Codington County commissioners approve $1.71 million bid to improve eight miles of roads

The soaring cost of oil will require Codington County to pay much more for 8 miles of road repair than was anticipated a year ago.

Tuesday morning, the Codington County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $1,710,317 bid by Duininck Inc. of Prinsburg, Minn., for reclamation and repaving of 1-mile stretches of road on county highways 23 and 9B and chip-sealing 3-mile sections of county highways 6A and 17.

County Highway Superintendent Rick Hartley told the commissioners that a year ago he estimated the cost of the repairs would be just over a million dollars.

“You don’t know now when you go to bid something,” Hartley said about future road funding. “What you budget for, you don’t know where you’re going to come up. You’re more than likely going to come up short unless you have a really big number in your budget.”

Duininck was the only bidder.

More: Codington County could shift American Recover Plan Act money to cover extra mile of asphalt

Waylon Blasius, representing Banner Associates of Brookings, planner for the project, said he called other contractors, but was told that since Duininck has resources already set up in Watertown, the others would be unable to match the price.

The commissioners were in agreement that although the cost is high, pushing part of the project to next year would likely be even worse.

“Highways (and) roads are bread-and-butter issues for counties, so we've got to make sure this is done right,” said Commissioner Lee Gabel. “Probably better to do this now because it will save money in the long run. And we have money to cover it, whether ARPA or other reserves. It's just a smart thing to do.”

The county has received $5.44 million in federal dollars from the American Recovery Plan Act. That total wasn’t known until after the 2022 county budget had been finalized.

Before discussion of road repairs started, commissioners approved supplements to the ARPA budget and Rural Access Infrastructure budget ($54,542). The formal supplementing of these budgets will give the county spending authority of the cash received and deposited into each fund.

Commissioner Myron Johnson said it is the commission’s duty to make certain that county roads are in good condition.

“If we can’t get farmers and people into town then everything comes to a stop,” Johnson said. “People have to understand that it does cost a lot of money to maintain roads.”

Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline update

The commissioners received an update on the proposed project to send carbon dioxide created by the manufacture of ethanol through pipes to an underground location in west central North Dakota.

Ben Fuller of Turnkey Logistics, speaking on behalf of Summit Carbon Solutions, said 110 miles of voluntary easements have been collected in South Dakota, including 2.81 miles in Codington County. As planned with all easements granted, the 6-inch pipe in Codington would run 13.24 miles before entering Hamlin County. Route adjustments are common, however, he said.

More: Landowners concerned about property acquisition process for carbon sequestration pipeline

The 2,000-mile pipeline would pump liquefied carbon dioxide from 31 ethanol plants in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska so it could be stored a mile underground in North Dakota. The project is estimated cost is about $4.5 billion. Construction costs in Codington County are expected to be about $40 million.

A capture facility and pumping station near Glacial Lakes Energy in Watertown would bring an estimated $592,000 in yearly property taxes, Fuller said.

He said Summit hopes to have easements completed this year so pipeline construction can begin by mid-2023 with it being operational in 2024. The project will be reviewed for permitting in October by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.

Fuller said ethanol plants in South Dakota have a carbon dioxide score of 55, which exceeds regulations in some states that would allow the sale of fuel with ethanol. By exporting the CO2 to underground storage, the scores would drop to 20, making the ethanol sellable in 12 to 15 more states, Fuller said. The eventual goal of producers is to reduce carbon dioxide output to zero by 2030.

More: PUC approves Summit Carbon Solutions' request for a permit application deadline extension

Fuller said most of the ethanol produced in South Dakota is sold in Canada, which has lighter restrictions.

Commissioners asked about safety precautions, and Fuller said pipe depth and pipe size will exceed Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration specifications.

Monthly reports include recap of tornados

Emergency Management Director Andrew Delgado gave his first monthly report since May 10, talking primarily about the storms in northeastern South Dakota this spring. He said an EF2 tornado heavily damaged Castlewood and both EF2 and EF3 tornadoes struck Grant County in later storms, but caused much less damage.

More: Castlewood School badly damaged by tornado; Noem declares state of emergency

Delgado and Commissioner Troy VanDusen noted that outdoor sirens are designed to warn people who are outside. Citizens indoors should rely on other media, including cellphones, for storm updates. VanDusen is in charge of the 911 center in Watertown.

The sirens are sounded when winds of 80 mph or higher have been reported, but both men expect that number to be reduced to 70 mph in the near future.

Sheriff Brad Howell was not present for his report, but provided a document showing his department’s activity in May. Howell’s office responded to 601 cases and calls, including 13 accidents, 65 warrants and 207 civil papers being served.

The county detention center had a high population of 79 inmates and a low of 60 for an average daily population of 71.19, up slightly from April. The number of offenders who are free but being monitored by various methods was 87, down from April.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Eight miles of Codington County roads to be improved with $1.71 million