Codington County approves job-description revisions, promotions and 2026 wage-scale changes

The Codington County Board of Commissioners on May 19 approved revisions to job descriptions in the community services office, promoted two employees and adopted changes to the county’s 2026 wage scale.

The board voted, by voice, to approve the administrative specialist job description revision and to elevate a community health worker role to a community service specialist. County staff said the changes reorganize existing positions — not add new headcount — and that the reclassification will move current employees into the revised roles. "These are current employees that will be moving into these," a county staff member said during the meeting.

Commissioners also adopted the 2026 wage scale. The revision removes a previous administrative support pay grade 20 position and places the community service specialist in pay grade 30. The board noted the recently approved pretrial case manager (pay grade 40) will remain as previously authorized. County staff explained funding for the reclassified position will come in part from grant revenue and Medicaid billing; staff estimated a roughly $4,000–$5,000 budget gap that will be covered by those sources.

Two personnel promotions were approved to take effect June 1, 2026. Mallory Towel will be promoted to Administrative Specialist (step 30a) at $25.61 per hour; Paige Welling will be promoted to Community Service Specialist (step 30c) at $26.90 per hour. The board approved the personnel actions by recorded voice vote.

The board’s action was procedural: the job descriptions and wage-scale changes were placed on the record and will be implemented administratively. No new positions were added; staff said the county will process a budget supplement to reflect grant reimbursements when they are received.

The board moved to executive session at the end of the meeting and indicated there may be action afterward; no further personnel actions were announced before the meeting recessed.