Northeast Radio SD News Recap for Thursday, July 9, 2026
Codington County Personnel & Operations Updates
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Role Revision: The Codington County Commissioners approved a revised job description for the "Defense Support Coordinator" position (formerly known as the "Pre-Trial Case Manager"). The revision clarifies the position's duties in supporting court-appointed attorneys and corrects its status to non-exempt hourly.
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Wage Scale Amendment: A new "Appraiser Assistant" position was officially added to the county wage scale.
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HR Contract Renewal: The county renewed its Human Resources services contract for July 2026 through July 2027 at a flat monthly fee of $5,665, reflecting minor wording changes and a 3% rate increase. All related motions passed unanimously.
Lake Kampeska Appraisal Support
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Temporary Staffing: The county commission approved the temporary, part-time hiring of an appraiser assistant to ensure the Lake Kampeska appraisal stays on schedule.
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Justification: Director of Equalization Shawna Constant noted that a recent resignation and an upcoming medical leave made it impractical to wait for a full-time replacement until after the state training school in September. The assistant will measure properties and assist with summer fieldwork at a rate of $18.68 per hour with no benefits.
Grant Applications & Funding
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Flood Mitigation Assistance: Codington County plans to apply for a Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant to update its pre-disaster mitigation plan. Emergency Management Director Andrew Delgado noted that last year's attempt fell short due to tight deadlines and missing partner letters. The FMA program offers dedicated funding for planning, allowing the county to pursue the project with a local match of up to $5,000.
Veteran Services Financial Success
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Rising Claims: Veteran Service Officer Jay Roberts reported rising claims and significant financial gains for local veterans. The office currently manages 126 open claims, 49 pending VA actions, and has completed 155 this year. Retroactive payments increased by $82,674 in June, pushing the year-to-date total to $547,673.
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Budget Decrease: Roberts presented a 2027 budget showing an 8.26% decrease, achieved by hiring a retiree with Tricare coverage and relocating the office to a smaller space. Projected revenue from Hamlin County and state reimbursement totals $17,813.
County Gross Receipts Tax Proposal
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Ordinance 83: The commission held its first reading of Ordinance 83, which proposes a 0.5% county gross receipts tax and a 0.5% use tax starting January 1, 2027. Commissioner Lee Gable read the ordinance in full, noting its purpose is to generate revenue while reducing county property taxes. The reading also covered collection procedures, penalties, and contract termination, with a second reading and possible adoption scheduled for a future meeting.
Community Notices & Events
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Office Closures: Several Codington County offices will close on Friday, July 10, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM so employees can attend the funeral services of former deputy and long-time courthouse security officer Dave Curtis. Affected locations include the Sheriff's Office, Community Services, Clerk of Courts, Emergency Management, Register of Deeds, Treasurer, and Veteran Services.
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Memorial Golf Tournament: Lake Area Technical College will host the Boulder Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, July 13, at Prairie Winds Golf Club. The two-person "tin whistle" format fundraiser supports Boulder Memorial scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year. Check-in begins at 10:30 AM, followed by an 11:30 AM Calcutta and a noon shotgun start. Pro shop gift certificates will be awarded in net and gross divisions.
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