Robin Shrake Appointed as Meade County Treasurer

For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 24, 2021
CONTACT: Jerry Derr at 605-720-1625

Sturgis, SD - The Board of Meade County Commissioners announces that- following a thorough candidate search and competitive process- they have selected Robin Shrake as the Meade County Treasurer. The appointment follows a recent vacancy in this elected office and will be effective on July 12, 2021.

Shrake was born and raised in Lead, SD. Upon graduation from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, she moved to Meade County in 1996. Shrake taught in the Meade County School District for 6 years.


In 2001, she and partner Gary Lippold, opened KickStart Travel Center. Shrake has managed the daily operations, which made it a successful year-round business for 20 years – where customer service is the top priority.

Shrake is one of the five individuals who started the Sturgis Mustang Rally. In the 15 years of its existence, she planned, promoted and executed this week-long family event.

Shrake looks forward to serving the citizens of Meade County.

Kevin Forrester Takes Oath of Office

Kevin Forrester was appointed by the Board of Meade County Commissioners as the Meade County Auditor and was sworn into office by Honorable Judge Kevin J. Krull. The appointment follows a recent vacancy in the elected office.

Kevin Forrester has served the Meade County Commissioners as the Facility Manager/IT Director for 25 years. During this time, he has managed departmental budgets, large scale construction projects, technical infrastructure, and software deployments. His task-oriented background and willingness to accept new challenges while maintaining a desire for personal growth has led him to being appointed as the Meade County Auditor.

As a lifelong resident with family roots throughout Meade County Kevin inherently understands the leadership role this position presents and will address it with autonomy, and integrity while maintaining excellent service and searching for innovation. These goals will be accomplished by engaging department staff and the entire Meade County employee team.  

Highway Equipment Operator - CLOSED

February 26, 2021

Employment Opportunity:  Job # 21-6

Posting Type:  Open Announcement    

Closing Date:  CLOSED

Starting Wage: $17.50 per hour 

Full-Time Position:  40 Hours per week / Full Benefit Package 

Application Procedures:  Please submit a Meade County application (https://www.meadecounty.org/employment-application to: Human Resources  / 1300 Sherman Street  STE 212  / Sturgis, SD 57785

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR 

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

This job description indicates, in general terms, the type and level of work performed as well as the typical responsibilities of the position.  It may be modified at any time at the discretion of the Department Head and Human Resources. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time.

Position Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Highway Superintendent, the Equipment Operator is responsible for the construction/maintenance of County highways, right-of-ways, bridge systems and weed & pest management techniques throughout the County. 

Essential Functions

• Ensure roadways are safe for public travel

• Determine the proper and efficient operation of complex heavy equipment, trucks and machinery

• Establish proper procedures in relation to field conditions: including weather conditions and forecasts, traffic patterns, terrain, speed of operation, project requirements and urban vs. rural locations for individual operations

• Identify noxious weeds & pests and handle herbicides/pesticides

• Maintain daily project work records

The Ideal Candidate Will Have Knowledge of

• The proficient use of a wide variety of equipment and maintenance tools

• Methods, materials and techniques used to perform road maintenance activities

• Preventive maintenance methods such as changing oil, rotating tires and lubricating parts

• Basic math to add, subtract, multiply, and divide

• Basic computer operations

Examination, Testing, and Certification

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certification required.

• Successful competition in written and/or oral interviews.

• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to obtain a Class A commercial driver's license (CDL) with no transmission restrictions and a N: Tank Vehicles endorsement

• The ability to obtain a valid SD Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License

• Candidate will be subject to pre-employment, random, reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, follow up, and return-to-duty drug and alcohol testing

• Other such examination as deemed appropriate and necessary by the County.

This is a non-exempt, full-time benefitted position and is eligible for veterans’ preference.    Meade County offers health/vision, dental, and life insurance, paid leave benefits, and retirement benefits. The position is a member of Class A retirement under the South Dakota Retirement System.

Meade County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hazard Mitigation Plan - Public Meeting

A meeting for Meade County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update will be held Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:00pm at the Meade County Commission Chambers. Stakeholders and residents of Meade County are encouraged to attend.

Natural hazard mitigation is defined as any cost-effective action that has the effect of reducing or preventing risk to people, property, and infrastructure caused by natural hazards. Mitigation measures fall into three categories: 1) measures that keep the hazard away from people, property, and structures; 2) measures that keep people, property, and structures away from the hazard; and 3) measures that do not address the hazard but rather reduce the impact of the hazard on the victims, such as insurance.

Discussion will include: identifying hazards, assessing risks, defining mitigation goals and projects, and implementation methods. Questions and comments can be directed to Black Hills Council of Local Governments at 605-394-2681 or emailed to ksnyder@wrbsc.com.

Fire Mitigation Crew Chief - CLOSED

Employment Opportunity:     Job # 21-5 / Fire Mitigation Crew Chief

Posting Type:                              Open Announcement    

Closing Date:                               Open Until Filled

Starting Wage:                            $17.29 per Hour/ Full-Time with Full Benefits 

Application Procedures:        Please submit Application / Resume to: https://www.meadecounty.org/employment-application                                                              

• ★Human Resources / 1300 Sherman Street Suite ▫ 212 ▫ Sturgis, SD 57785

The Meade County Firewise Program assists Veteran-qualified individuals based on funding primarily by grant money from the BLM.  If federal funding slows or stops, the position’s continuation is not guaranteed.

General Statement of Duties

Under the supervision of the Commission Assistant/Human Resources Office, is responsible for the coordinating and executing field operations for the efforts of fire mitigation under the Meade County FireWise Program.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Assisted implementation of the field work for fire mitigation efforts under the Meade County FireWise Program.

• Identify trees to be thinned for Firewise mitigation efforts.

• Fall trees with hand-held power chain saws or mobile felling machines.

• Prune low-hanging limbs to reduce ladder fuels.

• Remove trees and brush.

• Data collection with GPS as assigned.

• Maintain accurate records, including bidding, invoicing, receipts and reports.

• Foster a positive and motivated attitude towards improvement of the self and the crew to develop skills, resolve personal issues, and support the crew in their search for permanent employment to graduate from the Program.

• Educate and promote new ideas and concepts to others.

• Continued training and skill development, including but not limited to fire mitigation and tree falling.

• Perform additional duties as required, performing all duties in a manner consistent with safe practices and policies.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience and Education:

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certification.

• Knowledge of wildland fire management, fire behavior, causes of fire, influence of weather, topography and fuels on fire, and methods of extinguishing fire is preferred.

• A Veteran as defined under SDCL 33A-2-1.

• A valid Form DD214 that does not indicate a dishonorable discharge.

• Ability to work independently.

• Physical strength and stamina sufficient to perform maintenance, and work extended hours as necessary.

• Ability to demonstrate good communication and organizational skills and ability to work well with others and maintain a professional relationship with the general public and other employees.

• Ability to train others.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and use hands to finger, handle or feel.

• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.

• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance.

• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to extreme.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts.

• The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.

• The employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions.

Examination, Testing, and Certification:

• Valid South Dakota Drivers License.

• A valid Form DD214 that does not indicate a dishonorable discharge.

• Successful competition in written and/or oral interviews.

• Other such examination as deemed appropriate and necessary by the County.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Deputy Register of Deeds - CLOSED

Employment Opportunity:     Job # 21-4 / Deputy Register of Deeds

Posting Type:                              Open Announcement    

Closing Date:                               Open Until Filled

Starting Wage:                            $15.12per Hour/ Full-Time with Full Benefits 

Application Procedures:        Please submit Application / Resume to: https://www.meadecounty.org/employment-application                                                              

• ★Human Resources / 1300 Sherman Street Suite ▫ 212 ▫ Sturgis, SD 57785

Meade County Register of Deeds Office

General Statement of Duties

Under the direct supervision of the Register of Deeds, is responsible for performing a variety of routine and complex clerical work in assisting with recording documents/files and maintaining records that are filed with the Register of Deeds office.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Register of Deeds in all areas of the departmental functions.

• Greet customers, answer telephones and questions, assist public in locating information and conducting searches on federal tax liens and UCC records, and direct customers to appropriate personnel.

• Prepare and issue marriage licenses, as well as issue copies of birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and military certificates.

• Understand, search, and index legal descriptions, for certain titles and records.

• Enter data on computer system, proof and correct data entry, and recognize legal descriptions and listings of grantee/grantor.

• Upon request from the public and other government agencies, retrieve and research, prepare and provide certified copies of legal descriptions, official records and vital records.

• Assist, direct, and instruct the public in self-service research of records of property ownership, deeds, liens, etc. via microfiche and archives.

• Prepare copies of papers, maps, and documents; calculate and collect fees.

• Examine, record, image, index, copy, and archive all official records recorded and filed in the county.

• Accept fictitious business name statements and receives filings for a variety of other legal notices.

• Maintain all permanent records in a manner as required by state law by following retention schedules regarding state and federal tax liens, county poor liens, fictitious names, and UCC information requests and financing statements.

• Perform basic accounting and bookkeeping procedures, including receiving cash from customers, balancing daily receipts and preparing monthly accounts receivable billing, maintaining accounts receivable for billing customers on a monthly basis, and collecting and depositing funds in proper accounts.

• Maintain equipment used in recording and copying and trains on new computer programs as required.

• Communicate clearly and effectively with the ability to maintain a courteous and helpful manner in dealing with the public.

• Maintain an agreement with the title company to furnish complete copies of all recorded documents and maintains indexes, making corrections when errors are found, and notifying title company of such.

• Transmit monthly PT55 reports (deed transfers) to commissioners, realtors and other agencies for an agreed fee.

• Send voided documents report to state Vital Records office.

• Send uploaded images monthly to state Records Management office for archival purposes.

• Perform additional duties as required, performing all duties in a manner consistent with safe practices and policies.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience and Education:

1. High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certification.

2. Any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Preferably one year of clerical experience, possibly in a bank, title company, realtor or similar setting which provided some background knowledge.

3. Knowledge of state laws governing the operations of the county Register of Deeds office.

4. Knowledge of record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.

5. Ability to demonstrate good communication skills using correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.

6. Ability to work well with others and get along with the general public.

7. Utilize computer applications related to the work.

8. Use tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.

9. Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow up when needed with a minimum of direction.

10. Must be very detail oriented to ensure complete accuracy of documents.

Physical Demands:

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.

2. The employee occasionally is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.

3. The employee is frequently required to sit and climb; stoop, kneel or crouch; and balance.

4. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 25 pounds.

5. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:  

1. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Examination, Testing, and Certification:

1. Successful competition in written and/or oral interviews.

2. Other such examination as deemed appropriate and necessary by the County.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.