Codington County declares emergency to hire for auditor’s office

Codington County officials declared an emergency to advertise and hire personnel for the county auditor’s office and then quickly adjourned the meeting.

The emergency declaration, moved during a short session following an executive session, authorizes the county to advertise for a part‑time financial assistant with a potential to convert to full time and an account administrator for the auditor’s office. The motion was made by Gable, seconded by McElhaney, and carried with no recorded opposition. After that action, a separate motion to adjourn was made by Johnson, seconded by Schwier, and approved.

County members said the decision followed information discussed in executive session that, they said, made immediate hiring action necessary. The record shows the meeting returned from executive session and a motion was offered to declare the emergency and proceed with hiring and advertising for the two positions named. The transcript records the motion carried; no roll‑call vote or individual vote tallies were recorded in the meeting text.

The motion specified hiring a part‑time financial assistant “with potentially for full time someday” and an account administrator for the auditor’s office. The transcript does not include job descriptions, salary ranges, hiring timelines, or the specific legal basis cited for an emergency declaration; those details were not specified in the portion of the record provided. The meeting then moved to adjournment and ended.

Because the transcript excerpt names both Gable and “Mister Charles” in connection with the motion but later identifies the motion as coming from Gable and a second from McElhaney, the record contains an internal inconsistency about who orally moved the item; the formal minutes should clarify the official mover, seconder and any further details, including vote counts and personnel specifications.