HURON — The Beadle County Commission and Highway Superintendent Jason Fritzsche discussed future with tractors for the highway department. Fritzsche reported to the commission that the four mowing tractors that the county had to use each have used up all 250 hours available for use.

Fritzsche presented lease numbers from John Deere for a government lease and for a standard lease, and discussed that a standard lease would be more expensive but would allow for unlimited hours during the lease while a government lease would be cheaper but would have a limit to the hours that could be used.

No decision was made at this time by the commission, but Fritzsche was encouraged to get full quotes on options to present at an upcoming meeting.

Commissioners heard from Scott Eichstadt regarding the railroad crossing on Virgil Road that significantly damaged his vehicle and has reportedly damaged other vehicles in the county.

Fritzsche stated that Eichstadt’s complaint was the first received by the highway department. Commissioners conferred about compensation for the damage, and the agreement was that the reason for the issue at that crossing was on the railroad, but that the railroad would likely not be willing to compensate.

Fritzsche also explained that he received a traffic study for the proposed beef plant on Custer Ave. The traffic study does indicate the need for a turn lane into the plant on Custer, which will require changing the road structure. Fritzsche indicated that he would have a discussion with Huron city engineers to discuss shared cost for the road work as the road is in joint jurisdictional area.

The commission approved three liquor licenses - the on-sale liquor license for Gross Hill Enterprises, the on-off sale wine & cider license for Cash Out Casino & Vape, and the on-sale liquor license for Cash Out Casino and Vape.

A plat for AA Acres, in the joint jurisdictional district, was approved.

Commissioners then reviewed the current burn ban ordinance for potential changes, as presented by Emergency Management Director David Jensen. The changes will automatically enforce the burn ban county-wide if a red flag warning is in place within the county and also better defines a burn barrel for the existing ordinance.

The commission will meet again on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 9 a.m. to canvass the Nov. 5 election and to hold the regular first meeting of the month for November.