Sheriff reports increased DUI arrests and successful juvenile compliance in December meeting.

Commissioners approve agenda, address audit findings, and emergency management initiatives.

County officially contracts Face It Together and Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars for recovery support.

The county commission approved a one‑year zoning services contract with a modest annual increase and heard a year‑end planning report showing 113 permits and roughly $19.7 million in construction value; staff said rules for battery generation and data centers are on the horizon.

Todd Kays told the Codington County Commission on Feb. 10 that the First District Association of Local Governments helped secure roughly $27 million in federal grants for the region last year and about $7 million for Codington County projects this year; he highlighted GIS services, revolving loan funds and a planned online permitting system.

Insurance brokers presented three years of claims data and a proposed 23% renewal increase, and explained a narrower Sanford 'True' network that would lower premiums for employees but restrict out-of-area provider access; commissioners took the item as information and asked for more staff outreach before a likely November enrollment decision.

Sheriff Brad Howell told commissioners the county has taken down stationary ALPR cameras after repeated vandalism and service delays from Flock; he urged legislative guardrails and defended ALPRs as an effective investigative tool, prompting a public caller to ask whether the county can recover money paid to Flock.

Consultants told the Codington County commissioners that the county owns 42 bridges 20 feet or longer; 10 are in poor condition, 10 carry weight limits, and the five-year plan lists $18.7 million in work (local share about $7.8 million).

James Simmons urged the commission to host a public forum on automated license-plate readers, raising concerns about vendor-held data (Flock) and a proposed statewide ALPR program; he requested sheriff and city officials participate in a public discussion.

Codington County activated emergency coordination with FEMA and state officials after a June windstorm that damaged public property. The county held FEMA briefings, submitted damage estimates and began the formal disaster declaration process.

After an architect review of competitive bids, the Codington County commissioners accepted Gray Construction’s low responsive bid and authorized moving toward contract steps for an addition and remodel to house SDSU regional Extension staff.

Over 2012 the Codington County Board of Commissioners approved road projects and federal funding requests, worked through county budget decisions for 2013, signed off on a new SDSU regional extension center and handled routine personnel, equipment and public-safety matters.

State's Attorney Allison Traub reported 64 inmates in the county jail, described impacts of a law effective July 1 that limits local capacity to perform sexual‑assault exams and shifts transport costs to counties, and requested funding for an additional attorney as part of succession planning in the 2027 budget.

By a 4–1 roll-call vote, the Codington County Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance No. 83 to impose a 0.5% county gross receipts and use tax effective Jan. 1, 2027; commissioners cited projected revenue and homeowner relief while a public commenter warned the tax is regressive.

TEGRA Group project manager Tyler Klot told the Codington County Board of Commissioners the new jail is largely on schedule despite about 34 weather delay days; the guaranteed maximum price stands at $32.6 million and the project is roughly 32% billed through May 2026, with a tentative topping‑out ceremony Aug. 20 and substantial completion expected late summer 2027.

The board approved county staff applying for a HUD‑funded continuum‑of‑care transitional‑housing grant through SDHDA (an estimated application near $350,000 annually, with a 25% match allowed in‑kind), approved applying for a Department of Labor CHW apprenticeship that covers certification and up to $5,000 in salary reimbursement, and unanimously passed a series of routine administrative motions including claims, a park lighting quote and scheduling the tax‑deed auction for July 30.

At a July 7 first reading, commissioners reviewed Ordinance 83, which would impose a 0.5% county gross‑receipts (and matching use) tax to fund a property tax reduction fund; county staff said collection would be handled by the South Dakota Department of Revenue and the measure would take effect Jan. 1, 2027 if adopted.

Residents and township representatives told the Codington County Commission that J&J Earthworks has a long history of zoning violations at an Elmmyra Township gravel pit and urged stronger enforcement; county zoning staff outlined prior citations and said a pending city annexation could affect enforcement options.

The board approved a notice-to-bidders for resurfacing County Roads 10‑4 and 7‑5 after geotechnical cores showed thin asphalt and authorized the South Dakota DOT to let project BRF‑B6127 (County Road 11‑1), with the county’s 20% share stated as $288,540.80.

The board unanimously approved the official canvas of the 2026 primary, thanked election workers, and conducted a public draw of races and precincts for a federally‑required post‑election audit scheduled for June 15 at 10 a.m.