Codington County finds that 31st Street bridge never maintained due to clerical error
Mystery now surrounds Codington County’s troubled bridge over calm waters.
The three-culvert bridge over Willow Creek on 31st Street N.E. was the main topic of conversation during the April 23 meeting of the county commission. It was one of the only items on a very limited agenda.
Travis Paulson of Wallace, the S.D. Association of Towns and Townships District 5 (Clark and Codington counties) representative, presented a $1,320 bill to the commission for an engineering study of the much-maligned bridge. Elmira Township, where the bridge is located, had requested the study because of liability issues.
“My understanding, technically, is that (the bridge) was put in the books wrong years ago and wasn’t on the county’s list of structures to take care of,” said Paulson, who was contacted by Elmira Township officials to approach the commission. “That’s why it hasn’t been take care of.”
How or why it was removed from the county’s list is a mystery.
“You guys are well aware that as the level of government trickles down from the state to the county to the township, the township gets the dollars that are left over,” said Paulson. “Sometimes some of these townships don’t have much income at all.”
The county has already spent $30,000 on concrete barriers that, when delivered, will be placed along the sides of the road where it spans Willow Creek. The bridged area has narrowed due to erosion.
Commissioner Myron Johnson pointed out that the study was ordered without county authorization.
“You understand that’s the issue,” said Johnson. “If people order something, they have to pay for it is the point. What’s the next thing they’re going to do?”
Commissioner Troy VanDusen mentioned the cost to the county for the concrete barriers but was more conciliatory and provided the motion to pay the $1,320 bill.
“We’re trying to keep the road open and keep our traveling public’s safety in mind,” VanDusen said. “I’ll support this. I think it’s the right thing to do. Next time we need a little more communication.”
Commissioner Chairman Randy Schweer continued VanDusen’s tone before the commissioners voted 5-0 to pay the bill.
“If we can work with the township, and maybe down the road with the city, and all of us together, it’s going to be better to pay for the project instead of pointing fingers.”
When Paulson first spoke he mentioned the City of Watertown and how the new Prairie Lakes Ice Arena has added traffic to 31st Street.
“My main grievance is not with the county but with the city,” Paulson said. “This has brought attention to the city building a nearly $40 million structure without taking into account the roads that lead to it. That’s what created a liability for the township.”
Willow Creek Drive and supporting roads provide the main access to the new arena. 31st Street is gravel and passes adjacent to the east side of the facility. It connects with both U.S. Highway 212 and Third Avenue N.E.
Sheriff Brad Howell told commissioners the staff at the detention center recently passed without issue a state Department of Corrections inspection on the incarceration of juveniles.
Howell noted his department is preparing a policy to add a chaplain for support of deputies and ministry to incarcerated inmates and inmate aftercare. He said deputies are stressed by violent scenes and pressures from their jobs, which can affect them and their families.
Statistics presented by Howell showed March had the smallest average daily membership of 42.77 inmates in at least 13 months at the detention center. The March daily high was 47 inmates and the low was 38. The previous low average was 46.48 in February. A year ago the number was 57.03.
Conversely, the sheriff’s department booked 224 individuals in March, the highest in eight months. Another 118 convicted individuals were out on release but required to perform daily or weekly monitoring with the sheriff’s office.
Howell’s numbers showed 521 cases and calls being handled by county law enforcement in March. Those included five accidents reported to state officials, 76 warrants issued and 215 civil papers served.
— J.T. Fey is a freelance reporter for the Watertown Public Opinion.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Codington County finds that 31st Street bridge was never maintained
