Codington County Approves Hiring Administrative Assistant for Equalization Office

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, to authorize advertising and hiring for an administrative assistant position in the Codington County Director of Equalization office.

Codington County Chairman Troy VanDusen explained that the opening follows a recent retirement and a subsequent internal transfer that left the administrative assistant position vacant.

“As you know, commissioners, we’ve had a retirement in that office this past week or two, and so that opens up a spot,” VanDusen said. “One person inside that office is going to transfer to that position, which will leave a vacancy in the office. So it’s not a new position. It’s just filling a vacant position.”

According to a personnel transaction form signed by Director of Equalization Shawna Constant and filed with the Codington County Auditor’s Office on Oct. 20, 2026, employee Barbara Martenson is being promoted from administrative assistant to administrative specialist in the Director of Equalization office effective Nov. 1, 2026. Under the personnel action, Martenson moves from Step K at a current pay rate of $30.35 per hour to Step J at a new pay rate of $31.98 per hour.

Commissioner Myron Johnson moved to authorize advertising and hiring to fill the resulting administrative assistant vacancy, and Commissioner Tyler McElhany seconded. The motion carried unanimously with no further discussion.