Recent Emails From the Board- Sep. 1, 2026

As emails are often forwarded more than once to get to us, we will likely start copy/pasting rather than taking screenshots that we then redact on a separate platform. Please understand that when we copy/paste, we are not doing the Bob Hummel version, but a real copy/paste, and we just delete some info that we do not want to make more public. We are not changing the record.

6/23/26, 6:30 PM

From: Dale Ruzicka

Subject: Roadwork

All:

The recent rains, along with the 7 day forecast predicting additional moisture, is providing  favorable conditions to “pull in” and reincorporate excess clean rock from the shoulders.  Grading work will begin tomorrow and may continue for several days, so please be on alert for equipment operating on the road.

Please note the edge grading will bring some vegetation onto the roadway, but it will gradually degrade over several weeks of traffic.  It is also important to reduce your speed (especially on inclines) and use 4wd whenever possible, since speed and loose dry  aggregate are prime contributors to washboarding.  

Given the right conditions, the majority of the aggregate should become impacted into the surface as it dries.

Please feel free to contact Trustees with any questions you have.

Best regards, 

Dale Ruzicka – (redacted)

Matt Christensen – (redacted)

Dave Sommers – (redacted)

8/21/26, 11:58 AM

From: Dale Ruzicka

Subject: Roadwork

FYI All,

Tomorrow morning (August 22nd) culvert and ditch cleaning will take place at the intersection of Ghost Canyon and Saddleback Drive, and two locations further up the first hill.  Please practice caution and reduce your speed when entering or exiting Saddleback.

Thanx,
Dale Ruzicka

8/23/26, 10:44 AM

From: Dale Ruzicka

Subject: Culvert & ditch cleaning

Hello All,

FYI, clearing/cleaning of targeted areas was complete, however several small piles of gravel/silt remain on the roadside shoulders.  These will be cleaned up/spread in the next couple days {once they dry}.  Please drive carefully around these.

In an effort to eliminate/reduce the standing water we get in front of the mailboxes after each rainfall, a drainage channel was dug behind them to direct runoff to the culvert running across the Saddleback entrance.  A small relief was then cut into the shoulder of the road under the boxes to direct the water into the channel.  We checked how far the relief extends out from the shoulders, to ensure it should not be in the tire path of vehicles.  Bottomline, if your tire is in the relief, you are too close to the mailboxes. 

Also, a small berm was built on the north corner of the entrance, to direct runoff from that side of the hill into the channel behind the mailboxes.  Hopefully this eliminates the erosion at the entrance mouth of the culvert that causes it to plug so quickly.  

To protect the berm and both ends of the culvert, I’ll be contacting the Custer Hwy Department and asking them to move the recently installed marker posts in towards each other to reduce erosion and better protect the ends from vehicle damage.  Other marker posts may be added to ensure traffic is kept away from the corners to reduce long term maintenance efforts.

We’ll monitor these changes and adjust as needed.  Please don’t hesitate to call or send an email with any suggestions or concerns.

Thank you to Dave and Kim Sommers for assisting in the excavation.  The help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Dale Ruzicka

8/30/26, 8:34 AM

From: Matt Christensen

Subject: Saddleback Road District Open Meeting, Thursday September 3 2026

Good morning Saddleback Road District,

This email is to notify you of an Open Meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM at the Ruzicka’s Shouse (redacted Saddleback Drive, Hermosa, SD 57744).

Please bring a chair.

Attached is the Notice and Agenda.

Please address any questions or concerns to the SBRD Trustee (Dale, Dave, or Matt)

Thank you and have a great day.

Matthew Christensen

SBRD Trustee – Secretary

Saddleback Road District Special Meeting

Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 at 7:00 PM

(redacted)Saddleback Drive, Hermosa, SD

(Ruzicka’s Shouse)

(Please bring a chair)

NOTICE and AGENDA

1. Call to Order 7:00 PM (President)
   1. Roll call for quorum & attendance

2. Agenda Presentation & Approval (Secretary)

3. Approval of previous meetings’ Notes of Record (Secretary)

4. Conflict of Interest Declaration (Trustees)

5. Update on road maintenance activities {President}

6. Financial update and approval of Invoices {Treasurer}
   1. Current balance & collection status
   2. Outstanding payables
   3. Compliance with budget categories

7. Discussion and motion regarding proposed 2027 Road District fee per land owner {Trustees}

8. Discussion on ordnances and if there is a need {Trustees}

9. Discussion on cost reduction measures including options of equipment or tools to allow self-reliant help vs paying contractor work {Trustees}

10. Public comment – 5 minutes per requester {must sign in}

11. Old/New Business

12. Motion for adjournment of open session