranzler at Tuesday morning’s meeting. Kranzler noted that the county has the one of the highest number of bridges of any county in the state, with Spink County also being among the highest.

Kranzler noted that the average bridge score in the county has been trending up, which shows the commitment of the county to ensuring bridges are put into state or federal programs for funding to replace and/or repair the bridge.

He also explained that the average cost of bridge replacement in the county is more than $231,000, so utilizing state and federal assistance and repairing or replacing bridges before they fail is financially advantageous for the county.

Beadle highway superintendent presented two Bridge Improvement Grant applications for replacement for approval after Kranzler’s presentation and also presented a bid for a BIG bridge to be approved. These were all approved.

The commission also approved a street maintenance agreement with the town of Cavour.

Sheriff Doug Solem discussed the rates for the juvenile detention center in the county, explaining that due to multiple counties in the state significantly raising their rate to house juvenile offenders, Beadle County has become significantly below average in rate for a night. The commission approved an increase in rates.

No public comment was received for the supplemental budget hearing, and commissioners approved transfer of funds needed for added budgetary items.

The commission met as the county’s board of adjustment to hear a variance request to build a fence in the right of way by Ed Verhelst. Testimony was heard on both sides regarding the fence, and after considering precedence for approving fences in the right of way, the commission denied the variance request.

The next Beadle County Commission meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, January 9, in the commission room on the second floor of the county courthouse.