The Miller city council is composed of six council members elected from three wards within the city. The council members serve a two-year term. The council is lead by an elected mayor who serves a two-year term.
Ron Blachford Mayor Send an email Casey Schultz Ward 1 Send an email Lorin Johnson Ward 1 Send an email Joe Zeller Ward 2 Send an email Mary Johnson Ward 2 Send an email Jim Odegaard Ward 3 Send an email Tony Rangel Ward 3 Send an email
Here are the committee appointments for 2011.
Ron Blachford
Mayor
Ronald (Ron) Blachford was born in Miller and has lived in Hand County all of his life. He has been a resident of Miller for the last 21 years.
He is currently the Highway Superintendent for Hand County and has been employed by Hand County for 30 years.
Ron has three children, two step-children, four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
He is proud to serve as the mayor of Miller.
Casey Schultz
Council Member - Ward 1
I am Donald "Casey" Schultz, your Miller council member from Ward 1. I graduated from Miller High School in 1953. In January of 1964 I enlisted in the Air Force taking basic training in Texas and Radar School in Mississippi. I was sent to France where I was stationed for 18 months and then on to Germany for another 18 months. I was discharged from Chanute Air Base in Illinois after which I worked in Air Traffic Control in Detroit.
Later in 1958 I returned to Miller and started working at the Crossman Hatchery. In February of 1962 I married Luella Crossman who graduated from Miller in 1951. She taught school for 36 years and seems she is still trying to teach me. I enjoyed owning the Hatchery, but the chicken business changed and we closed the doors in 1994.
This is my second stint on the council and at the end of this term I will have served for 10 years and it will be my last. Thank you, Ward 1, for your support and I hope I helped in making good decisions for all of us.
Lorin Johnson
Council Member - Ward 1
Lorin Johnson is a Miller native graduating from Miller High School and then graduating from Wyoming Technical Institute in auto body. He has worked in Miller his whole life including positions at J&J Auto, Koch Manufacturing, Hand County Implement, Cenex, and in his current position since 1998 as Post -construction Coordinator for Mid-Dakota Rural Water System.
He is married to Barb who currently works as the bookkeeper for Kroeplin Ag. They have two boys, Lane and Luke.
Lorin is a race car enthusiast and has been racing since 1981. He has raced from Florida to Texas to Wisconsin and right here in his hometown of Miller. He also enjoys helping his son Lane who races go-karts.
Lorin is serving his third term as a city council member.
Joe Zeller
Council Member - Ward 2
Bio coming soon.
Mary Johnson
Council Member - Ward 2
I was raised in south Hand County and attended country school through 8th grade. We moved to Miller the year I started high school and I graduated from Miller High in 1978. I attended South Dakota State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Ag Business/Economics.
I have worked for USDA, Farm Service Agency since 1988 and presently serve as the County Executive Director in Jerauld County, Wessington Springs, SD.
I am really enjoying my first term as a city council member. I truly believe that Miller is a great town in which to live. I hope that our town continues to thrive and to be a progressive community with excellent city services.
Jim Odegaard
Council Member - Ward 3
Jim Odegaard was born in Miller on July 19th, 1954, to Bud and Francelia Odegaard. He has an older brother, Rich, who lives in Browning, MT, and an older sister, Ann, who passed away in 2005. Jim grew up on a farm south of Highmore and attended school there. During his high school years, he worked at the Pioneer Garage in Highmore and after high school, he attended a year at the Vo-Tech in Springfield, SD, for auto mechanics.
Jim met his wife, Corrine, in Highmore and they were married on May 25th, 1974. They have two sons, Eric and Clinton, and one grandchild, Courtney. Their oldest son, Eric, and his wife, Angie, and daughter, Courtney, live in Spencer, IA. Their youngest son, Clint, was married to Dana in March, 2007, and reside in Minooka, IL.
In May, 1974, Jim and his family moved to Miller and he worked for Kennedy Houseboats for 12 years. After the factory moved, he went to work full-time for Pugh Brothers on their farm. He is currently employed at Dakota Energy Coop where he has worked for six years.
His hobbies are snowmobiling, woodworking and remodeling their home. He was a member of the Miller Fire Department for a number of years and was elected to the Miller City Council in April of 2007.
Tony Rangel
Council Member - Ward 3
Anthony (Tony) Rangel moved to Miller in 1987 to accept the Postmaster position. He retired in 2005 with 37 years of service.
Tony and his wife Bette have two children and four grandchildren.
He has served on the City Council since May of 2010 and enjoys the challenge.