HURON — The Beadle County Commission and Sheriff Doug Solem talked through concerns with accumulated vacation hours among sheriff deputies during Tuesday’s meeting.

Solem came to the commission as his deputies are carrying significant amounts of vacation that they will struggle to use before the end of the calendar year. A new deputy will join the department in November, so some vacation can be used once the sheriff’s department is fully staffed, but not enough to get under the maximum of 40 hours vacation carryover that is currently allowed.

The commission cited union contracts within the county as making flexibility in vacation possibility difficult.

The deputies will receive a buyout of any hours over 40 they have remaining at the end of the year.

John Madison from SDSU Extension’s Beadle County office gave a wrap up of the year in 4-H to the commission. The commission discussed buildings on the fairgrounds and their use for 4-H moving forward.

County Highway Superintendent Jason Fritzsche opened the meeting with his report on the highway department. He presented two pay requests for construction on structures in the county that were approved. He reported that work is ongoing to pull shoulders and mow road ditches as the fall ends and before winter comes.

Commissioners approved a variance request presented by Allen and Bobbie Gatzke for property near Lake Byron. The Gatzkes received a variance to build a new structure near the property line, though it will replace a building that previously was in the same footprint.

Commissioners also:
• Approved the Local Emergency Operating Procedure.
• Approved adoption of the 2025 budget.

The commission met with States Attorney Alyssa Horn and approved a hire for staff in the office. They then went into executive session with Horn to end the meeting.

The next Beadle County Commission meeting is Tuesday, October 8, at 9 a.m.