CommentJan / Feb 2018 Official Publication of South Dakota Counties Volume 64 Number 1 CONTROL BOUNCE. STABLE BLADE MINIMIZE REWORK. TECHNOLOGY. CUT COSTS. CAT 140M3 MOTORGRADER HAND AND ARM REDUCED FUEL MOVEMENT REDUCED UP TO CONSUMPTION UP TO CAT CONNECT * ** MAKES USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO % % HELP IMPROVE 78 14 JOBSITE EFFICIENCY. Experience the most comfortable A new standard Economy (ECO) M Series 3 motor graders are cab in the industry. Joystick Mode can be turned on to help equipped with Product Link™, controls replace levers, so hand save fuel by reducing engine which helps fleet owners track and arm movement is reduced speed so the machine works in a location, hours, fuel usage, by 78%, helping reduce operator more efficient range. productivity, idle time, and fatigue for better productivity. diagnostic codes through the online VisionLink® interface. *Compared to traditional motorgraders. **Compared to previous models. BUTLERMACHINERY.COM Membership Corner MARK YOUR Important Hiring Information Available CALENDAR hiring the right Staffing is all about A H T T O U K DID YOU KNOW... people with the right skills at the O A S D right time. IMPORTANT HIRING INFORMATION HIRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE Staffing is all about hiring the right people with the right • How their position contributes to the mission, skills at the right time. goals and objectives of the organization Making sure you hire well is so important. Committed, mo- For the organization, good job descriptions contribute to Making sure you hire well is so tivated, qualified employees help your organization achieve organizational effectiveness by: its purpose. Hiring right can be time consuming, but • Ensuring that the work carried out by staff is personnel is a substantial invesment and limited financial aligned with the organization’s mission resources mean that hiring mistakes can be a huge financial • Helping management clearly identify the most important. Committed, motivated, burden. The cost is compounded when a hiring mistake appropriate employee for new duties and realigning erodes employee morale and disrupts your office. Addition- work loads ally, the hiring process must be carried out fairly to avoid expensive and reputation damaging human rights claims. Job descriptions are also the foundation for most HR man- qualified employees help your agement activities: Laying the Groundwork Recruitment: Job descriptions are used to develop a re- The hiring process usually starts with the need to fill a cruitment campaign that clearly articulates the duties to vacant or new position. For a vacant position, this is a good be performed and qualifications required by the organi- time to assess if the job still helps your organization serve zation for the position organization achieve its purpose. its purpose and achieve its mission. Hiring a new employee Selection: Interview questions, hiring criteria and the needs to be rooted in a larger staffing plan that is connected screening process are based on the duties and qualifica- to your organization’s strategic plan. tion outlined in the job description Orientation: The job description helps the employee Related Policies and Procedures see how their position relates to other positions in the Human Resource (HR) policies assist the process of bring- organization ing a new employee into the organization. Up-to-date, clear Training: The job description can be used to identify policies on recruitment and staffing make the hiring process areas where the employee does not adequately meet the straightforward and less time consuming. Policies on pro- qualifications of the position and therefore needs training Find this important brochure and bation, employee orientation, workplace health and safety Supervision: The job description can be used by the em- and training and development - to name a few topics - ployee and the supervisor to help establish a work plan clarify what management and employees expect of each Compensation: Job descriptions can be used to develop other. Plus, HR policies are a great source of information a consistent salary structure, which is based on relative for a new employee. level of duties, responsibility and qualifications of each other supporting documents at the position in the organization SD County Commissioners Why are Job Descriptions Important? Performance Management: The job description and For each employee, a good job description helps the incum- the work plan are used to monitor performance bent to understand: Evaluations: Face to Face review (semian- SD Counties Association office and • Their duties and responsibilities nual/Annual) of performance is important for both employer and employee. and Welfare Officials • The relative importance of their duties association website - Spring Workshop www.sdcountycommissioners.org March 14-15, 2018 Ramkota Hotel Pierre, SD We are the SD County Highway Superintendents DUST ELIMINATOR Short Course March 21-22, 2018 Your local source for fugitive dust control Deadwood Lodge and new and used guardrail materials. Deadwood, SD ALICEANN KRANTZ SD County Officials CELL: (605)351-0655 Spring Workshop E: [email protected] May 15-16, 2018 OFFICE EXT: #201 Ramkota Hotel Pierre, SD bx civil & construction SD County Convention September 10-11, 2018 P.O. Box 187 | 24663 475th Avenue | Dell Rapids, SD 57022 Ph: (605) 428-5483 | F: (605) 428-5484 | W: www.bx-cc.com Ramkota Hotel Pierre, SD - The opinions expressed within are not neces of Counties (NACo), universities, non-profit sarily those of the South Dakota Association The official newsletter of associations and organizations interested in the of County Commissioners (SDACC), South South Dakota Counties betterment of county government. 211 East Prospect Avenue Dakota Association of County Officials (SDACO), South Dakota Association of County Pierre, SD 57501 Companies interested in advertising in the Highway Superintendents (SDACHS), or South Phone: (605) 224-4554 Fax: (605) 224-4833 , please contact: County Comment Dakota Association of County Welfare Officials Website: www.sdcounties.org Kris Jacobsen, Assistant Editor. Website: www.sdcountycommissioners.org (SDACWO). Email: [email protected] South Dakota counties may place classified Email: [email protected] ads, story ideas, articles and photographs in this - - newsletter at NO CHARGE. Send your informa These associations were founded for the better tion by email to info@sdcountycommissioners. ment of county government and serve members org or [email protected] through lobbying, education, publications, and research. Each member county devotes approximately $10.00 per official of their annual dues for a Non- The County Comment is published nine times subscription to the County Comment. a year. It is distributed to county elected officials, member subscription rate is $25.00. Cover photo: Courtesy of FreeBigPictures.com state agency personnel, National Association January / February 2018 3 www.sdcounties.org • www.sdcountycommissioners.org SD Association of County Commissioners Dean Wagner, Harding County Commissioner Greetings, everyone! While in D.C.,I had the opportu- I hope everyone had a fantastic holi- nity to visit with 2017 - 2018 Officers and day season; we certainly did. The end commissioners & Board of Directors of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 from across the have brought bitter cold, icy roads, nation. It was in- President and blowing snow. We were actually teresting to find Dean Wagner- Harding County Black Hills District within 35 miles of the coldest place that they were on the planet at -47 degrees, but we dealing with First Vice President survived well, as I am sure you did. many of the Gary Jaeger - Deuel County After all, we are from South Dakota same issues that we are dealing with Sioux Valley District and all know how to deal with winter in South Dakota. It was also of interest Second Vice President and what it brings. to hear how they were dealing with the Cindy Heiberger same issues in their states. One thing Minnehaha County I had the opportunity to go to the that all of them stated was that one of Treasurer NACo conference of our state presi- their biggest problems was mandates Brenda Hanten - Codington County dents and state executives in the first coming down from the state level and Sioux Valley District part of January. Neither my wife or I no funds following these mandates. I Past President had ever been to Washington,D.C. so told them that we in South Dakota can Duane Sutton - Brown County it was a great experience. We had a understand their problems! Lake Region District chance to see many of the monuments The legislative sessions are just start- Directors and other sites at our nation"s Capitol. Jim Schmidt - Lincoln County I would like to congratulate Bob Wil- ing, so we are waiting to see what South East District cox on being elected 3rd vice president legislation we are going to have to of the National Association of County address... Don Reinesch - Brule County Sioux East Central District Executives. South Dakota should be proud of Bob, I know I am!! I hope you all have a healthy and pros- Stephne Miller - Brookings County perous 2018!! Sioux Valley District Paul Symens - Marshall County Lake Region District BRIDGE / STRUCTURAL DESIGN Tom Tveit - Hughes County • Concrete Oahe District • Steel • Wood • Prestress Concrete Delvin Worth - Potter County Upper Missouri Valley District STRUCTURAL INSPECTION/EVALUATION • National Bridge Safety Program Casey Krogman - Mellette County • Dams & Spillways Randall