The Dawson County Development Authority and the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce will officially joined forces in May with a new multi-year partnership, signaling a new era for the authority, which has seen its share of ups and downs the past several years. Brian Trapnell, chair of the authority, presented an update on the partnership during the board of commissioners voting session April 5. Trapnell explained that after former Executive Director Charlie Auvermann and his assistant Mary Simmons left the authority in September of last year, the authority contracted with the chamber of commerce to help take care of any administrative functions. That contract will run through April 30.