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Codington County is turning to a San Angelo, Texas, company to streamline how it tracks the hours its 135 employees work, as well as other data needed to generate a payroll.
County commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 11 to purchase the timekeeping system from TimeClock Plus at a first-year cost of $16,242 and $8,262 for the following four years of the contract.
TimeClock Plus officials videoconferenced into the commissioners meeting, noting more than 33,000 clients are using the software, including state and local governments. The company has been in business 35 years. The officials provided the basics on how the system works.
The new system will end the current paper trail of time slips. Employees can use computers, cell phones, time clocks, badge readers or biometrics to note when they start and end their work day.
Brent Solum, the county’s Sheriff’s Department chief deputy, investigated TCP’s performance along with Natalie Remund, who serves as the county’s human resources manager.
Solum spoke with officials in Charles Mix, Pennington and Roberts counties. All three were impressed with the system and how well it was implemented.
Pennington County uses the software for its sheriff’s and detention center employees. Solum was told it has reduced the time needed to generate its payroll from two or three days to four hours.
Besides double-checking time sheets, vouchers, vacation days, sick leave and compensation time, Auditor Brenda Hanten said her department also must deal with three different unions and how many hours union employees earn for fringe benefits.
“It can be overwhelming,” Hanten told commissioners. “I think (the software) would really simplify and improve our accuracy. It’s going to be a great addition.”
The planned go-live date for the system is May 1. County department heads will be trained first, followed by the employees.
The commissioners also took two steps regarding some of the funding for the new detention center. The first was to approve a formal budget hearing for the movement of $7,588,370 from the county’s building fund to the county’s jail building account.
The next step was to approve an agreement with Colliers Securities for management of the $29 million bonded funds to provide a short-term fixed income strategy.
During his monthly report, Veterans Service Officer Todd Rose said his department completed 267 claims with the Veterans Administration in 2024 and another 34 claims from other counties. The result was a $141,000 increase in monthly compensation and $1.5 million in retroactive payments for veterans.
Rose’s office also works with Hamlin County veterans. The numbers there were 23 claims completed, a $9,700 increase in monthly compensation and $17,000 in recovered retroactive payments.
Community Services Director Sara Foust told commissioners her staff continues to see higher monthly numbers of people seeking assistance. She is evaluating staffing and future needs and is searching for more office space.
Foust said her department has received $15,000 Community Health Worker grants for the two community workers in her office. The grants are provided by the South Dakota Department of Health.
In other actions, the commissioners:
• approved declaring four pieces of computer equipment in the Register of Deeds Office as surplus for the purpose of their destruction.
• noted the county 4-H Shooting Sports Program will be holding a raffle starting March 4 and ending in May. Nine guns will be awarded along with a Macksteel firepit and gift cards from Watertown businesses including Runnings, Lindner Dock, Sioux Valley Co-op, Walmart and Lew’s Fireworks. The goal is to sell 1,000 of the $20 tickets.
• noted that Monday, Feb. 17, is Presidents Day, and all county offices will be closed.
After adjourning, the commissioners went into executive session because of personnel issues. At the conclusion they reconvened and approved the emergency hiring of a full-time administrative assistant and a part-time financial assistant for the auditor’s office. No current employees were dismissed.
