Codington County renews property insurance, approves claims and personnel actions

The Codington County Commission voted Feb. 17 to renew the county’s property insurance and approved a package of routine claims, jail‑project invoices and personnel actions.

Ronald Ketwig, an insurance agent with AccraSure, reviewed the proposal and said the county’s total insured property value proposal rose modestly under the policy’s inflation guard. "Last year, our total insured value was $73,000,004.10," he said, and the proposal this year puts property values higher to reflect construction‑cost inflation. He noted a property premium increase from roughly $145,005.66 last year to a proposed $155,003 this year and explained the county can exclude terrorism coverage to save about $1,500, though the county keeps the option included.

Commissioner Gable moved to approve the property insurance renewal; Commissioner Johnson seconded. After brief discussion the motion carried on a voice vote.

In financial business the commission approved routine claims for payment, including a catch‑up JJRI payment of $14,282.50 and planning and zoning and highway invoices, aggregated in the meeting record to a total around $78,001.34. Commissioners approved a separate vote on jail‑project claims, which included construction and professional invoices totaling approximately $1,000,003.22.

Personnel actions approved included hiring Mallory Towel as administrative support in Community Services effective Feb. 23 at $23.71/hour and hiring Zachary Dargets as part‑time administrative support in the Auditor’s office effective Feb. 17 at $21.96/hour. The commission also approved a $25 monthly cell‑phone stipend for new maintenance tech Charlie Daley.

The meeting concluded with notice of a Feb. 27 bid opening for highway supplies and a Feb. 19 public hearing on a proposed Tax Increment Financing district in Watertown. Commissioners later moved into executive session to discuss a contractual matter; no action was announced at that time.