HURON – A Willow Lake native who is the first individual to wear two hats in the Beadle County Courthouse says he is gradually learning how to serve as both the veterans service officer and emergency management director.
Taylor Jans was recently hired by the Beadle County Commission after the decision was made to combine the two positions.
Commissioners had the opportunity to consolidate the jobs with the resignations of veterans service officer Michael Lueck and emergency management director Zach Nelson coming at about the same time.
Jans said he applied for the position because he wants to help fellow veterans.
“What intrigued me was the ability and the opportunity to be able to take care of our veterans in Beadle County,” Jans said.
“And the emergency management portion just came along with it,” he said.
Jans also serves as veterans service officer for Sanborn County, which he said he will visit at least once a month.

While attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, he enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard. He has been in the guard for about nine years, and drills with the 153rd Engineer Battalion in Huron.
Military service is a requirement for those filling veterans service officer positions in the state.
After graduating from SDSU, Jans first worked at a Brookings bank, He changed careers and sold life insurance for a couple years, and moved to Huron three years ago and worked at Wells Fargo.
Lake and Meade counties also have combined their veterans service officer and emergency management director positions.
Jans said he will be able to balance responsibilities in each role.
“Whichever matter takes precedence, at that moment, if it’s VA stuff I’ll be working on that,” he said. “If it’s severe weather, of course, because safety is number one, I’ll be at dispatch.”
Jans said former emergency management director Tom Moeding has been helpful in answering his questions. On Wednesday, Jans attended a basic emergency management session and expects to be going to a number of other training sessions as he learns the job.
“Preparedness is a big thing in emergency management,” he said. “It’s very detailed in how prepared you must be to be successful at it.”
Each year, each county in South Dakota is required to stage a full-scale exercise. Recent drills in Beadle County have included a school bus in the James River and a car in Ravine Lake.
Members of the Beadle County Dive Team are among those who are involved in those water drills, and there’s also a 29-member local emergency planning committee. Also assisting the emergency management director are nine storm spotters dispatched to various areas around Huron when severe weather is approaching.
As veterans service officer, Jans’ role is to meet with veterans of all ages and let them know of the benefits they deserve because of their military service.
“There’s always asking the right questions of that veteran to see if they are eligible and entitled to more benefits,” he said.

Roger Larsen/Plainsman
Taylor Jans, the recently hired Veterans Service Officer and Emergency Manager for Beadle County, stands before a poster showing the medals and awards available through the armed services.