Dunn County Commission discusses auditor position, snow removal

MANNING, N.D. — The Dunn County auditor/treasurer place opened a number of weeks in the past, however Jessica Kirchoffner, who was elected to the position in November, will start working till April.

The time period doesn’t start till April, however the normal election led to some restructuring of that workplace. Tracey Dolezal, very long time auditor/treasurer, was elected as a county commissioner within the November election. As a result of she was not in a position to assume each roles, she resigned previous to being sworn in as a commissioner on Dec. 7.

On the Dunn County Fee assembly on Dec. 7, State’s Legal professional Stephenie Davis mentioned Kirchoffner had the choice of stepping in when the seat was vacated or ready till April 1 when the time period formally begins, in response to state statute. Kirchoffner declined a request for remark by The Dickinson Press. Sally Whittingham, beforehand deputy treasurer, has been appointed interim auditor/treasurer.

“It was simply sort of an odd factor as a result of Tracy was shifting to commissioner,” Whittingham mentioned. “Had she simply been retiring, she would not have really retired till April. However being that she retired, after which moved over to the fee, that was somewhat bit totally different for us, one thing that is not regular. So we had been somewhat bit ready, simply in case, you realize, she determined that she needed to attend till April. So we had been going forwards and backwards and doing somewhat bit of coaching beforehand.”

A deputy auditor may also be retiring, which provides a second open place within the workplace.

“So we’re undoubtedly trying to rent one other deputy auditor,” Whittingham mentioned. “After which so far as the deputy treasurer, or my place, I am going to simply sort of be doing each that and the interim auditor till April when Jessica comes on.”

She is each excited and nervous about her new position.

“There’s loads to be taught, undoubtedly,’ Whittingham mentioned. “However you realize, a problem is all the time good for an individual.”

She added Dolezal is all the time prepared to reply any questions she has.

“She’s all the time prepared to assist and you realize, we’ve got an incredible auditor system round North Dakota,” Whittingham mentioned. “There’s only a actually good group of individuals that you may name on, any of the auditors within the different counties and the (North Dakota) Affiliation of Counties. There’s so many sources, that it makes it very nice to have that sort of a sort of backup for those who want it.”

The Dunn County Fee voted unanimously to approve Director of Human Sources Dessie Calihou’s suggestion for Whittinghams’ wage, throughout a Dec. 21 assembly.

“Miss Willingham has over 21 years of expertise in accounting, the final 5 of which she has labored right here as deputy auditor and deputy treasurer,” Calihou mentioned. “And he or she additionally has 16 years of supervisory expertise. Utilizing that have and making use of it to our pay scale – once more, our follow is to present worth to schooling and expertise as much as 5 years – and with that in thoughts, the beneficial wage for the interim auditor/treasurer could be $40.18 per hour, or $83,574 yearly.”

The wage, which mirrors the wage commissioners beforehand set for Kirchoffner, is efficient Dec. 7 by April 1.

In different enterprise Annette Rohde, a bus driver for Killdeer Public Colleges, addressed the fee about her concern for highway situations within the county. She mentioned it normally takes a number of days after snowfall earlier than her bus route is cleared.

“My concern is having a bus full of youngsters and 40 under out and we’re touring down a one lane highway that is extremely trafficked with semis” Rohde mentioned. “I simply need individuals to be held accountable. I am on the market doing my job driving these children to highschool. I would love the roads to be cleaned appropriately as they need to be. I am not saying every thing’s going to be squeaky clear each time.”

She is pissed off the roads are hazardous for thus lengthy after snowfall.

“It’s only a catastrophe ready to occur,” Rohde mentioned.

David Lym, Dunn County roads superintendent, mentioned he’ll work to enhance the scenario.

“You’ve got acquired each proper to be pissed off,” Lym mentioned. “And yeah, you are proper it’s our job to get the busses out.”

Fee Chair Larry Lundberg mentioned bus routes must be a precedence for snow elimination.