CODINGTON COUNTY — The team needed to create a new detention center in Codington County has been assembled.
The final piece was added Tuesday when county commissioners unanimously approved the hiring of Beckenhauer Construction as construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the proposed new jail facility.
Tegra Group of St. Louis Park, MN is the construction consultant. Former Watertown resident Bill Garnos of Gladstone, MO is providing consulting work on expected jail population and Architecture Incorporated of Sioux Falls will provide a pre-design of the jail.
The companies’ main goals will be to present an updated structure that offers more safety for correctional officers at a cost that will meet voters’ approval. Two previous attempts in 2014 and 2017 have failed, and another vote could occur during November’s general election.
The selection of Beckenhauer was made by the county’s Justice Advisory Committee. One other company was also considered.
Commissioner Lee Gabel, the board’s liaison to the Justice Advisory Committee, said the factors selecting Beckenhauer included the company being currently engaged in a number of other jail projects, allowing the CMAR to provide more precise cost estimates and more accurate data in terms of materials and techniques.
Tuesday’s agenda included discussion and possible action on contracting with Architecture Incorporated to commence developing a preliminary jail design. That item, however, was delayed until possibly next week.
Department monthly reports were provided by Veterans Service Officer Todd Rose and 4-H Coordinator Jodi Loehrer of the county Extension Office.
Rose said 44 claims by area veterans have been completed this year. Another 188 are open cases and 92 have been submitted to the Veterans Administration. Completed claims in March brought in $17,758 to veterans, raising the yearly total to approximately $37,000. Retroactive payments to veterans are at $200,000 year to date.
Loehrer said 47 children, called Cloverbuds, are first-time 4-H members in 2024. Registration for 4-H camp this summer is now underway.
Shooting sports, a popular 4-H program, ends this month, highlighted by the state event April 26-29. A childcare program, held virtually and including 4-H members throughout the state, will end on April 29 in Pierre and Fort Pierre.
Loehrer also said a cooking program has been instructing members about foods found in several foreign countries.
Other actions taken by the commissioners included:
- Agreeing to combine voting precincts to maintain efficiency of election workers. Richland Township precinct will join with the Kampeska Township precinct, and Elmira Township precinct voting will occur with C2, D2, D3 and D4 precincts. Voting locations have not yet been determined.
- Republican primary elections will include county states attorney, District 2 county commissioner, District 4 State Senate and District 5 State House. Democrats will only vote for a U.S. Presidential primary candidate.
- Authorizing Commission Chairman Randy Schweer to sign a bid-letting authorization for the reconstruction of a bridge over the Big Sioux River on County Highway 20 (176th Street). Highway Superintendent Rick Hartley said the action is a formality to allow the state to handle the bidding process. County officials won’t know when construction will begin. The state must first receive and analyze bids on the project. The project’s estimated cost is $3.7 million. The county’s usual share is 19%, but thanks to a federal grant the county will pay 5.34% ($196,832). Noting that the county board of equalization will meet at 1 p.m. April 9 at the courthouse, and 6:30 p.m. April 9 as a consolidated board of equalization with the Watertown City Council at Watertown City Hall.
- Approving the selling of alcohol for a Sept. 28 wedding at the county’s Extension Building. Cloud 9 of Watertown is providing the license to sell alcohol and will handle sales, security and verifying the ages of customers.
— J.T. Fey is a freelance reporter for the Watertown Public Opinion.
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