StutsCourthouseJamestown (CSi) The Stutsman County Commission has removed $33,810 from the county’s proposed 2016 budget. It would have used to pay dues to South Central Dakota Regional Council.

The decision follows the Regional Council submitting a request to increase Stutsman County’s dues to the Regional Council by 3 percent and accompanying financial information at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, as required under a new state law that went into effect on August 1st.

Commissioner Dale Marks voted against removing the Regional Council dues funding from the budget, saying he was concerned about the consequences of not paying any funds to the council.

The council asked for $34,824 from Stutsman County for its dues for 2016.

At the August 4 meeting, the County Commission had concerns about the management of the Regional Council and its finances.

In other business, the County Commission approved including $65,000 in the Jamestown Regional Airport Authority’s budget request to pay for a local match grant to fund wetlands mitigation work.

The commission took no action on a request from Stutsman County State’s Attorney Fritz Fremgen to add a full-time attorney position to his staff.