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John Black elected chair as Sand Lake County board adopts bylaws, approves appointments and ballot language
Summary
At its 2026 organizational meeting the Sand Lake County Board of Commissioners unanimously elected Commissioner John Black as chair and Roger Ballard as vice chair, adopted bylaws and the meeting schedule, approved several committee appointments and directed millage language for a drug task force to be placed on the Aug. 4, 2026 primary ballot.
The Sand Lake County Board of Commissioners met for its 2026 organizational session and unanimously elected Commissioner John Black as chairman and Commissioner Roger Ballard as vice chairman.
The board opened by adopting the bylaws, rules of procedure and a 2026 meeting schedule (first and third Tuesday, with a statutory exception for April). Commissioner Roger Ballard moved to adopt the bylaws and rules and Commissioner Gary Heberling seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.
Commissioner Heberling nominated John Black for chairman; with no other nominations the board cast a unanimous ballot. By roll call, Commissioners Ballard, Evans Eher, Christine Lee, Gary Heberling, John Moody, John Black and Bill Sarkeella voted yes and Black was confirmed as chair for 2026. Black thanked his colleagues and pledged to continue working with the board to maintain “movement and positivity” in county work.
The board then nominated and appointed Roger Ballard as vice chairman. Ballard thanked the board after the appointment.
Chair Black read a large slate of commissioner appointments to county boards and committees, including reappointments and assignments to public works, budget, planning, parks and numerous advisory groups. The board also approved a set of citizen and stakeholder appointments to advisory boards, including nominees to the Brownfield Redevelopment Board and the landfill operations and recycling advisory board.
On financial and operational business the board approved a set of administrative items under the finance agenda, including the approval of current claims listed on the accounts payable report dated Dec. 30, 2025; a memorandum of understanding and annual subscription renewal for Veterans Affairs technology services; an upgrade and replacement of a sheriff’s office CCTV camera and related software; and a purchase of 16 computer workstations and software licenses for county offices. Motions for those items were made, seconded and carried by the board.
The board approved millage ballot language to place a question for the drug task force on the Aug. 4, 2026 primary election ballot. The motion directing the county clerk to submit the language was carried by voice vote.
Several routine appointments were carried, including an appointment of Larry Sheldon as the police chief association representative to the county’s drug task force for a one-year term and multiple standing committee assignments. The board also authorized disposal of a 2017 Ford F-150 animal control vehicle at auction with proceeds to be deposited into the motor pool fund.
The meeting concluded after approval of closed-session minutes from Dec. 16, 2025 and an adjournment motion at about 1:40 p.m.
