CHAPTER 7-8
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
7-8-1 Number and terms of office of commissioners--Staggered terms.
7-8-2 Commissioners elected by voters of district--Moving from district or failing to attend meetings creates vacancy.
7-8-2.1 7-8-2.1. Repealed by SL 1979, ch 45, § 2.
7-8-2.2 Candidate to be resident of district at time of signing declaration of candidacy.
7-8-3 Change in number of commissioners--Petition and submission at election.
7-8-4 Form of ballot on increase of number of commissioners.
7-8-5 Form of ballot on decrease in number of commissioners.
7-8-6 Redistricting and transition after increase in number of commissioners.
7-8-7 Redistricting and transition after decrease in number of commissioners.
7-8-8 Continuance in office of commissioners elected before change in number of commissioners.
7-8-9 7-8-9. Repealed by SL 2003, ch 40, § 4.
7-8-10 Decennial revision of commissioner districts.
7-8-11 Continuance in office of commissioners elected before decennial redistricting--Designation of district represented--Elections in other districts.
7-8-12 Publication and posting of notice of decennial redistricting.
7-8-12.1 Question as to legality of commissioner districts--Request grant of permission to revise boundaries.
7-8-12.2 Order affirming good cause exists for redistricting--Authorization for revision.
7-8-12.3 Revision of county commission districts--Notice.
7-8-13 7-8-13. Repealed by SL 1974, ch 55, § 50.
7-8-14 Meetings--County commission--Special sessions.
7-8-15 Chair and vice chair--Election--Vacancy--Duties.
7-8-16 Repealed.
7-8-17 Recording of votes by county commissioners.
7-8-18 Tie vote of commissioners.
7-8-19 Preservation of order by county board--Enforcement of obedience to orders.
7-8-20 General powers of county commissioners.
7-8-20.1 Rewards for aid in arrest and conviction of felons.
7-8-20.2 Determination by commissioners of right to reward--Payment.
7-8-21 7-8-21. Repealed by SL 1988, ch 64, § 9.
7-8-22 7-8-22. Repealed by SL 2015, ch 58, § 3.
7-8-23 Rights-of-way on highways granted by county commissioners.
7-8-24 Memorial Day observance.
7-8-25 Distribution of surplus commodities.
7-8-26 Hospital and medical insurance contracts for county officers and employees.
7-8-26.1 Life and health insurance contracts for county officers and employees.
7-8-26.2 Health self-insurance plan for county officers and employees.
7-8-26.3 Annual report of self-insurance system--Audit.
7-8-26.4 Individual hospital, medical, or health insurance contracts for county officers and employees.
7-8-26.5 Reinsurance arrangement required for self-insurance.
7-8-27 Appeal to circuit court from county commissioners--Bond for costs.
7-8-28 State's attorney's appeal from action of county commissioners.
7-8-29 Time allowed for appeal--Service of notice--Transcript of proceedings.
7-8-30 Filing of appeal and transcript--Docketing--Hearing and determination.
7-8-31 Circuit court judgment and order on appeal from county commissioners.
7-8-32 Appeal as exclusive remedy--Restrictions.
7-8-33 Declaration and abatement of nuisances by county.
7-8-38 County revenues--Economic development.
7-8-39 Establishment of public works program to provide income for payment of property taxes.
7-8-40 Conditions of public works program for payment of property taxes--Participation.
7-8-41 Passport applications--Assistance by county employees.
7-8-1. Number and terms of office of commissioners--Staggered terms.
Each organized county shall have a board of commissioners consisting of not less than three nor more than seven members, each of whom shall be elected at a general election only and whose term of office shall be four years commencing on the first Tuesday of January following election. Any commissioner who represents an even-numbered district shall run for election at the general election at which the President is elected; any commissioner who represents an odd-numbered or unnumbered district shall run for election at the general election at which the Governor is elected.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0601; SL 1998, ch 39, § 1.
7-8-2. Commissioners elected by voters of district--Moving from district or failing to attend meetings creates vacancy.
The nomination and election of county commissioners shall be by a vote of the voters of the district of which such candidate is a resident voter. However, if any county commissioner moves from the district to which such person was elected or if any county commissioner fails to attend the commission meetings for four consecutive months, the office shall be declared vacant and such vacancy shall be filled pursuant to chapter 3-4.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0602; SL 1982, ch 63; SL 1995, ch 38, § 1; SL 2001, ch 21, § 2.
7-8-2.2. Candidate to be resident of district at time of signing declaration of candidacy.
Any candidate for commissioner shall be a resident of the district for which the person is a candidate at the time the candidate signs the declaration of candidacy as required by § 12-6-8.
Source: SL 2000, ch 33, § 1.
7-8-3. Change in number of commissioners--Petition and submission at election.
The number of county commissioners of any county may be increased to five or seven or reduced to five or three. If fifteen percent of the registered voters of the county, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, petition the board of county commissioners for an increase or decrease in the number of county commissioners, the board shall submit the question to a vote of the voters of the county at the next general election. Notice of the submission of such question shall be given in the notice of the general election.
Source: SDC 1939 § 12.0603; SL 1987, ch 67, § 5; SL 1998, ch 39, § 2; SL 2003, ch 40, § 1.
7-8-4. Form of ballot on increase of number of commissioners.
If the petition is for an increase in the number of commissioners, the proposition shall be submitted by separate ballot in the following form:
Ballot on Increase in Number of County Commissioners and Commissioners' Districts
(Place x or in square at left of your choice).
G For five commissioners.
G Against five commissioners.
Source: SL 1937, ch 88, § 1; SDC 1939, § 12.0603.
7-8-5. Form of ballot on decrease in number of commissioners.
If it is for reduction, the proposition shall be submitted by separate ballot in the following form:
Ballot on Decrease in Number of County Commissioners and Commissioners' Districts
(Place x or in square at left of your choice).
G For three commissioners.
G Against three commissioners.
Source: SL 1937, ch 88, § 1; SDC 1939, § 12.0603.
7-8-6. Redistricting and transition after increase in number of commissioners.
If at such election a majority of all votes cast is for an increase, the board within one hundred eighty days after the votes have been canvassed shall redistrict the county into numbered districts. As to any members of such board whose terms of office extend for an additional two years beyond the next general election, the tenure of office is not affected, and in redistricting the county the board shall designate the districts to be represented by such members. The commissioner shall be a resident of the district that the commissioner is designated to represent. Each district for which representation is not provided by such designations shall, at the next ensuing general election, elect a commissioner, the term of office to be determined as provided in § 7-8-1.
Source: SDC 1939 § 12.0604; SL 1998, ch 39, § 3; SL 2003, ch 40, § 2.
7-8-7. Redistricting and transition after decrease in number of commissioners.
If the election results in a majority for a decrease, the five or seven districts are thereby abolished and the board, within one hundred eighty days after the votes have been canvassed, shall redistrict the county into three or five numbered districts from each of which districts a commissioner shall be elected at the next general election, the term of office to be determined as provided in § 7-8-1.
Source: SDC 1939 § 12.0605; SL 1998, ch 39, § 4; SL 2003, ch 40, § 3.
7-8-8. Continuance in office of commissioners elected before change in number of commissioners.
When a county is redistricted as provided by § 7-8-6 or 7-8-7, the commissioners serving shall continue until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified and the previous district boundaries and commission shall, during such interval, continue for all purposes, except nomination and election of commissioners.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0606.
7-8-10. Decennial revision of commissioner districts.
The board of county commissioners, at its regular meeting in December of each year ending in the numeral 1, or within three months of the federal decennial census data becoming available, and after giving notice by publication for one week in the official newspapers of the county, shall change the boundaries of the commissioner districts if the change is necessary in order that each district is as regular and compact in form as practicable. The board shall divide and redistrict its county that each district complies with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, as determined by the last preceding federal decennial census; or the board may, at that time, choose to have commissioners elected at large. The board may choose to have its members elected from single-member districts, from multi-member districts, or from a hybrid plan of single- and multi-member districts.
Source: SL 1890, ch 66, § 1; RPolC 1903, § 813; SL 1915, ch 124; RC 1919, § 5864; SL 1937, ch 75; SL 1937, ch 88, § 4; SDC 1939, § 12.0608; SL 1966, ch 22; SL 1982, ch 64, § 1; SL 2022, ch 19, § 1.
7-8-11. Continuance in office of commissioners elected before decennial redistricting--Designation of district represented--Elections in other districts.
Upon such redistricting, as to any member or members of such board whose term or terms of office extend for an additional two years beyond the next election, the tenure of office shall not be affected, and in redistricting the county such board shall designate the district or districts to be represented by such member or members, the district or districts so designated to be a district or districts which would elect a commissioner at the next general election following that to be held in the year of such redistricting. Such commissioner may or may not be a resident of the district he is designated to represent. Each district for which representation is not provided by such designation or designations shall, at the next ensuing general election, elect a commissioner, the term of office to be determined as provided in § 7-8-1.
Source: SL 1890, ch 66, § 1; RPolC 1903, § 813; SL 1915, ch 124; RC 1919, § 5864; SL 1937, ch 75; SL 1937, ch 88, § 4; SDC 1939, § 12.0608; SL 1966, ch 22.
7-8-12. Publication and posting of notice of decennial redistricting.
Whenever the board of county commissioners shall change the boundaries of any commissioner district, as provided in § 7-8-10, it shall publish notice of such change giving the boundaries of the new districts for at least two consecutive weeks in the official paper or papers of the county and when no paper is published in the county, the board shall cause notices to be posted in at least three public places in each commissioner district of which the boundaries have been changed.
Source: SL 1890, ch 66, § 2; RPolC 1903, § 814; RC 1919, § 5865; SDC 1939, § 12.0609; SL 1972, ch 81, § 2.
7-8-12.1. Question as to legality of commissioner districts-Request grant of permission to revise boundaries.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 7-8-10, if a majority of the board of county commissioners of any county become aware of facts that call into question whether the county's commissioner districts comply with state or federal law, the board of county commissioners may request that the Governor and secretary of state grant the board permission to revise the boundaries of the county commissioner districts.
Source: SL 2005, ch 43, § 1.
7-8-12.2. Order affirming good cause exists for redistricting--Authorization for revision.
The Governor and secretary of state, after consultation with the board of county commissioners, may jointly issue to the board of county commissioners a written order affirming that good cause exists for redistricting and authorizing the board of county commissioners to revise the county's commission districts based on information from the last preceding federal decennial census.
Source: SL 2005, ch 43, § 2.
7-8-12.3. Revision of county commission districts--Notice.
The board of county commissioners may, within one hundred eighty days of receipt of such written order, redistrict the county's commission districts once to avoid any perceived or potential violation of state or federal law. The commissioners may change the boundaries of the commissioner districts in order that each district is as regular and compact in form as practicable and shall redistrict the county so that each commission district complies with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, as determined by the last preceding federal decennial census; or the board may, at that time, choose to have commissioners elected at large. The board may choose to have its members elected from single-member districts, from multi-member districts, or from a hybrid plan of single- and multi-member districts. Redistricting may occur only after giving notice by publication for at least one week in the official newspapers of the county.
Source: SL 2005, ch 43, § 3; SL 2022, ch 19, § 2.
7-8-14. Meetings--County commission--Special sessions.
The board of county commissioners shall meet and hold sessions, as open meetings in accordance with chapter 1-25, for the transaction of business at the courthouse or at any other suitable location in the county on at least a quarterly basis in January, April, July, and October of each year. The board may hold as many regular meetings throughout the year as necessary to transact business. The county auditor or the chair of the board of county commissioners may call special sessions if the interests of the county demand it by giving notice of the special session to each county commissioner and the public in accordance with § 1-25-1.1.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0611; SL 1963, ch 36; SL 1998, ch 40, § 1; SL 2019, ch 49, § 1; SL 2021, ch 36, § 1.
7-8-15. Chair and vice chair--Election--Vacancy--Duties.
At the first meeting of the board of county commissioners in each year, the board shall elect a chair and vice chair. The chair shall continue to serve as chair until a successor is elected. If there is a vacancy for the chair or vice chair from any cause, the board shall elect another chair or vice chair.
The chair or, in the chair's absence, the vice chair shall preside at the meetings of the board and sign all orders and claims approved by the board.
Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, §§ 50, 51; PolC 1877, ch 21, §§ 19, 20; CL 1887, §§ 580, 581; RPolC 1903, §§ 818, 819; RC 1919, §§ 5869, 5870; SDC 1939, § 12.0613; SL 1975, ch 76, § 1; SL 2010, ch 34, § 1.
7-8-16. Repealed.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0612; SL 1983, ch 40; SL 1999, ch 31, § 1; SL 2021, ch 36, § 2.
7-8-17. Recording of votes by county commissioners.
Whenever any board of county commissioners shall act upon any petition, adopt any resolution, make any appointment to fill any vacancy in a county office, or enter any final order in any proceedings pending before any such board, the members shall vote by yeas and nays and a record of such votes shall be kept by the county auditor who shall include the same in the published report of the minutes containing the record of any such action, resolution, appointment, or order.
Source: SL 1919, ch 152; SDC 1939, § 12.0614.
7-8-18. Tie vote of commissioners.
When the board of county commissioners is equally divided on any question, it shall defer a decision until the next meeting of the board and the matter shall then be decided by a majority of the board.
Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 7; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 21; CL 1887, § 582; RPolC 1903, § 820; RC 1919, § 5871; SDC 1939, § 12.0615.
7-8-19. Preservation of order by county board--Enforcement of obedience to orders.
The board of county commissioners may preserve order when sitting as a board. The board may enforce obedience to all its orders by attachment or other compulsory process.
Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 9; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 23; CL 1887, § 584; RPolC 1903, § 822; RC 1919, § 5873; SDC 1939, § 12.0616 (1) to (7), (12); SL 1981, ch 44, § 4; SL 2016, ch 45, § 3.
7-8-20. General powers of county commissioners.
In addition to others specified by law, the board of county commissioners shall have power:
(1) To institute and prosecute civil actions in the name of the county, for and on behalf of the county;
(2) To make orders respecting the care and preservation of all property belonging to the county and to sell any real property of the county when authorized by law so to do;
(3) To levy a tax not exceeding the amount authorized by law, and to liquidate indebtedness;
(4) To audit the accounts of all officers having the care, management, collection or disbursement of any money belonging to the county or appropriated for its benefit;
(5) To construct and repair bridges; to open, lay out, vacate, and change highways; to purchase or acquire grounds for courthouse, jail, or other building sites, locate or relocate the courthouse on such sites; to establish election precincts in its county and appoint the judges of election; and, as a board of equalization, to equalize the assessment roll of its county in the manner provided by law;
(6) To furnish necessary blank books, blanks, and stationery for the county auditor, register of deeds, county treasurer, state's attorney, sheriff, and other elected or appointed county officers, to be paid out of the county treasury; also a fireproof safe or vaults, when in its judgment the same shall be advisable, in which to keep all the books, records, vouchers, and papers pertaining to the business of the board;
(7) To superintend the fiscal concerns of the county and secure their management in the best possible manner;
(8) To regulate the transaction of business in alcoholic beverages and the use and consumption of alcoholic beverages, to establish the number of on-sale licenses which may be issued, to provide for reasonable classification of on-sale licenses and fix the fees to be charged for the licenses consistent with the provisions of Title 35;
(9) To make ordinances prohibiting the sale or exhibition of any obscene matter; however, no county resolution shall be effective in any incorporated area within said county;
(10) To do and perform such other duties and acts as it is or may hereafter be required to do and perform;
(11) To provide additional compensation to the county treasurer, county auditor, county register of deeds, state's attorney, and sheriff. This compensation shall be in addition to the salaries prescribed in §§ 7-7-9.1, 7-7-12, and 7-12-15;
(12) To provide office space, in addition to that provided in the county courthouse, for state's attorneys, appointed officials of the county and other employees;
(13) To receive and administer grants, loans and assistance and to enter into agreements for cooperative action, with or on behalf of any public agency or nonprofit organization, to establish, promote and support community development;
(14) To enact ordinances to regulate and prevent the placing of ashes, dirt, garbage or any offensive matter in any highway or public ground or in any body or stream of water within the county, but outside of an incorporated municipality or outside of the one mile limits of any incorporated municipality;
(15) To enact ordinances to regulate and compel the cleansing, abatement or removal of any sewer, cesspool or any unwholesome or nauseous thing or place;
(16) To license and regulate transient merchants, hawkers, solicitors, peddlers, itinerant vendors, and every person retailing tangible personal property or services, unless such business is carried on exclusively within the boundaries of a municipality or is carried on through home solicitation or from a fixed permanent location and place of business in this state where such goods and services are offered on a continuing basis;
(17) To enact by ordinance, for any portion of the county which is zoned, certain building codes pursuant to § 11-10-5;
(18) To prohibit or restrict open burning, after consultation with local fire officials and law enforcement officials, in order to protect the public health and safety.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0617; SL 1971, ch 45, § 1; SL 1974, ch 61, § 1; SL 1981, ch 44, § 5; SL 1981, ch 50; SL 1982, ch 65; SL 1985, ch 47; SL 1987, ch 29, § 2; SL 1987, ch 68; SL 1989, ch 30, § 13; SL 1991, ch 58, § 1; SL 1993, ch 64; SL 1995, ch 81, § 1; SL 1998, ch 77, § 2; SL 2001, ch 47, § 2; SL 2001, ch 187, § 2; SL 2010, ch 183, § 9.
7-8-20.1. Rewards for aid in arrest and conviction of felons.
The county commissioners of any county in this state may offer a standing reward of not more than five thousand dollars for evidence leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons guilty of any felony under the laws of this state. They may also in their discretion offer special rewards in reasonable amounts for the purpose of securing the arrest and conviction of any person or persons charged with a felony in any particular case.
Source: SL 1905, ch 134; SL 1911, ch 192; RC 1919, § 5903; SL 1919, ch 147; SL 1921, ch 165; SDC 1939, § 12.1910; SDCL, § 23-13-15; SL 1978, ch 164, § 2.
7-8-20.2. Determination by commissioners of right to reward--Payment.
Applications for a reward authorized by § 7-8-20.1 or any part thereof shall be filed with the county commissioners who shall determine the rights of the applicants thereto and cause warrants to be issued upon the general fund of the county for such portion of the reward as is found to be due thereon.
Source: SL 1919, ch 147; SL 1921, ch 165; SDC 1939, § 12.1910; SDCL, § 23-13-16; SL 1978, ch 164, § 4.
7-8-23. Rights-of-way on highways granted by county commissioners.
The board of county commissioners may grant the right of constructing, laying, maintaining, and operating on any highway under its jurisdiction, pipelines and gas mains for the transportation of natural or artificial gas.
Source: SL 1929, ch 152, § 1; SDC 1939, § 12.0617(11); SL 1987, ch 210, § 4.
7-8-24. Memorial Day observance.
The board of county commissioners may appropriate funds for the observance of Memorial Day each year.
Source: SL 1907, ch 187, § 1; RC 1919, § 5901; SDC 1939, § 12.0617 (8); SL 2016, ch 45, § 2.
7-8-25. Distribution of surplus commodities.
The board of county commissioners shall have power to cooperate with the federal or state government or any duly constituted agency thereof by expending moneys for the care and distribution of federal surplus commodities, employing clerical help, office space, office supplies and equipment, telephone, and telegrams, and other incidental expenses and to pay for same out of the general fund and such cooperation shall include fixing of responsibility by designation of a single administrator or officer for the purpose of determining eligibility and supervising distribution and accountability, or the board may request the division of social welfare in writing to determine eligibility, relative to surplus commodities for the needy as defined in Title 28 and acts amendatory thereto.
Source: SL 1935, ch 75, § 1; SDC 1939, § 12.0617 (9); SL 1939, ch 20, § 1; SL 1964, ch 22.
7-8-26. Hospital and medical insurance contracts for county officers and employees.
The board of county commissioners may enter into group hospital and medical insurance contracts for the protection and benefit of its officers and employees, and the immediate families of those officers and employees. The board may pay all or part of the necessary premiums for its officers and employees and for the immediate families of those officers and employees.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0617 (13) as added by SL 1957, ch 17; SL 1983, ch 41, § 1; SL 1991, ch 59, § 1.
7-8-26.1. Life and health insurance contracts for county officers and employees.
The board of county commissioners may enter into group life and group health insurance contracts for the protection and benefit of its officers and employees, and their immediate families. The board may pay all or part of the necessary premiums for its officers and employees and for the immediate families of those officers and employees.
Source: SDC 1939, § 12.0617 as added by SL 1969, ch 19; SL 1983, ch 41, § 2; SL 1983, ch 42, § 1; SL 1991, ch 59, § 2.
7-8-26.2. Health self-insurance plan for county officers and employees.
A board of county commissioners may elect to provide group health insurance for its officers and employees and their immediate families under a plan of self-insurance in whole or in part. Any county self-insuring pursuant to this section shall purchase sufficient stop loss insurance and maintain sufficient reserves to ensure the availability of funds for the payment of benefits provided under the self-funded plan.
Source: SL 1983, ch 42, § 2; SL 1994, ch 61, § 1; SL 2013, ch 32, § 1.
7-8-26.3. Annual report of self-insurance system--Audit.
Any self-insurance system created pursuant to § 7-8-26.2 shall publish an annual report. The financial statements contained in the report required by this section shall be audited by an independent certified public accountant.
Source: SL 1983, ch 42, § 3.
7-8-26.4. Individual hospital, medical, or health insurance contracts for county officers and employees.
If a county officer or employee can demonstrate to the county commission of a condition which will leave the officer or employee uninsurable upon termination of employment with the county and elects not to participate in the group hospital, medical, or health insurance plans authorized by §§ 7-8-26 and 7-8-26.1, the board of county commissioners may enter into individual hospital, medical, or health contracts to provide for the protection and benefit of the officer or employee and the officer or employee's immediate family. The board may pay all or part of the necessary premiums for the coverage of the officer or employee and the officer or employee's immediate family. However, the monthly premium for an individual contract may not exceed the monthly premium for the group plan established in the county pursuant to §§ 7-8-26 and 7-8-26.1.
Source: SL 1984, ch 45; SL 2016, ch 44, § 6.
7-8-26.5. Reinsurance arrangement required for self-insurance.
No county or group of counties may provide group health insurance under a plan of self-insurance pursuant to § 7-8-26.2 unless the county or group of counties has a reinsurance arrangement.
Source: SL 1994, ch 61, § 3.
7-8-27. Appeal to circuit court from county commissioners--Bond for costs.
From all decisions of the board of county commissioners upon matters properly before it, there may be an appeal to the circuit court by any person aggrieved upon filing a bond in the amount of two hundred fifty dollars with one or more sureties to be approved by the county auditor conditioned that the appellant shall prosecute the appeal without delay and pay all costs that he may be adjudged to pay in the circuit court. Such bond shall be executed to the county and may be sued in the name of the county upon breach of any condition therein.
Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 30; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 46; SL 1883, ch 5, § 1; CL 1887, § 610; RPolC 1903, § 850; RC 1919, § 5886; SDC 1939, § 12.0618; SL 1985, ch 15, § 22.
7-8-28. State's attorney's appeal from action of county commissioners.
Upon written demand of at least fifteen taxpayers of the county, the state's attorney shall take an appeal from any action of such board if such action relates to the interests or affairs of the county at large or any portion thereof, in the name of the county, if he deems it to the interest of the county so to do; and in such case no bond need be required or given and upon serving the notice provided for in § 7-8-29, the county auditor shall proceed the same as if a bond had been filed and his fees for making the transcript shall be paid as other claims by the county.
Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 30; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 46; SL 1883, ch 5, § 1; CL 1887, § 610; RPolC 1903, § 850; RC 1919, § 5886; SDC 1939, § 12.0618; SL 1984, ch 46.
7-8-29. Time allowed for appeal--Service of notice--Transcript of proceedings.
Such appeal shall be taken within twenty days after the publication of the decision of the board by serving a written notice on one of the members of the board, when the appeal is taken by any person aggrieved by the decision of the board, and upon the person or persons affected by the decision of the board when the appeal is taken by the state's attorney; and the county auditor shall upon the filing of the required bond and the payment of his fees, which shall be the same as allowed registers of deeds for like services, make out a complete transcript of the proceedings of the board relating to the matter of its decision and deliver the same to the clerk of courts.
Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 31; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 47; CL 1887, § 611; RPolC 1903, § 851; RC 1919, § 5887; SL 1921, ch 160; SDC 1939, § 12.0619.
7-8-30. Filing of appeal and transcript--Docketing--Hearing and determination.
An appeal and transcript, if a transcript exists, shall be filed by the auditor as soon as practicable and shall stand for trial as soon as possible.
Each appeal taken to the circuit court shall be docketed as other causes pending in circuit court. Each cause shall be heard and determined de novo, except any appeal relating to a conditional use permit determination. An appeal relating to a conditional use permit determination shall be heard and determined pursuant to § 11-2-61.1.
Source: SL 1868-9, ch 4, §§ 33, 34; SL 1874-5, ch 27, §§ 32, 33; PolC 1877, ch 21, §§ 48, 49; CL 1887, §§ 612, 613; RPolC 1903, §§ 852, 853; RC 1919, §§ 5888, 5889; SDC 1939, § 12.0620; SL 2018, ch 68, § 3.
7-8-31. Circuit court judgment and order on appeal from county commissioners.
The circuit court may make a final judgment and cause the same to be executed or may send the same back to the board of county commissioners with an order how to proceed, and require such board to comply therewith by mandamus or attachment as for contempt.
Source: SL 1868-9, ch 4, § 35; SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 34; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 50; CL 1887, § 614; RPolC 1903, § 854; RC 1919, § 5890; SDC 1939, § 12.0620.
7-8-32. Appeal as exclusive remedy--Restrictions.
Appeal to the circuit court from decisions of the board of county commissioners, as provided in this chapter, is an exclusive remedy. Judicial review of county commission action shall be allowed only as provided in §§ 7-8-27, 7-8-28, 7-8-29, 7-8-30, and 7-8-31.
Source: SL 1983, ch 44, § 7.
7-8-33. Declaration and abatement of nuisances by county.
The board of county commissioners of every county may, by ordinance, allow for the declaration and abatement of a public nuisance within the county outside the corporate limits of any municipality. For purposes of this section only, the feeding, breeding, or raising of livestock or the operations of a livestock sales barn, is not presumed, by that fact alone, to be a nuisance.
Source: SL 1989, ch 186; SL 1991, ch 60; SL 1993, ch 65.
7-8-38. County revenues--Economic development.
The board of county commissioners may, by resolution, allocate revenue a county receives for economic development within the county.
Source: SL 1992, ch 84, § 12A; SL 2021, ch 43, § 1.
7-8-39. Establishment of public works program to provide income for payment of property taxes.
The board of county commissioners may by resolution provide for a public works program to provide work for any person for the purpose of providing income for the payment of the property taxes on such person's single-family dwelling. For the purpose of this section and § 7-8-40 a single-family dwelling is a house, condominium apartment, or manufactured home as defined in § 32-3-1 which is assessed and taxed as a separate unit including the platted lot upon which the structure is situated or one acre, whichever is less, and the garage, whether attached or unattached.
Source: SL 1994, ch 65, § 1.
7-8-40. Conditions of public works program for payment of property taxes--Participation.
Any program created by a county pursuant to § 7-8-39 shall establish the conditions under which such work is conducted and how the income from such employment is to be applied to a person's property taxes. The program may include any unit of government within the county. The conditions the county establishes shall include a direct transfer of revenue between units of government in lieu of property tax abatements or actual payments to individuals. Any person may elect not to participate in the program.
Source: SL 1994, ch 65, § 2.
7-8-41. Passport applications--Assistance by county employees.
Any county employee designated by the board of county commissioners may apply to the United States State Department to assist in the execution of United States passport applications. Any fees collected but not remitted to the United States State Department shall be deposited in the county general fund.
Source: SL 2011, ch 37, § 1, eff. March 7, 2011.
