Codington County commissioners approve 4% pay increase and a slate of administrative actions
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Summary
At their Jan. 7 meeting in Watertown, the Codington County Board of Commissioners approved a 4% pay increase for commissioners, renewed a zoning services contract, authorized bank depositories, approved hiring and procurement actions for highway operations, and passed the county's seasonal weight-and-speed resolution.
Codington County commissioners on Jan. 7 in Watertown approved a 4% salary increase for themselves and a series of administrative measures, including a $33,000 zoning services contract, authorization of bank depositories and warrant signers, advertisement to hire a highway maintenance technician, and the county's 2025 seasonal weight-and-speed resolution.
The board approved the 4% pay increase after Commissioner Johnson moved for a raise to match the employee cost-of-living adjustment and Commissioner McElhaney seconded. A substitute motion to set a 2% increase based on the budget failed for lack of a second; the original motion passed on voice vote.
Commissioners also approved a contract for zoning services with the First District Association of Local Governments, authorized a list of banks to be used for certificates of deposit and investments, and designated the Watertown Public Opinion and the South Shore Gazette as the county's official legal newspapers for 2025. The board approved the list of employee cell-phone stipends as presented and authorized the auditor to maintain the official list of warrant signers in a secured location.
On highway matters, commissioners authorized advertising to fill a full-time highway maintenance technician (pay grade 25; advertised starting wage range discussed by staff) to fill a vacancy caused by internal promotion. They also approved a notice to bidders for annual highway supplies and weed-control chemicals; bids will be due Feb. 18 for items including concrete pipe, diesel, liquid asphalt, gravel crushing and asphalt patching materials.
The board adopted Resolution No. 2025-1 to post seasonal weight and truck-speed restrictions on gravel roads. The postings are tentatively scheduled to start Feb. 15 and end around May 1, subject to weather and road conditions; restrictions described in staff comments were 7 tons per axle and a 40 mph truck speed limit on posted roads.
The board approved appointments to the county's noxious-weed board, accepted travel requests for weed-and-pest staff and others, and formally authorized the list of approved bank depositories and investment institutions presented by the auditor. Commissioners also moved and approved a motion to advertise and hire for the highway vacancy and later adjourned the meeting.
Votes at a glance: approved motions recorded in the meeting packet include: a 4% commissioner salary increase (motion by Commissioner Johnson; second by Commissioner McElhaney; passed on voice vote); approval of the 2025 zoning services contract with First District Association of Local Governments (motion by Commissioner Johnson; second by Commissioner Schwier; passed on voice vote); designation of the Watertown Public Opinion and South Shore Gazette as the county's legal papers (motion by Commissioner Johnson; second by Commissioner Gable; passed on voice vote); approval of the list of employee cell-phone stipends (motion by Commissioner Gable; second by Commissioner Schwier; passed on voice vote); authorization of a list of bank depositories and warrant signers (motion by Commissioner Johnson; second by Commissioner Gable; passed on voice vote); authorization to advertise and hire for a highway maintenance technician (motion by Commissioner Gable; second by Commissioner Johnson; passed on voice vote); approval of a notice to bidders for annual highway supplies and weed chemicals (motion by Commissioner Gable; second by Commissioner McElhaney; passed on voice vote); adoption of Resolution No. 2025-1 on seasonal weight and speed limits (motion by Commissioner Gable; second by Commissioner Johnson; passed on voice vote); appointment of recommended noxious-weed board members (motion by Commissioner Johnson; second by Commissioner Gable; passed on voice vote); approval of travel requests (motion by commissioner; second by Commissioner Schwier; passed on voice vote); and adjournment (motion by Commissioner Johnson; second by Commissioner Schwer; passed on voice vote).
Discussion versus decisions: the record shows several staff presentations and brief discussion (for example, staff said the intent of the seasonal weight limit posting is to protect roads during spring thaw; highway staff noted bids are expected to reflect rising prices). In one instance commissioners debated whether to increase their salaries by 2% (the budgeted amount) or 4% (to match employee COLA); the substitute 2% motion failed for lack of a second and the 4% motion passed.
Several items approved were routine or annual housekeeping items required by statute or local policy (designation of legal papers, bank depositories, seasonal weight postings, and publication of notices). The board deferred changes to commissioner liaison assignments until a later meeting to allow a newly seated commissioner time to review assignments.
No executive session was requested and the meeting concluded with adjournment.
