Codington County buildings budget request is $4.35M for 2023, more than a tenfold increase

Codington County commissioners were handed a whopper of a budget request during Tuesday’s weekly meeting.

The commission has been hearing requests from county government department heads for a few weeks and had to expect the request from Facilities Manager Steve Molengraaf would be big considering all the issues that have arisen at the Codington County Detention Center and courthouse this year.

More:Codington County Commission fields 2023 budget requests from department heads

Molengraaf did not disappoint. His proposed budget for county buildings was $4.35 million, almost a tenfold increase over the 2022 proposal. The requests includes:

• $1.365 million for new air handlers, chillers and exchangers;
• $1.93 million to replace three boilers with two that are at least 80% more efficient than those in use;
• $455,000 for a professional services contract with an engineering firm to manage the heating and cooling installations;
• $320,000 for new heaters and air conditioners and $230,000 for a fire suppression system at the Extension Complex. The changes were specified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers if the facility is to be used as a hospital in case of community need, such as the COVID-19 outbreak;
• $175,000 for a new generator at the courthouse;
• $79,000 for the installation of a negative pressure cell in the jail;
• $75,000 for a new sound system in the second-floor courtroom;
• $70,000 to replace the 30-year-old roof above the sheriff’s office, and
• $27,000 for new carpeting in two locations.

Molengraaf also laid out smaller increases for changes at Memorial Park, the Extension Complex and other areas under his governance.

His chance of getting his complete request approved? Zero. During the next two months, he and the commissioners will have to hash out what can be afforded and what can wait.

During his monthly report, Molengraaf said Memorial Park has taken in $120,774 in reservations through its website. Another $2,279 has been received through direct contact at the park. He added that as the camping season has passed the midpoint, bookings have slowed.

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He also said rain has been knocking out the telephone system at the park. If the park number (605-882-6290) is down, campers can call 605-882-6255 or email the park at memorialpark@codington.org.

West Nile confirmed in Codington County

Mosquitos that carry the West Nile virus have been found in traps in the county, Molengraaf said, but there have not been any West Nile cases in the state this year. He said some fogging has been done in communities.

Sheriff Brad Howell also presented his budget and provided his June report. His major requests were $54,000 for three new patrol cars and a $28,000 increase in projected fuel costs. Two new office computers and body cameras for the jailers are also in the budget.

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The inmate population at the detention center declined in June. The average daily population was 64.43 inmates compared to 71.19 in May and 77.63 in June 2021. The county’s various monitoring methods kept watch on 111 convicted individuals who aren’t incarcerated.

The sheriff’s office received 573 calls in June, including nine accidents, 96 warrants and 235 civil papers being served.

Speed limit on County Road 14 near Kampeska could drop to 30 mph

In other meeting activity:

• Jeff Riley of Watertown was the only bidder on an empty lot along Third Street Southwest that was sold in a tax deed property auction. Riley bid $12,000, which was the property’s assessed value. Another tiny piece of property adjacent to Interstate 29 in Elmira Township did not receive a bid for the third consecutive year. Interested parties can submit a sealed bid for the property in 2023.
• Commissioners gave first reading to an ordinance to lower the speed limit to 30 mph on a section of County Road 14, which exits Watertown as Fourth Avenue Southwest. The section in question is east of where the road intersects state Highway 139 along the west side of Lake Kampeska.
• Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve an update to the county’s personnel policies and procedures manual. The change allows part-time employees who work a total of 1,200 hours over a two-year period to receive a raise in pay. Previously, part-timers received a raise only if they worked 900 hours in one year.