Union County commissioners elect officers, confirm appointments and approve routine business

The Union County Board of Commissioners met Jan. 7, 2025, at the Union County Courthouse in Elk Point for its organizational meeting, electing Kevin Joffer chairman and Mike Dailey vice chairman and approving a slate of administrative appointments and routine business.

The votes set leadership and administrative infrastructure for the year: Commissioner Mike Dailey moved and Commissioner Kimmel seconded the nomination of Kevin Joffer as chairman, and the motion carried. Commissioner Kimmel moved and Commissioner Ustad seconded the nomination of Mike Dailey as vice chairman; that motion also carried. The transcript records the motions and that they were "carried," but does not list individual roll-call votes.

The board approved the county's list of authorized depositories — First Dakota National Bank; Liberty National Bank; Premier Bank; First Savings Bank; 1st Financial Bank; Central Bank; Security National Bank; Pioneer Bank; and the South Dakota Public Fund Investment — and designated the Leader Courier, Beresford Republic and Dakota Dunes North Sioux City Times as the county's legal newspapers for 2025.

Commissioners confirmed a number of personnel appointments: Myron Hertel was appointed county investment officer; Jerry Buum was appointed Union County Highway Superintendent; Sherri Bousquet was appointed Union County Assessor; and Lisa Schenzel was appointed Union County Veteran’s Officer. The board also approved members of the sick leave bank committee (Kevin Joffer; Tracy Smith, Sheriff; Cristy Harkness, Highway; and Scott Sexton, Courthouse) and approved lists of representatives to regional and county boards (including SECOG, the Fair Board, the Weed Board, the South Dakota Housing Authority, Juvenile Detention Authority, LEPC and MPO assignments) and members of the Weed Board and Planning and Zoning Board.

On financial matters, the board accepted Dec. 31, 2024 treasury totals reported in the record: total deposits $1,842,115.12; cash $2,949.17; checks and drafts $67,510.18; investments $13,715,207.10; cash variance -$362.87; credit card outstanding $4,297.64; total $15,631,716.34. The commission approved audited claims, including payroll for Jan. 7, 2025, of $117,451.08 and an itemized vendor list recorded in the minutes. The board set county burial or cremation assistance to remain at $2,000, blood draw fees at $80 and coroner fees at $116 per view, with mileage paid equal to other county officials. Commissioners also set the commission meeting schedule to continue every other Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

The board approved a Retail (On-Off Sale) Wine and Cider license for Cup O Joy at 319 Dakota Dunes Boulevard and authorized the chairman to sign the application. The board also acknowledged January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month after a motion by Commissioner Dailey, seconded by Commissioner Ustad.

Department heads provided routine monthly reports (Register of Deeds, Nurse, Veteran Service, Sheriff and Clerk of Courts). Highway Superintendent Jerry Buum met with the board on highway matters. The transcript records a motion to convene an executive session at 10:12 a.m. to discuss legal matters under SDCL 1-25-2; the board returned from executive session at 10:56 a.m. The meeting recessed briefly later in the morning and adjourned at 11:12 a.m., with the board set to reconvene Jan. 21, 2025.

Attestation on the minutes is recorded as Katie Winquist, Auditor, and Kevin Joffer, Chairman.