Brown County Commission approves contract with Julie Johnson to be lobbyist
Brown County commissioners approved an agreement with local lobbyist Julie Johnson, but it did not meet with unanimous approval.
Commissioners discussed contracting with Johnson, who is a Brown County resident and South Dakota lobbyist, last week. But the board did not have a proposed contract, so the item was deferred to this week. During Tuesday's meeting at the courthouse, it was approved 3-2, with commissioners Dennis Feickert and Mike Gage opposed.
Johnson will represent the county on issues during the ongoing legislative session in Pierre.
Feickert, who was absent last week, took issue with the proposed contract, noting that the county already pays dues to multiple organizations that have lobbying representation in Pierre. He also felt the contract was too open-ended and could lead to higher-than-expected expenses. And, he noted, the Legislature has already been in session for two weeks.
The contract is for $3,000 during the session, but could pay $1,500 more per additional event.
Commissioner Mike Wiese, who proposed the lobbying agreement with Johnson after a recent trip to Pierre, said the $1,500 additional would require pre-approval from the county.
Following the meeting, Auditor Cathy McNickle said dues are paid to the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners; South Dakota Association of County Officials, which provides services for auditor, treasurer and register of deeds; South Dakota Sheriff's Association; and the South Dakota State's Attorney Association. Those those groups provide lobbying services as a component of the dues paid by the county.
Wiese said he agrees with Feickert's sentiment, but also noted that the lobbyists for the different statewide organizations represent counties as a collective group, not individually. Johnson will be able to lobby specifically on Brown County's behalf.
Commission Chairman Duane Sutton said the agreement with Johnson would cover a situation where a Brown County topic of interest became the subject of a summer study.
Feickert said the discussion should have happened a month ago instead of after the start of the session and expressed concern that if the county continues to contract with Johnson for multiple years, the cost of that contract would increase. He added that the contract was not included in the county's 2022 budget.
Wiese said he would not favor future increases to the contract's cost.
Gage asked why the agreement was needed and why a task like this doesn't fall on the legislators elected to represent the local area.
With hundreds of bills up for consideration during a session, Wiese said, often legislators are focused on the bills being addressed in their committees.
Sutton, who served as a legislator, said it's difficult to track legislation that could affect Brown County. With different communities seeking the extra funding available this year because of federal COVID-19 money, it's a topic Brown County should stay on top of, he said.
Feickert, who also served as a legislator, said commissioners can always reach out to state lawmakers with their concerns.
Wiese noted House Bill 1101, which is seeking $10 million for a regional jail near Rapid City.
"We have needs we're not able to fill on our own right now," he said.
Brown County is awaiting the results of a study evaluating the need for a regional jail, and some commissioners expressed discouragement about not yet having the results
"Would you like a similar bill for Brown County and, if so, who is going to champion that?" Wiese asked.
Sutton said the first step would be contacting local legislators or asking them about it at Saturday's legislative cracker barrel, which is at the Northern State University Barnett Center starting at 10 a.m.
He said Gov. Kristi Noem is already proposing improvements to the state prison system in her budget.
"Prisons and additional cell space is clearly a priority for the state," Sutton said. "This would be the year to convince them that counties also have the same problem."
Other action
In other action:
Commissioners approved the $94,951 purchase of a low boy, which was included in the 2022 budget. Highway Superintendent Dirk Rogers said the purchase is through a state bid.
Commissioners briefly discussed the county highway department's approach on sanding after snow and ice recently left some county roads slippery Rogers said his department focuses on hills and intersections, with extra attention near Richmond Lake and Warner because of higher traffic counts.
Feickert reported that he reached an agreement with Brad Hart on the Elm dump site. Hart has agreed to $1,500 per year for three years for use of his land. Hart previously received $500.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Brown County approves lobbying agreement with Julie Johnson
