By Watertown Current - June 4, 2026 in Official Proceedings
County of Codington
Codington County Court House
14 1st Ave SE
Watertown, SD 57201
May 12, 2026
The Codington County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Codington County Court House. Commission members present were: Lee Gabel, Tyler McElhany, Myron Johnson, Randall Schweer, and Troy VanDusen; VanDusen, presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Facility Manager, Steve Molengraaf.
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 May 12, 2026, as posted; all voted aye; motion carried.
MINUTES APPROVED
Motion by Johnson, second by Schweer, to approve the minutes of May 05, 2026; all voted aye; motion carried.
AWARD BID OF CODINGTON COUNTY HIGHWAY SHOP REMODEL
Highway Superintendent, Randy Falvey, opened and announced the following bid for the advertised County Highway Shop Remodel:
BIDDER’S NAME AND ADDRESS BASE BID ALT 1 ALT 2___ ALT 3 _____
Basin Construction & Tile, Hayti, SD $449,521.00 $19,000.00 $165,000.00 $121,000.00
Bidder provided a bid bond.
Adam Hanson, Project Engineer with Banner Associates, was present for the opening of bids. The Highway Supt. And Project Engineer reviewed the bid for accuracy and informed the Board that after reviewing the bid and it being up to the Board to accept the construction bid with alternative 1, alternative 2, or alternative 3, alternative 1 is replacing shop overhead doors and openers in the amount of $19,000.00, alternative 2 is upgrade electrical panels in the amount of $165,000.00, and alterative 3 is add replace generator in the amount of $121,000.00, the bid from Basin Construction & Tile, was the only bid for alternative 1 and 2 in the amount of $633,521.00; Highway Supt., Randy Falvey recommended going with alternative 1 and alternative 2; motion by Gabel and second by McElhany to accept the bid from Basin Construction & Tile for alternative 1 and alternative 2, in the amount of $633,521.00; all voted aye; motion carried.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Road Closure: Highway Supt., Randy Falvey, announced: County Road 7-5 460th Avenue from 169th Street to 170th Street will be closed down starting May 18th, 2026, for approximately one month, local traffic only, no through traffic; the east side of the bridge is going to be repaired after receiving damage during a prior year’s spring thaw, other projects will be going on in the area so please be patient and cautious.
MONTHLY REPORTS
Auditor, Brenda Hanten, updated the Board: The Auditor’s Office has voted 210 absentee voters to date, that is 11 less than the same timeframe two years ago; most of the time is being spent working on the 2026 Primary Election details; have sent election publications to the legal newspapers and collecting 2027 budget requests from County offices; the County has received its first Opioid payment in 2027 in the amount of $1360.18, making the total amount in that fund $89,446.50. Director of Equalization, Shawna Constant, reported the office has completed the final abstract for the 2026 assessment year; they have also completed the first 6 months of 2027 assessment year; staff did training with the Dept. of Revenue via Teams; appraisal staff is ready to begin appraising at the lake as soon as the weather cooperates; due to commercial property being assessed in a couple years have been working with other counties to look at assessing them with neighbor hooding for occupancy instead of area; working on the 2027 budget. Community Service Director, Sara Foust, updated the Board: recognized Paige Welling, CHW, for receiving the CHW of the year award at the CHW Conference, Paige commented that with the work that she does it is rewarding to help get people back on their feet again, the Board thanked her for the work that she has done. Medicaid Reimbursement – $2,083.15 billed in April; DOH CHW Grant reimbursement – $4,263.61; Community Service Office – Paige, Kari and I attended the Annual CHW Conference; CHW Grant evaluators were here in April to meet with clients, they stated clients really praised the support they receive from our CHW’s, the RESTART Steering Committee met April 23rd and identified priorities for the next year, Kari has left her position which gives us the opportunity to do some restructuring of office roles; Systems of Care/Codington Connects – Interagency meeting is this Thursday at 10:00 at the police department, we are celebrating our 5 year anniversary of the meeting; Agency of the month is Midwest Bible and Hank Roso, is the individual of the month; Childcare – working on scheduling a June meeting to create future childcare plan and release the survey; Community Awareness Campaign is working on meeting with target audiences, churches, businesses, and the school; we are helping plan the Splash Into Summer event which will be May 28th, 2026, at Foundation Plaza from 5-7; Check out Codington Connects at www.codingtonconnects.com for more events and information about the community.
REVISED COMMUNITY CARE COORDINATOR JOB DESCRIPTION
Motion by Gabel, second by Schweer, to approve a revised job description for the position of Community Care Coordinator in the Community Service Office at a pay grade 25; all voted aye; motion carried.
FULL TIME COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICE COMMUNITY CARE COORDINATOR
Motion by McElhany, second by Gabel, to advertise and fill a full-time Community Care Coordinator position in the Community Service Office; all voted aye; motion carried.
AUDITOR’S ACCT. W/TREASURER AND REGISTER OF DEEDS FEES
Motion by McElhany, second by Schweer, to approve the Auditor’s Account of the cash and cash items in the hands of the County Treasurer as of the last business day of April 2026, all present voted aye; motion carried.
Cash on hand $ 13,457.34
Checks in Treasurers’ possession $ 1,994,973.31
less than 3 days 0.00
Credit Card Charges $ 7,141.75
Cash Items $ 19,710.37
TOTAL CASH ASSETS ON HAND $ 2,035,282.77
RECONCILED CHECKING
Reliabank (Memorial Park) $ 12,060.68
Reliabank Dakota $ 42,023,348.45
INVESTMENTS
SD Public Funds Investment $ 1,118.38
Plains Commerce Bank CD’s $ 0.00
Colliers Securities $ 22,974,884.16
TOTAL CASH ASSETS $ 67,046,694.44
General Ledger Cash Balance by Funds
General $12,001,520.09
General restricted cash $ 500,000.00
Sp. Revenue $ 7,883,020.54
County Jail Build $28,945,459.67
Bond Redemption Fund $ 1,241,041.95
Custodial $16,475,652.19
(schools $12,684,451.03, townships $340,171.37; city/towns $2,599,135.88)
TOTAL GENERAL LEDGER CASH $ 67,046,694.44
The Board noted Register of Deeds fees, in the amount of $31,054.40, were collected in the month of April 2026.
VETERAN’S SERVICE OFFICE LOCATION
Jay Roberts, Veterans Service Officer, requested to move the Veterans Service Office to a new location being 10 N Broadway, Suite 104, access to the current location on 19th Street is difficult for individuals to access the parking lot at the current location on 19th Street, Jay also mentioned the cost to rent the new office space is less expensive than what is currently being spent currently the rent is $1648,34/month and the rental amount at the new location will be $1594.75/month; Motion by Gabel, second by McElhany to approve moving the Veterans Service Office to 10 N Broadway, Suite 104, on August 22, 2026, in the amount of $3520.50 for the prorated rent for August 2026 and all of September 2026; all voted aye; motion carried.
VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE SURPLUS MISC FURNITURE
Motion by McElhany, second by Gabel, to declare misc. furniture surplus to be transferred to other county offices or sold; all voted aye; motion carried.
VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE SURPLUS TABLET
Motion by Johnson, second by Schweer, to declare Microsoft Surface tablet with hard case and pen, SN 050195102353; to be destroyed; all voted aye; motion carried.
PRETRIAL CASE MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION
Motion by Gabel, second by McElhany, to approve a job description for the position of Pretrial Case Manager in the Community Service Office at a pay grade 40; all voted aye; motion carried.
FULL TIME PRETRIAL CASE MANAGER
Motion by Gabel, second by McElhany, to advertise and fill a full-time Pretrial Case Manager position in the Community Service Office; all voted aye; motion carried.
CLAIMS
Motion by McElhany, second by Gabel, to approve for payment the following list of claims; all voted aye; motion carried. 605 PROPERTY SOLUTIONS, LLC 1099.02 RENT, A-OX WELDING 25.31 SUPPLIES, ACCREDITATION, AUDIT AND 165.00 SVC, A&B BUSINESS SOLUTIONS 155.70 MAINT, A&B BUSINESS SOLUTIONS 62.52 TRAVEL & CONF., KAITLYN ABBOTT 102.80 JURY, ADVANCED CORRECTIONAL 21206.51 SVC, AP AUTO PROS 550.00 MAINT, AUSTIN LAW OFFICES LLP 55349.64 SVC, AUTOMATIC BUILDING CONTROLS 963.00 MAINT, AUTO VALUE 266.08 MAINT, AUTO VALUE 247.05 SUPPLIES, ALISON BAKKEN 40.00 CELL, BATTERIES UNLIMITED 180.00 SUP, SHERYL BAUER 52.80 JURY, BEACON CENTER 1000.00 PMT, BLUEPEAK 353.51 UTIL, BLUME FIREWOOD 1200.00 SUP, BORNS GROUP 2876.30 POST, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB 8926.58 PMT, BRIAN’S GLASS & DOOR, INC. 40.00 MAINT, BRIAN’S GLASS & DOOR INC. 1050.00 REPAIRS/MAINT., BROTHERS & SISTERS BEHIND BARS 7021.90 RENT, ISAAC BUCK 10.00 REF, COAST TO COAST COMPUTER PROD. 510.00 SUP, CODINGTON-CLARK ELECTRIC COOPE 45.64 UTILITIES, CODINGTON TREASURER PETTY CASH 28.70 SUP, COKO PROPERTIES 250.00 RENT, COLE PAPERS, INC. 3688.58 SUP, ANGIE COLLIGNON 40.00 CELL, LISA COMES 144.80 JURY, COMMUNITY TRANSIT OF WATERTOWN 24.00 TRAV, CONSOLIDATED CORRECTIONAL 16153.23 SUP, CRAFCO, INC. 9389.75 SUPPLIES, CRAFCO, INC 78415.65 EQUIPMENT, REAGAN MARIE CRANDALL 46.00 SVC, CREDIT COLLECTIONS BUREAU 2146.24 SVC, CREDIT COLLECTIONS BUREAU 430.94 SVC, CROSSROADS HOTEL & HURON EVENT 112.00 TRAV, C & S PEST CONTROL LLC 187.00 MAINT, CUT RATE TREE SERVICE 3519.00 MAINT, DAKOTA GROUP PSYCHOLOGICAL 5000.00 SVC, LAVERNE D DALLY(CHARLIE) 25.00 CELL, CARLA DANDURAND 102.80 JURY, MATTHEW DARGATZ 25.00 CELL, KATHRYN JANE DEJONG 600.00 SVC, DIAMOND DRUGS, INC 1226.14 SVC, JAMIE DOLEN 25.00 CELL, PAMELA DRAKE 119.60 JURY, KEITH EISCHENS 25.00 CELL, ELECTION SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE 1493.79 SUP, ENGELSTAD ELECTRIC CO. 164.47 MAINT, ESRI, INC 550.00 MAINT, FACE IT TOGETHER INC 3650.75 SVC, JAMES FALK 52.80 JURY, RANDALL G. FALVEY 40.00 CELL, FIRST DISTRICT ASSN OF LCL GOV 5776.65 SVC, FLOCK GROUP INC 21100.00 EQUIP, SARA FOUST 474.55 CELL, MICHELLE GAIKOWSKI 174.25 SVC, HALEY GOSSEN 54.20 JURY, GRAINGER 374.28 SUP, GREEN OVIATT LAW FIRM LLP 26308.60 SVC, PAUL GRIEPP 600.00 RENT, GUARDIAN ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGIES 60.00 SVC, GUARDIAN RFID 9948.50 EQUIP, JUSTIN HALAJIAN 40.00 CELL, MERIL HAMBLIN 105.60 JURY, RON HARTLEY 25.00 CELL, DAVID HEDDING 25.00 CELL, JAMES HEDGES 25.00 CELL, HELSPER, MCCARTY & RASMUSSEN 24472.75 SVC, TOWN OF HENRY 225.33 UTILITIES, PAUL HERTING 102.80 JURY, CODY HOFF 25.00 CELL, CODY HUSMANN 101.80 JURY, HYVEE #1871 ACCTS RECEIVABLE 59.90 SUP, HYVEE #1871 ACCTS RECEIVABLE 89.20 SVC, HY-VEE 167.76 TRAVEL & CONF., I STATE TRUCK CENTERS 688.17 SUPPLIES, INTERLAKES COMMUNITY ACTION 1926.00 SVC, JEFFERSON PARTNERS LP 182.64 TRAV, GABE JOHNSON 358.00 REF, WADE JORDAN 25.00 CELL, JURGENS PRINTING 527.00 SUP, MITCHELL KALLHOFF 25.00 CELL, ERIK KOSAK 25.00 CELL, L&R AUTO AND ACCESSORIES LLC 580.00 REPAIRS/MAINT., JOSEPH LAFRAMBOISE 25.00 CELL, ERIN LENZNER 114.00 TRAV, LEWIS & CLARK BHS 675.00 SVC, JODI LOEHRER 1024.50 TRAV, MAAG PROPERTIES, LLC 1375.00 RENT, MAC’S, INC 506.44 SUP, MAC’S HARDWARE 180.36 SUPPLIES, MASTERS TELECOM LLC 355.35 UTIL, MCLEOD’S PRINTING & OFFICE SUP 729.30 SUP, MENARDS 281.65 SUP, MENARDS 277.55 SUPPLIES, MID-AMERICAN SIGNAL, INC 285.00 REPAIRS/MAINT., MIDCONTINENT COMMUNICATIONS 358.01 UTIL, KLAYTON MILLER 25.00 CELL, MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 13086.93 UTIL, MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 795.55 UTILITIES, YESIKA G MUNOZ 645.00 SVC, NAPA CENTRAL 1689.37 SUPPLIES, NELSON & ERICSSON LAW OFFICE 7003.80 SVC, CHRISTA NELSON 105.60 JURY, NEWMAN TRAFFIC SIGNS 90.47 SUPPLIES, SHAWN NILLS 40.00 CELL, NORTHERN TRUCK 4749.63 REPAIRS/MAINT., NORTHWESTERN ENERGY 55.23 UTILITIES, HUMMINGBIRD DRONES INC DBA NOV 240.00 SUP, OFFICE PEEPS, INC. 3532.70 SUP, ONSHARP 53.75 SVC, OTTERTAIL POWER CO, 49.54 UTILITIES, THOMAS PAULI 40.00 CELL, PEARLE VISION 108.00 SVC, MICHELLE PEDERSON 40.00 CELL, POMP’S TIRE SERVICE, INC. 179.92 SUPPLIES, PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTH CARE CENT 7556.55 SVC, PRINT ‘EM NOW 79.00 SUP, PRINT EM NOW 98.00 UTILITIES, PRODUCTION MONKEYS 15000.00 SVC, PROSOURCE SPECIALTIES LLC 953.40 SUP, REDWOOD TOXICOLOGY LABORATORY 2013.75 SUP, RELIABANK DAKOTA 25.00 RENT, COLIRA REMMERS 51.40 JURY, RIDDLE’S GLASS INC 2.93 SUP, HAROLD ROUNDS 25.00 CELL, RULO STRATEGIES LLC 10450.93 SVC, RUNNING SUPPLY INC. 427.99 SUPPLIES, DAWN RUSSELL 165.75 SVC, SANFORD HEALTH 2503.29 SVC, DEAN SCHAEFER COURT REPORTING 132.00 SVC, WATERTOWN TRAILER SALES DBA 8.05 SUP, SD ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE 1717.85 SVC, S.D. FEDERAL PROPERTY 201.75 SUP, SOUTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW 40.00 SUP, SD STATE TREASURER 568679.59 APRIL REMITTANCE, SDACC 12423.00 SVC, SDACO 680.00 PMT, SDN COMMUNICATIONS 1026.00 SVC, MELISSA SEARS 40.00 CELL, HEIDI SELCHERT 40.00 CELL, SHARP AUTOMOTIVE 2859.40 REPAIRS/MAINT., SIGN PRO 360.00 SUPPLIES, SIOUX RURAL WATER SYSTEM 59.50 UTILITIES, SIOUX VALLEY COOP 43.08 SUP, SIOUX VALLEY COOP 6624.75 SUPPLIES, LAW OFFICE OF ALEXANDER SOCIA 11438.04 SVC, LYNN SOLBERG 40.00 CELL, TERRY SORENSON 400.00 SUP, TOWN OF SOUTH SHORE 96.00 UTILITIES, SOUTH SHORE GAZETTE 718.27 PUB, STEVE STAHLKE 25.00 CELL, STAN HOUSTON 50.95 SUP, STAR LAUNDRY 2795.98 SUP, STAR LAUNDRY 132.44 SUPPLIES, STREICHER’S 65.00 SUP, SCOTT SWANSON 25.00 CELL, TECHNIQUES INC 258.36 MAINT, KEVIN THEISEN 57.00 JURY, THOMSON REUTERS-WEST 501.01 SVC, TOOL TIME RENTAL 300.00 MAINT, DOUGLAS D. TORSTENSON 25.00 CELL, JAMES TORSTENSON 20.00 CELL, TRANSOURCE 2106.16 SUPPLIES, TWOTREES TECHNOLOGIES 6669.75 SUP, TWOTREES TECHNOLOGIES 1292.40 SUP, TWOTREES TECHNOLOGIES 37.00 REPAIRS/MAINT., VERIZON WIRELESS 1243.30 UTIL, VERIZON WIRELESS 159.14 UTIL, VERIZON WIRELESS 2069.60 UTIL, VERIZON WIRELESS 75.06 UTIL, VERIZON 40.01 UTILITIES, RELIABANK VISA 416.59 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 1817.21 SVC, RELIABANK VISA 187.14 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 1332.02 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 1587.80 TRAIN, RELIABANK VISA 742.20 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 352.75 SVC, RELIABANK VISA 114.51 SUP, RELIABANK VISA 411.97 SUP, MARLONIE VOGELSANG 25.00 CELL, GAIL WAHL 1640.00 PMT, SCOTT WAHL 1640.00 PMT, KELLI WANNA 51.40 JURY, WARNE PLUMBING 1836.74 MAINT, WATERTOWN SCHOOL CONCESSIONS 75.00 SVC, WATERTOWN AMBULANCE 350.00 SVC, WATERTOWN CARES 10000.00 PMT 2026, WATERTOWN CURRENT LLC 548.86 PUB, WATERTOWN LAWN & GARDEN 870.00 MAINT, WATERTOWN PUBLIC OPINION 204.34 SUP, PAIGE WELLING 34.00 TRAV, BRETT WENDLER 54.20 JURY, FLEETPRIDE, INC. 171.93 SUPPLIES, SARAH WILKENS 65.40 JURY, WINDOW PROS 20.06 20.06, TREY WITTENBERG 108.40 JURY, WW TIRE SERVICE INC 857.07 MAINT, YOUNGBERG LAW PROF LLC 536.80 SVC, SUSAN ZIRBEL 64.00 JURY, HEALTH EQUITY 63.00, DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY 5400.00.
Motion by Johnson, second by Schweer, to approve a claim in the amount of $41,013.83 payable to the City of Watertown for March 2026, 911 surcharge collections, Gabel, McElhany, Johnson and Schweer voted aye; VanDusen was recused; motion carried.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
Motion by Johnson, second by McElhany, to approve the following personnel changes: Kristi Torstenson, promotion from second deputy to first deputy in Treasurers Office, Grade 40/Step A, $29.88 per hour, effective 5-01-2026; Cindy Feldmeyer, promotion from Admin. Support to Second Deputy in Treasurers Office, Grade 30/Step F, $28.97 per hour, effective 5-01-2026; Paul Endres, Park Custodian, Memorial Park, seasonal new hire; Grade AA/Step A, $18.68 per hour, effective 5-11-2026; Amber Peterson, Park Custodian, Memorial Park, seasonal new hire; Grade AA/Step A, $18.68 per hour, effective 5-11-2026; all voted aye; motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Gabel reported that currently working on Area B roof, will soon be putting up precast walls in Area A.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner McElhany reported that the 14th Ave. Bridge project, the riprap has been placed and working on aesthetics, expected completion date originally was set for the end of October, the project is ahead of schedule and could possibly open in 2-3 weeks.
OPEN
Commission Comments – Commissioner Schweer attended the Governors Luncheon at Lake Area Technical College and mentioned that he is proud of LATC for our county and state to provide the training for jobs that are in much need throughout the area, also their goal to expand on more job training opportunities.
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 9:58 a.m.; all voted aye; motion carried. The Board returned to regular session at 10:45 a.m., and no action was taken. Human Resource Representative, Natalie Remund, Community Service Director, Sara Foust, Auditor, Brenda Hanten and State’s Attorney, Alison Bakken, 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 10:46 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 June 4, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $187.20 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.