Clay County reorganizes leadership, fills county boards and key staff posts

The Clay County Board of Commissioners completed its annual reorganization on Jan. 6, unanimously confirming Travis Mockler as chair and David Thiesse as vice‑chair for 2026. Auditor Carri Crum called the nominations; the Board approved the slate and immediately moved on to confirm department heads and board appointments.

Commissioner Geoffrey Gray‑Lobe moved and the Board quickly approved appointments including Brent Hays as Highway Superintendent (two‑year term), Layne Stewart as Emergency Management Director (one year), and Noah Westergaard as Zoning Administrator and Veterans Service Officer (four years). The Board also filled Planning Commission seats, appointing Matt Olson (Seat #1), Ruslan Averin (Seat #2), Marty Gilbertson (Seat #3; Gilbertson abstained on his appointment to avoid a conflict), Cynthia Aden (Seat #4), and County Commissioner David Thiesse as the Commission’s Seat #5. The Board adopted Resolution #2026‑03 to confirm the Planning Commission appointments.

County business after reorganization included designating official depositories and legal newspapers, setting a county burial allowance under SDCL 28‑17‑4 at $1,900, and approving a set of Planning & Zoning fees to recover office costs (for example, a $75 base building permit fee plus $2 per $1,000). The reorganizational actions were carried by unanimous votes.