Roller appointed to county commission

January 8, 2025

During their regular commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Foster County Commission appointed Paul Roller to the District 4 seat recently vacated by Scott Beumer.

Chairperson Becky Hagel said that Beumer had reached out to Roller about joining the commission, and after initially declining the offer Roller has now decided to accept an appointment.

Roller was not at the meeting on Tuesday, so Hagel outlined his qualifications and experience to commissioners.

She said Roller is originally from a dairy farm in Wells County, but now resides in Carrington and since 1999 has worked at Dakota Central, where he is their network technical coordinator.

He graduated in 1983 from the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton with a degree in electronic communications systems technology, and previously worked with Sykeston Communications.

Roller moved to Carrington from rural Sykeston in 2011, and was a member of the Carrington Job Development Authority for several years, as well as the local Cub Scout leader. Previously he's also been part of the Sykeston Community Club, and the founder of Flatland Trailblazers Snowmobile Club in Wells County.

When discussing whether to appoint Roller to the board, commissioners said he appears to be well-suited for the position, and considered that fact that Beumer reached out to Roller himself, and must therefore be someone Beumer trusts to take his commission seat.

Commissioners said no other individuals had reached out to put their name forward, and a motion to appoint Roller was carried unanimously.

On Wednesday, Roller told the Independent that he decided to accept an appointment to the county commission because he feels a need to give back to his community.

"I felt I needed something that allowed me to pay back," he said. "Scott Beumer approached me and asked if I'd be interested and originally I said no, but the more I thought about it I figured this is probably the place that I can fulfill the need to give back that I have."

With the appointment, Roller will hold the seat for two years until Beumer's term officially ends in 2026. He will then have the option of running for election to a full 4-year term.

In other business from Tuesday's meeting, commissioners were introduced to the county's new emergency manager.

Foster County continues to share its emergency manager with Stutsman County, and they had been looking for a replacement for Andrew Kirking following his resignation last October.

Stutsman County's search ended recently when they hired Jessica Moser, née Sherman, to fill the position.

Moser appeared in person at Tuesday's commission meeting to introduce herself, and commissioners were pleasantly surprised to learn she's a native of Foster County who grew up just north of Carrington.

Moser said she previously worked for Collins Aerospace and served as the Treasurer/Recorder for Stutsman County.

"I'm looking forward to taking on this role and helping out however I can," she told commissioners.