By Watertown Current - January 22, 2026 in Official Proceedings
County of Codington
Codington County Court House
14 1st Ave SE
Watertown, SD 57201
January 6, 2026
The Codington County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Codington County Court House. Commission members present were: Lee Gabel, Tyler McElhany, Myron Johnson, Randall Schweer, and Troy VanDusen; Chair VanDusen, presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Auditor, Brenda Hanten.
CALLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST ITEMS
Chair VanDusen called for public comments to be taken up during the open portion of the meeting; none were offered. There were no conflict-of-interest items to note.
AGENDA APPROVED
Motion by McElhany, second by Gabel, to approve the January 6, 2026, agenda as posted; all voted aye; motion carried.
MINUTES APPROVED
Motion by Johnson, second by Schweer, to approve the minutes of December 30, 2025; all voted aye; motion carried.
BOARD ADJOURNS SINE-DIE FOR 2024
Motion by Gabel, second by Schweer, to adjourn sine-die, at 9:02 a.m., for the year ending 2025; all voted aye; motion carried.
NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR
Auditor, Brenda Hanten, called for nominations for Chair for 2026. Commissioner Gabel nominated Commissioner VanDusen. Commissioner Schweer nominated Commissioner McElhany. There were no other nominations forthcoming. The Board cast secret ballots for Chair with the following results: Commissioner VanDusen – 4 votes and Commissioner McElhany – 1 vote. Commissioner VanDusen was declared 2026 Chair. Chair VanDusen then called for nominations for Vice-Chair. Commissioner Gabel nominated Commissioner McElhany. There were no other nominations forthcoming. Motion by Johnson, second by Gabel, to cease nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Commissioner McElhany; all voted aye; motion carried.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER 2026 WAGE
Motion by Johnson, second by McElhany, to increase Commissioners salaries, 2.6% over the 2025 rate of $2,229.78, the same increase provided to all County employees in 2026, resulting in a salary of $2,287.75 per month for 2026, a substitute motion by Gabel to increase the salary by 0% as budgeted, second by Schweer; a roll call vote was taken – Johnson, McElhany, and VanDusen voted no; Gabel and Schweer voted aye; motion failed. Back to the original motion a roll call vote was taken – Gabel, Schweer and VanDusen voted no; Johnson and McElhany voted yes; motion failed. Motion by Johnson, second by McElhany, to increase Commissioners salaries, 2.5% over the 2025 rate of $2,229.78, resulting in a salary of $2,285.82 per month for 2026; a roll call vote was taken – Johnson, McElhany and VanDusen voted aye; Gabel and Schweer voted no; motion carried.
MONTHLY REPORTS
4-H/Youth Program Advisor, Jodi Loehrer, updated the Board: shooting sports, archery & BB gun will begin this week with 39 in BB gun, 53 in archery and 9 in air pistol/air rifle will continue on Tuesday and Thursday nights through April, thank you to the shooting sports volunteer coaches; Farm Show prep is underway for the 4-H Leader’s three lunch counters, will need volunteers to help with the lunch counters, community members can call the office to volunteer to help, there is also open class quilts and photography, a Farm Safety Poster Contest and a Youth LEGO contest; NE 4-H Calf Show will be held at the conclusion of the Farm Show on Saturday, February 14, it is open to youth in the NE SD Counties of: Brookings, Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Marshall, Roberts, and Spink Counties. Veterans Service Officer, Jay Roberts, updated the Board: metrics for the month, 134 open claims (working claims) 59 pending action from VA, 358 completed (YTD), Hamlin 16 open (working claims) 9 pending from VA, 21 completed (YTD), currently working for 8 veterans and have completed 27 claims for veterans from outside our county; $10,962 for the month December 2025, increase in monthly compensation for veterans or their dependents YTD monthly increase $0; $24,919 for the month of December 2025, retro-payment to bring a claim current to monthly compensation YTD retro-payments $0; 1 veteran DAV transports in December, 2 – currently scheduled for January, currently 5 drivers; CURRENT – State requirements for State reimbursement for salary paid to the County for Veterans Service Officer(s), host at least one veteran outreach event each quarter – go into nursing homes or assisted living centers to meet with the occupants and or their families, meet with insurance agents and investors, retirement summit with the National Guard; Eric currently has his PIV card which gives him all permissions to submit claims and monitor them through completion; FUTURE – meeting with the commanders on Jan. 6, 2026 at the VFW; radio shows KWAT – 8:30 and KXLG – 9:05 on Jan. 8th, 2026; Jan. 10, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pelican Lake Recreation Area GFP will be holding an event titled Veterans Rod Building Class, the class has limited space, and veterans must preregister by calling Cassy Behnke at 605-882-5088; March 24, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. What’s Brewing outreach event at the Watertown Readiness Center, SDDVA will provide information on the following: burial benefits including grave markers, SD State Veterans Cemetery, SD State Veterans Home; Sioux Falls VHA will provide information on the following: VA Health Care eligibility, caregiver support, including respite care, nursing care, and nursing home services.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Motion by McElhany, second by Gabel, to approve the following list of 2026 Liaison appointments; County Appointed Board Assignments and other duties; and State/Regional Board appointments; all voted aye; motion carried.
Commissioner Department Liaisons (section 10.3, Codington County Personnel Policy & Procedures Manual)
| Commissioner District | Liaison agencies | Areas of oversight |
| I (Gabel) | Sheriff’s Office | Law Enforcement, Warrants, |
| Detention Center | Jail, 24/7 Alternatives | |
| States Attorney’s Office | Prosecutor, Victim Assistance | |
| II (McElhany) | Emergency Management Office | Emergency Management, Dive Rescue |
| Maintenance Dept. | Buildings, Grounds, Memorial Park | |
| Weed Supervisor | Weed and Pest control | |
| III (Johnson) | Health Nurses Office | Immunizations, wellness, WIC, Dietician |
| Welfare Office | Care of Poor, Indigent Burials | |
| Veteran’s Service Office | Veterans’ Claims Assistance | |
| County Extension Office | Extension Activities | |
| IV (VanDusen) | Treasurer’s Office | Tax Collection, Vehicle Licenses & Titles |
| Director of Equalization’s Office | Real Property Assessments/Valuation | |
| Coroner | Coroner | |
| Highway Dept. | Road/bridge construction & maintenance | |
| V (Schweer) | Auditor’s Office | Voter Registration, Elections, Budgeting, Payments, County records |
| Register of Deed’s Office | Vital/property records, Marriage Licenses |
County-Appointed Board Assignments and other duties
| Board/Duty | Frequency/Term | Appointees |
| Aging Council | Annual | Troy VanDusen |
| Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator | Annual | Myron Johnson |
| Codington County Home Health | Annual | Troy VanDusen |
| E-911 | Annual | Randy Schweer |
| Glacial Lakes & Prairies Tourism Assn | Annual | |
| Inter Lakes Community Action Program | Annual | Randy Schweer |
| Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative Committee | Annual | Lee Gabel, Troy VanDusen |
| Legislative contact | Annual | Myron Johnson |
| Local Emergency Planning Committee | Annual | Tyler McElhany, Randy Schweer |
| Planning Board | Annual | Myron Johnson |
| Watertown Area Transit | Annual | Randy Schweer |
| Watertown Development Company | Annual | Troy VanDusen |
| Weed Board | Annual | Tyler McElhany |
| Codington County Human Resource Committee | Ex Officio | Current Chair, Vice Chair |
| County/City Committee | Ex Officio | Current Chair and Vice Chair |
| Behavioral Health and Justice Working Group | Biennial, even yrs | Lee Gabel, Myron Johnson |
| Codington County Justice Advisory Committee | Biennial, odd yrs | Troy VanDusen, Lee Gabel |
| Watertown-Codington County Regional Railroad Authority | 3-years (up 2027) | Tyler McElhany, Myron Johnson |
| Housing and Redevelopment Board | 4-year (up 2029) | Randy Schweer |
State/Regional Board Appointments
| Board | Frequency/Term | |
| Catastrophic Legal Expense Relief Program (CLERP) | Indefinite | Lee Gabel |
| Catastrophic Poor Relief Fund | Indefinite | Myron Johnson |
| SDSU Ag & Bioscience Advisory Board | Indefinite | Myron Johnson |
| SD Retirement System (SDRS) | 4-yr (up 2026) | Myron Johnson |
| SDACC Executive Committee Proxy | Annual | Myron Johnson |
| SD LE Officers Standards & Training Commission | Biennial | Troy VanDusen |
| First District Assoc. Local Govts. | Annual | Myron Johnson |
LEGAL NEWS PAPERS
Motion by Johnson, second by Gabel, to designate, per SDCL 7-18-3, legal newspapers, the Watertown Current and South Shore Gazette, for Codington County 2026 publications, all voted aye; motion carried.
EMPLOYEE CELL PHONE STIPENDS
Motion by Gabel, second by McElhany to approve the cell phone stipend list for 2026 based on each applicable employee’s salary classification per the wage scale; all voted aye; motion carried.
2026 ANNUAL REQUEST FOR CELL PHONE STIPENDS
EMPLOYEE AMOUNT DEPARTMENT
Bakken, Alison 40.00 States Attorney
Collignon, Angie 40.00 Community Service
Dargatz, Matt 25.00 Highway
Dolen, Jamie 25.00 Highway
Eischens, Keith 25.00 Highway
Falvey, Randy 40.00 Highway
Foust, Sara 40.00 Community Service
Halajian, Justin 40.00 Detention Center
Hartley, Ron 25.00 Ag. Building
Hedding, Dave 25.00 Highway
Hedges, James 25.00 Ag. Building
Hoff, Cody 25.00 Highway
Jordan, Wade 25.00 Highway
Laframboise, Joseph 25.00 Highway
Kallhoff, Mitch 25.00 Highway
Kosak, Erik 25.00 Highway
Miller, Klayton 25.00 Highway
Nills, Shawn 40.00 Detention Center
Pauli, Thomas 40.00 Director Equalization
Pederson, Michelle 40.00 Director Equalization
Rounds, Harold 25.00 Highway
Schwinger, Brad 25.00 Highway
Sears, Melissa 40.00 Director Equalization
Selchert, Heidi 40.00 Director Equalization
Solberg, Lynn 40.00 Highway
Stahlke, Steve 25.00 Detention Center
Swanson, Scott 25.00 Ag. Building
Torstenson, Doug 25.00 Highway
Torstenson, James 20.00 Emergency Management
Vogelsang, Lonie 25.00 Highway
BANK DEPOSITORIES
Motion by Johnson, second by McElhany, to approve bank depositories for 2026; as submitted by Treasurer, Carol Maloney; all voted aye; motion carried: Reliabank Dakota will continue to be used for checking and the depositing of cash. The following banks will be authorized to sell the County certificates of deposit and for investments at competitive bids: American Bank & Trust, Dacotah Bank, First Bank & Trust, First Premier Bank, First Interstate Bank, Minnwest Bank, Plains Commerce Bank, Reliabank Dakota, SD Fit, and Wells Fargo Bank. The list of Authorized warrant signers will be staff from the Treasurers’ Office and Auditor’s Office and said list will be secured in the Auditor’s Office for security purposes.
TRAVEL REQUESTS
Motion by Gabel, second by Schweer, to approve the following travel requests: Codington County Public Health Nurse staff to assist with school services; Emergency Management staff to State surplus and Crisis Track training; all voted aye; motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Gabel noted that the foundation work on the new jail is coming to a close, working on soil composition, anticipated completion of the new jail project is 2027.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion by Johnson, second by Schweer, to enter into executive session, per SDCL 1-25-2 (1) consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters (SDCL 1-25-2(3)) at 9:32 a.m., all voted aye; motion carried. The Board returned to regular session at 10:02 a.m., and no action was taken. Community Service Director, Sara Foust and Codington County Health Nurse, Codi Storm, were present for executive session.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon conclusion of all business to come before the Board, a motion was made by Johnson, second by Schweer to adjourn at 10:03 a.m., all voted aye; motion carried.
ATTEST:
Brenda Hanten
Codington County Auditor
Codington County does not discriminate on the basis of color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or the provision of service.
Published once on January 22, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $195.00 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.
