Commissioner Derr

05/08/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2026

Pennington County Commissioners Address the Cybersecurity Incident

The Pennington County Board of Commissioners recognizes the frustration many residents have experienced following the recent cybersecurity incident affecting county operations and wants the public to know that restoring all county services remains a top priority.

"We know this has been frustrating, and we want our residents to know that we hear them," said Commission Chair Ron Weifenbach. "Even with limited access to some of our technology, most county services are now available again because our department heads and employees have found creative ways to adapt and continue serving the public."

While some services continue to experience temporary interruptions, county departments continue adapting their operations to meet the needs of residents whenever possible. Many county services remain available in one capacity or another. Residents can find the latest information on available county services by visiting the Pennington County website at https://www.pennco.org/index.php?rz=newsDetails&id=229

County staff continues working to safely restore all county systems while maintaining as many services as possible. The Board of Commissioners remains optimistic that additional services will continue coming back online as recovery efforts progress.

"Our Information Technology team has been working around the clock to restore our systems safely and securely, and we appreciate the expertise and support of our local, state, and federal partners assisting in this effort," Weifenbach said. "We appreciate the patience and understanding our community has shown throughout this process, and we look forward to restoring full services as soon as it is safe to do so."

The Pennington County Board of Commissioners remains committed to keeping the public informed as recovery efforts continue and will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

05/08/2026

03/08/2026

Community service…and beyond. The struggle to maintain EMS throughout SD.

As South Dakota's emergency medical services workforce ages, leaders welcome those who want to continue working, but are still figuring out how to plan for the future.

02/08/2026

02/08/2026

Ambulance Reimbursements

As we continue discussing rural EMS coverage in Pennington County, one important issue is ambulance reimbursement.

Ambulance services are generally reimbursed for transports, not simply for being ready to respond. That means EMS can staff a crew, maintain an ambulance, respond to a 911 call, and tie up personnel, but if there is no transport, reimbursement may be limited or nonexistent.

South Dakota Medicaid ambulance rates include:

BLS Non-Emergent: $280.09
BLS Emergent: $448.15
ALS Non-Emergent: $336.11
ALS Emergent: $532.18
ALS Level 2: $770.25
Specialty Care Transport: $910.30
Loaded ground mileage: $9.00 per mile

When compared to surrounding states, South Dakota’s Medicaid rates appear to be higher than Montana and Wyoming, close to Minnesota, and lower than North Dakota.

The larger issue is that Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, VA, IHS, and patient payments all help, but they generally do not cover the full cost of keeping ambulances staffed, equipped, and ready — especially in rural areas with long distances, lower call volume, and more non-transport responses.

EMS billing helps pay for transports. It does not fully pay for readiness.

31/07/2026

Rural EMS Service Update

I want to provide an update on the ongoing discussions about ambulance service in rural Pennington County.

The attached EMS response map illustrates why this issue matters. Ambulance response areas are regional, not just local. Rapid City Fire currently covers a large rural response area outside the city limits, including areas that affect Rapid Valley, New Underwood, Box Elder, and unincorporated portions of Pennington County.

Pennington County recently sent a letter to Rapid City Fire Chief Jason Culberson asking what level of funding would be needed to continue ambulance service into 2027 while the County and affected communities work toward a long-term solution. The goal is to avoid any gap in EMS coverage while we evaluate the best path forward. I appreciate Chief Culberson’s willingness to continue this discussion.

The City of Box Elder has submitted a grant application to the South Dakota Department of Health to fund a consultant to help develop a regional EMS plan. This planning effort would examine service areas, response needs, funding options, governance models, and how communities such as Box Elder, New Underwood, Rapid Valley, and Pennington County can work together on a regional solution.

New Underwood is also participating in this regional discussion, and I appreciate Box Elder taking the lead on the grant application.

26/07/2026

The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs will host a State Bridge Naming Ceremony on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 106 S. Street, New Underwood, South Dakota 57761.

As part of this ceremony, the 161st Avenue Bridge over Interstate 90 at Exit 78 in New Underwood will be formally dedicated as the SSG Ronald D. McIlravy Bridge.

Governor Larry Rhoden, in partnership with the South Dakota Departments of Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Military, is helping lead this important initiative to honor South Dakota’s fallen combat veterans. By dedicating bridges across the state in their memory, these lasting memorials recognize their courage, service, valor, and sacrifice while preserving their legacy for future generations.

This dedication is more than the naming of a bridge. It is a permanent reminder of SSG McIlravy’s service to our nation and the sacrifice made by him and his family.
Family, friends, veterans, and community members are invited to join together in remembrance and gratitude.

Event Details
Saturday, August 22, 2026
2:00 p.m. Mountain Time
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
106 S. Street, New Underwood, SD 57761

Please share this invitation and help us honor the legacy of Staff Sergeant Ronald Dean McIlravy. 🇺🇸

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2026

Rapid Valley Road Work Notice - Chip Seal Project Beginning July 20

The Pennington County Highway Department is notifying residents of upcoming chip seal operations in the Rapid Valley area beginning Monday, July 20. The project, being completed by Simon Contractors, is anticipated to continue through Friday, August 7, weather permitting.

Work will take place Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Residents who live on roads identified for chip seal work are asked to remove all vehicles, trailers, campers, and other items from the roadway before work begins. Vehicles left on affected roadways will be towed at the owner's expense to allow construction crews to safely and efficiently complete the project.

Simon Contractors will mail notices to affected residents and will also conduct door-to-door outreach on roads scheduled for construction to help ensure residents are aware of the upcoming work.

Chip sealing is a preventative maintenance treatment that extends the life of roadways by sealing the pavement surface, improving skid resistance, and protecting against weather-related deterioration.

"We appreciate the cooperation and patience of our residents while this important maintenance work is underway," said Joe Miller, Pennington County Highway Superintendent. "Making sure vehicles are removed from the roadway before crews arrive helps keep the project on schedule, improves safety for everyone involved, and allows us to complete the work as efficiently as possible."

The Pennington County Highway Department apologizes for the temporary inconvenience and appreciates the public's cooperation as crews work to improve the safety, durability, and longevity of neighborhood roads.

Residents can view the official Public Service Announcement, including a project map identifying the affected roadways on our website at https://www.pennco.org/services/highway/index.php

For additional information, contact the Pennington County Highway Department at 605-394-2166.