Letter to the Editor - Holmes: Trio of county departments doing good work

My name is Tom Holmes and I am a candidate for the Minnehaha County Commission. To help prepare me for that role I have attended county commission meetings and interviewed each of the departments that provide services to us in the county. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of professionals who take great pride in their work in providing the best possible service for us.

I would like to share with you what I have learned about the three elected positions, the County Auditor, the Register of Deeds, the County Treasurer, and one non-elected position, the Department of Equalization.

Ben Kyte is the current director of the Auditor’s Office. The Auditor pays the bills and conducts oversight of the other departments. The auditor is also the chief election official for the county. They collect liens issued by other departments and serve as record keepers, documenting all transactions. The auditor’s office also apportions taxes, allocating the money that has been collected.

Ben has made a number of changes that have resulted in improvements in the functioning of the office. His greatest source of pride, however, lies in the staff that he has hired. With over 2000 new voters having registered since the beginning of the year, the role of the election official becomes increasingly time consuming. 

Julie Risty is the Register of Deeds, which is the records office for the county and is guided by state laws. They issue marriage licenses and death certificates. Deeds, mortgages, and military discharge records are housed here as well. In addition, her office issues easements and liens.  Julie took me to the part of the office where the plats are stored. These plats are detailed maps of the county that date back to the time when the area was part of the Dakota Territory. Being in that room was like walking back in time.

Kris Swanson runs the County Treasurer’s Office. It’s their job to collect property taxes. She stressed the importance of the Elderly Tax Freeze for those on fixed incomes. Individuals 65 years of age and older may apply. The income threshold is $35,000 for a single adult and $45,000 for a married couple. Those with disabilities may also apply. Kris encourages those who qualify to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Department of Equalization is run by Chris Lille. His office determines the value of property to be taxed order to meet the needs of the county. National organizations have created a handbook that details the criteria used by assessors across the country. Those who work in the department must successfully complete intensive coursework to qualify as an assessor and must renew their credentials every five years. Being an assessor is demanding and intensive work.

Tom Holmes

Minnehaha County

Commission candidate