Gillen Elected New Rice County Board Chairman

The Rice County Board of Commissioners held their first meeting of 2017 today and elected Jake Gillen their new chairman.

Gillen was re-elected in November to his District 1 seat and joined commissioners Jeff Docken of District 5 and Galen Malecha of District 2 in taking the oath of office.

Oaths were also administered to County Assessor Paul Knutson, County Surveyor Michael Fangman and Judge Thomas Neuville.

The board meeting lasted about a half-hour and included a number of routine items. Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the publication of the delinquent real estate tax list.

After receiving the unanimous vote to be the County Board chairman in 2017, Gillen thanked his peers for showing their trust in him.

The agenda packet had Galen Malecha listed as the new vice chairman, but commissioners voted for Steve Bauer to fill that post. Commissioners also changed the Buffer Committee back to Soil and Water.

Gillen told KDHL he had no specific goals under his leadership but did mention the new buffer law and said he was not in agreement, particularly with concerns to private ditches. Gillen said the farmers dug those ditches at their own expense and he doesn't believe it's fair for government to get involved in those.

You can hear more of Gillen's comments on KDHL 920 AM newscasts at 12:05PM, 5:05PM and 6:05PM today and Wednesday morning at 7:05AM and 8:05AM.