Boyd VanVooren Selected as New Head of Unity Health and Fitness

Boyd VanVooren, who served as Milbank’s chief of police from 2009 through December 2022, has been named the new manager of the city-owned Unity Health and Fitness facility. VanVooren’s official title will be Parks and Recreation Coordinator. Steve Pendergrass, administrator for the City of Milbank, explains, “Boyd will be leading and managing all parks and recreation in the city. This includes budget development and management, personnel, capital improvements, intra/interagency interoperability, facilities, etc.”

VanVooren was chosen from amongst a field of eight candidates. Milbank Mayor Pat Raffety says, “Boyd has several qualities that stood out to us during the hiring process.  First and foremost he loves Milbank. He was the face of our police department for several years, so he knows how to listen to what people have to say and develop a plan to move forward. He is outgoing, caring, and has an overall passion for Unity and our parks facilities.This made the decision to hire him a must-do.”

VanVooren, originally from Minneota, Minnesota, earned a four-year degree in criminal justice at Huron College in South Dakota. His first job was working at a home for troubled youth. He then worked as a cop in Huron until he took the position of Milbank Chief of Police. A significant amount of Boyd’s law enforcement career has also involved working with youth – something he says he still enjoys.  He taught DARE for many years, helped kids in Junior Achievement, and promoted positive programs to encourage youth. Under VanVooren, the Milbank Police Department began rewarding kids with ice cream cones for wearing their bike helmets and high school students were given the Donut Award.

In his new position, youth will continue to play an important role, but the job at Unity is multi-faceted. Pendergrass says, “Boyd will be hitting the ground running. There are several projects and programs that need to be addressed and are actively in our queue.” He listed project completions at Unity, the tennis courts, and Lake Farley as high priorities..

Raffety added, “We are starting our 2025 budget process, Boyd will be an integral part of that. The City is also introducing a leadership training program for all employees, Boyd has been through very similar training with his current employer, and we will look for him to be a key sounding board while we go through our implementation.”

According to Raffety, VanVooren will be paid $33.16  per hour which works out  to $68,972.80 per year. He will begin his duties on October 14.

Boyd and his wife, Annette, have two grown children: a daughter, Emma, and a son, Connor.