Box Elder, South Dakota - The City of Box Elder is proud to announce that Senior Planner Michelle Clavadetscher has been named the 2026 Planner of the Year by Western Planner, recognizing her outstanding contributions to municipal planning and public service across the Western United States. Clavadetscher was honored at this week’s Western Planner conference in Sioux Falls after being selected from a group of outstanding planners representing communities throughout the Western United States.

Clavadetscher has served the City of Box Elder for 18 years, playing a critical role in guiding the community through significant growth and organizational change. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in ensuring land use applications align with municipal code and the City’s Comprehensive Plan, helping establish clear, transparent, and defensible processes for staff, the Planning Commission, and City Council. She has also played a key role in modernizing the City’s planning and permitting operations.

Clavadetscher helped lead the transition to a modern online permitting and application platform, developing applicant guidance tools and internal review processes that improved efficiency, customer service, and long-term departmental operations. During the City’s recent Comprehensive Plan update, Box Elder identified that more than 80% of the goals established in the 2014 plan had been achieved, reflecting the community’s continued commitment to implementation and thoughtful long-term planning.

“Michelle has played a big role in helping Box Elder navigate its tremendous growth, from development review and code interpretation to helping modernize our permitting processes. Her ability to work through the gray areas, find practical solutions, and help others along the way is a big part of what makes her so valuable to the city,” said Hank Prim, City Administrator.

Beyond her technical expertise, Clavadetscher is recognized within the City as a trusted resource and mentor to staff. Her institutional knowledge, collaborative leadership, and solutions-focused approach have made her a valued resource not only within Box Elder, but also among neighboring jurisdictions seeking guidance on planning and permitting practices.

“Michelle has been the rock of the Planning & Zoning Department throughout years of growth and change in Box Elder. Her knowledge, patience, and willingness to mentor others have shaped not only our processes, but also the people she works with every day. This award recognizes what so many of us already know: Michelle is an exceptional planner, colleague, and public servant,” said Lauralee Patton, Planning and Zoning Director.

Known for her practical approach to planning, Clavadetscher often reminds colleagues that every planning application is a “special snowflake,” recognizing that each project can bring unique questions and challenges. The City of Box Elder congratulates Michelle Clavadetscher on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for 18 years of dedicated service to the Box Elder community.

About Western Planner

Western Planner is a professional organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the planning profession throughout the Western United States. Its Planner of the Year award recognizes individuals who demonstrate the skill, leadership, and dedication necessary to serve as advocates for planning and the communities they serve.