By Watertown Current - July 9, 2026 in Official Proceedings
County of Codington
Codington County Court House
14 1st Ave SE
Watertown, SD 57201
June 16, 2026
The Codington County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 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 State’s Attorney, Alison Bakken.
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 agenda for June 16, 2026, as posted; all voted aye; motion carried.
MINUTES APPROVED
Motion by Johnson, second by Schweer, to approve the minutes of June 09, 2026; all voted aye; motion carried.
MONTHLY REPORTS
4-H Youth Program Advisor, Jodi Loehrer, updated the Board: A Teen Leader Meeting was held on Sunday, June 14; The 4-H Shake Wagon at Dacotah Bank is June 16-18, 2025, from 11 AM – 7 PM each day, the youth get very excited to serve the public as June is Dairy Month, there are chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla shakes for $5; One last FCS/CDM/Horticulture/YLL Skillathon will be held on Monday, June 22 from 11 AM – 2 PM; Cloverbud Camp is next week, June 24, with 24 youth registered; 4-H Shotgun is starting; A Communications/Public Presentation workshop will be held on June 26; The Codington/Clark/Day/Marshall 4-H Horse Show will be held in Webster on June 30 with the State 4-H Horse Show in Huron, July 13-15. Highway Superintendent, Randy Falvey, updated the Board: Grangaard Construction Inc. will finish ahead of schedule on the 14th Avenue bridge, it will be fully open to vehicular traffic tomorrow at noon; Prahm Construction out of Slayton, MN finished working on repairing the east bridge deck on the bridge on 460th Ave. east of town from ice damage from a couple years ago; have completed a Rip/Rap and Culvert replacement project on 460th Ave. also, in preparation for resurfacing of that same stretch of road; we have finished crack sealing and are hauling pea rock from Con-Ag and staging it in order to start chip sealing in July; have started our top cut on all of our county roads so mowers will be out and about for the next few weeks, call the office if you don’t want your ditches top cut, also, just a note to the general public to be aware of slow moving traffic; we are having a portion of the roof on the Kranzburg shop repaired due to the insulation leaking; the employees that were out on medical leave have returned to work; still taking applications to fill an opening for a Maintenance II position, starting at $27.66 an hour, will be doing some interviews next week; spent a day last week picking up tree debris from some high winds associated with reported tornados, but saw no other damage; have finished the budget request and turned it in for review, am currently working on personnel evaluations.
Facility Manager, Steve Molengraaf, Ag. Building – After digging the posts in the barn, there were 7 out of 20 posts that were replaced by concreting some pillars 6” above the dirt to prevent further rotting damage; Blackburn Foundation came to give an estimate for lifting some bad areas and trip hazards around the offices;
Court House/Detention Center– normal maintenance; Park – 917 reservations, with a revenue of $104,706.46 as of 6-14-2026, compared to a year ago there are a few less reservations but the revenue is higher; Weed – The plant ID tour was on June 11th, 2026, near Ree Heights, nearly 60 individuals attended the event; WNV – Staff fogged South Shore last week prior to their 125th Centennial last weekend, Henry is set to be fogged sometime this week, weather permitting; mosquito trap reports from the Watertown parks have been on the low side so far this season; the county traps haven’t been put out yet.
CODINGTON COUNTY BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT 15-220-161
Motion by Gabel, second by McElhany, to approve quote for Codington County Bridge Repair project 15-220-161 with Hollaway Bridge and Culvert, Inc. in the amount of $20,000.00 as presented by Highway Supt., Randy Falvey, all voted aye; motion carried.
SIDEWALK REPAIR AT THE CODINGTON COUNTY EXTENSION COMPLEX
Motion by Johnson, second by Gabel, to approve quote for Sidewalk Repair at the Codington County Extension Complex, with Blackburn Foundation Repair, in the amount of $4,546.44, Facility Manager, Steve Molengraaf provided documentation for the Board, all voted aye; motion carried.
FY 2026 WIC CONTRACT AMENDMENT
Motion by Johnson, second by McElhany, to authorize Chair to sign Amendment to FY 2026 WIC contract, between South Dakota Dept. of Health and Codington County, in the amount of $18,269.59, for the time period 6-1-2026 through 9-30-2026, for the provision of extending the period of performance; all voted aye; motion carried.
TAX DEED AUCTION
Motion by Gabel, second by McElhany, to approve notice of Tax Deed Auction; appoint property appraisers, Shawna Constant, Jacki Manning and Steve Molengraaf; and declare the following property surplus to be sold: Lots 26, 27, and 28 in block 2 in the Town of Vera, now known as Kampeska, and the W1/2 of the vacated alley lying easterly of said Lots 26-28 & the S1/2 of the vacated alley lying northerly of said Lot 28, Codington County, South Dakota, according to the recorded plat thereof. Book 427 of Deeds, Page 2285 in the office of the Register of Deeds of said Codington County. RECORD 1996. Tax Deed issued to Codington County 12/16/2025; all voted aye; motion carried. The auction will take place during the Board’s meeting scheduled for July 7th, 2026.
JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY
The Board noted the Court House, and all County Offices will be closed on Friday, June 19th, 2026.
CLAIMS
Motion by Gabel, second by McElhany, to approve for payment the following list of claims; all voted aye; motion carried. A&B BUSINESS SOLUTIONS 91.04 MAINT, ADVANTAGE RV’S & TRAILERS INC 1537.98 MAINT, ALAN ALBRIGHT 311.25 SVC, MARILYN ANDERSON 50.00 SVC, TERRI BACH 289.50 SVC, BATTERIES UNLIMITED 110.00 SUP, NANCY BLAIS 275.00 SVC, JULIE BRIGGS 275.00 SVC, BROTHERS & SISTERS BEHIND BARS 5679.00 SVC, LISA CADY 275.00 SVC, SHAWNA CONSTANT 140.00 TRAV, PAM CORDELL 275.00 SVC, CREDIT COLLECTIONS BUREAU 462.84 SVC, CREDIT COLLECTIONS BUREAU 332.23 SVC, GERRI DEBOER 275.00 SVC, ANDREW DELGADO 84.80 SVC, CAROL DENMAN 225.00 SVC, COREY DEWEERDT 13.00 SVC, ELECTION SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE 3521.68 SVC, EMBERLINE PRESS INC 8875.22 POST, MARSHA ENDERSON 275.00 SVC, FLORENCE COMMUNITY CENTER 25.00 RENT, FOX LAW FIRM, PLLC 231.57 SVC, MARY FRANSEN 50.00 SVC, DENISE FROKE 275.00 SVC, DIANE GARVEY 275.00 SVC, HELEN HAAN 275.00 SVC, MARILYN HAAN 275.00 SVC, RICK HARTLEY 87.41 SVC, DAN HAWKINSON 225.00 SVC, HEALTHEQUITY 63.00 SVC, HENRY TOWN HALL 25.00 RENT, MICHAEL HEUER 275.00 SVC, NANCY HLAVACEK 275.00 SVC, HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 25.00 RENT, BARB JOHNSON 275.00 SVC, CHERYL JONGELING 275.00 SVC, JURGENS PRINTING 49.00 SUP, JOAN KAAZ 275.00 SVC, MARK C KATTERHAGEN 32.00 SVC, ARLYS KAYS 275.00 SVC, NANCY KJELLSEN 275.00 SVC, STEVE KJELLSEN 275.00 SVC, LINDA KOCH 275.00 SVC, WAYNE KOLDEN 312.41 SVC, JUDY KRANZ 225.00 SVC, KARI KRUMWIEDE 275.00 SVC, LAKE AREA RADIO KLUB 1000.00 SUP, VALERIE J LARSON 32.00 SVC, KAREN LAUSENG 275.00 SVC, JAN LAWRENCE 225.00 SVC, MARLYS LENNING 275.00 SVC, LEWIS & CLARK BHS 225.00 SVC, LINCOLN CO TREASURER 1534.32 SVC, CARINA LITTLE 275.00 SVC, MACQUEEN EQUIPMENT 199.07 EQUIP, T&H REPAIR LLC – MARK’S AUTO 425.82 MAINT, SHANNON MARTIN 110.00 SVC, KATHERINE MEYER 275.00 SVC, KATHLEEN MEYER 311.25 SVC, MIDCONTINENT COMMUNICATIONS 169.23 UTIL, MINNEHAHA COUNTY AUDITOR 291.48 SVC, MINNEHAHA COUNTY SD 924.00 SVC, MULTI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS INC 5500.00 SVC, MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 14393.88 UTIL, PENNY NESON 275.00 SVC, JANET NEWMAN 225.00 SVC, JEANIE OCHSENDORF 225.00 SVC, BONNIE OLETZKE 275.00 SVC, ONSHARP INC 82.50 SVC, LYNN OSTHUS 275.00 SVC, SUSAN PATRICK 275.00 SVC, THOMAS PAULI 140.00 TRAV, JANICE PAULSON 275.00 SVC, PEARL PAULSON 300.38 SVC, MICHELLE PEDERSON 140.00 TRAV, PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTH CARE CENT 1130.00 SVC, DARLENE RADTKE 275.00 SVC, JEROME RADTKE 275.00 SVC, ANN RASMUSSEN 50.00 SVC, DONNA REDLIN 252.26 SVC, BARBARA ROSSMAN 275.00 SVC, SAFETYMED LLC 3176.00 EQUIP, JAMIE SCHAACK 302.26 SVC, MORGAN SCHAACK 275.00 SVC, SD ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE 1610.75 PMT, SD DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 3615.00 SVC, SDAAO 1500.00 TRAV, SDACO 710.00 PMT, SDHSC 600.00 SVC, SDN COMMUNICATIONS 1026.00 UTIL, HEIDI SELCHERT 140.00 TRAV, SIOUX VALLEY COOP 5418.92 SUP, KAY SOLBERG 275.00 SVC, SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY CENTER 25.00 RENT, SOUTH SHORE GAZETTE 1322.49 PUB, DIANNE STARK 275.00 SVC, LORNA STONEBARGER 275.00 SVC, JOHN STONEBARGER 275.00 SVC, JOAN STRANG 275.00 SVC, JAMES SUTTON 80.45 SVC, KATHY TESCH 275.00 SVC, DAWN THYEN 296.75 SVC, TWOTREES TECHNOLOGIES 6669.75 SVC, TWOTREES TECHNOLOGIES 1297.80 SVC, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 250.00 POST, LOYDEEN VANSICKLE 275.00 SVC, RELIABANK VISA 478.98 UTIL, RELIABANK VISA 16.28 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 84.74 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 481.20 UTIL, RELIABANK VISA 455.33 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 138.39 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 5.56 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 391.96 TRAV, RELIABANK VISA 69.30 TRAV, RELIABANK VISA 395.06 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 585.31 SUP, JULIE WALKER 289.50 SVC, SUSAN WALKER 225.00 SVC, WALLACE FIRE DEPT 685.00 SVC, SHAWN WARD 225.00 SVC, WAVERLY COMMUNITY CENTER 25.00 RENT, BARBARA WEBER 275.00 SVC, HARVEY WIBETO 275.00 SVC, TOBY WISHARD 71.75 SVC, WW TIRE SERVICE INC 106.14 MAINT, YANKTON CO TREASURER 190.35 SVC, JOAN ZWIEG 50.00 SVC,
Motion by Johnson, second by Schweer, to approve a claim in the amount of $40,232.51 payable to the City of Watertown for April 2026, 911 surcharge collections, Gabel, McElhany, Johnson and Schweer voted aye; VanDusen was recused; motion carried.
Motion by McElhany, second by Gabel, to approve for payment the following jail claim; all voted aye; motion carried. Municipal Utilities 90.64.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
Motion by McElhany, second by Schweer, to approve the following Personnel changes: all voted aye; motion carried. Brandon Fieber, Deputy Sheriff in Sheriff’s Office, Grade 40/Step C, $31.40 per hour, effective 7-01-2026; Joseph Steffen, Part-time Correctional Officer, Grade 35/Step A, $27.66 per hour, effective 6-15-2026.
Motion by Johnson, second by Gabel, to approve the following annual step personnel changes; all voted aye; motion carried.
Employee Position Wage Effective
Kim Johnson Admin. Spec. 28.97/5040.78 7/1/2026
Becky Goens Sr. Admin. Spec. 34.54/6009.96 7/1/2026
Jay Roberts VSO 37.51/6526.74 7/1/2026
Eric Lewis Deputy VSO 30.63/5329.62 7/1/2026
TRAVEL REQUESTS
Motion by Johnson, second by Gabel, to approve the following travel request: Extension staff to attend conference; all voted aye; motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Gabel reported the new jail update stating that there was a delay due to rain for bringing in heavy slabs, they have started on Area A.
OPEN
Commission Comments – Commissioner Johnson informed the Board that he attended the South Dakota State Retirement meeting last week. He mentioned the COLA is set at 1.56 and lately the markets have been good.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion by Johnson, second by McElhany, to enter executive session, per SDCL 1-25-2 (1) Discussion of personnel issues (SDCL 1-25-2(1)) and (2) Consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters (SDCL 1-25-2(2) at 9:25 a.m.; all voted aye; motion carried. The Board returned to regular session at 10:17 a.m. and no action was taken. Human Resource Representative, Jessica Bingham, Alison Bakken, State’s Attorney, SDPAA Attorney, Lisa Marso via phone call, and Facility Manager, Steve Molengraaf, were present for executive session.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon conclusion of all business to come before the Board, a motion was made by Gabel, second by McElhany, to adjourn at 10:17 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 July 9, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $131.74 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.
