“You can’t tell me all those cars and pickups bouncing over those roads aren’t doing any damage.“
STURGIS, S.D. – A resolution meant to simplify a new road permit fee ordinance being considered by the Meade County Commission to address the rising costs of maintaining county roads, was passed with emergency implementation at the October 14, 2025 meeting held in Sturgis, S.D.
Resolution 2025-31 states that all Meade County highways not listed in the Resolution shall be allowed legal loads based on weight limits under South Dakota Statutes. This will exempt some Meade County roads from the proposed permit fee ordinance.
The continued first reading of Ordinance 59 regulating overweight and over dimension vehicles on 20 Meade County roads brought a number of county residents to testify on portions of the ordinance that will assess an annual permit fee for usage.
Among the objections were the availability of a permit on the day it’s needed with some farmers and ranchers noting they don’t always know in advance when a permit will be needed. Others worry that haulers will stop offering services to those whose roads fall into the Commission’s additional permit areas.
“Why should we have to pay to bring hay home or to take cows to the sale barn?” asked rancher Tyler Woods. “I don’t own trucks and how many guys won’t want to haul for me anymore because of the added permitting requirements?
Still others questioned the fairness of the ordinance in any form.
Rancher Matt Kammerer observed that many of the roads that will require an additional permit are concentrated around housing development areas. “You can’t tell me all those cars and pickups bouncing over those roads aren’t doing any damage. Yet they won’t have to pay. You’re singling out farmers and ranchers to pay for this.”
Kammerer also had hard criticism for the damage on Elk Vale Road where a controversial state-owned gun shooting range has recently opened. He charged the county has turned a blind eye as to load weights and width requirements of trucks carrying construction supplies to the gun range.
But Meade County Highway superintendent Troy Eastman disputed Kammerer’s claims. “We pulled them over and checked and they were not overloaded,” he said, adding, “We are definitely not singling out farmers and ranchers, I can tell you that.”
At least one Meade County resident, Doris Lauing, suggested public meetings that would educate and raise awareness of the pending ordinance. How the ordinance is to be enforced was another concern expressed by Lauing.
Following public comment and discussion by commissioners, the first reading of revised Ordinance 59 was approved. A second reading will be held at the Meade County Commission meeting set for October 28, 2025.