Coordinated plan for emergency housing in Codington County close to fruition
The goal of Watertown Cares is rapidly approaching fruition.
Watertown Cares is a group of local non-profit organizations that recognized the need for a coordinated effort to deal with emergency housing for the homeless in Watertown and Codington County. That need resulted in Watertown Cares being formed in 2022.
Organizations supporting Watertown Cares include the Codington County Welfare Office, Human Service Agency of Watertown, Watertown Police Department, Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars and Interlakes Community Action Program. Prairie Lakes HealthCare System is also planning to join.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Codington County Board of Commissioners, Welfare Director Sara Foust updated commissioners that Will Warnock of Madison, Minnesota has been hired to lead Watertown Cares starting April 3.
Foust also said that Watertown Cares is close to finalizing the purchase of the eight-apartment complex known as 612 Flats in Watertown. Once the sale is closed, renovation will begin to turn the apartments into emergency housing.
Funding will be financed through a one-time grant of $1.2 million requested through the S.D. Housing Development Authority. If approved, some of the grant will be used for buying property and the other part for case management.
Foust also relayed the story of a woman in distress over lack of housing for her and other ill family members. The woman’s own disability limited her ability to handle the situation, including expenses. Through Watertown Cares and the county Welfare Office, she found an affordable place to live.
The woman wrote to Kari Kraayanbrink, Welfare Office administrative specialist, thanking her for assistance and saying without help from Watertown Cares and the county she didn’t know if she and her son would have survived. And she added that once settled in, she wants to volunteer her time helping others.
At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners heard from Ron DeVille, questioning a petition filed in the City of Watertown seeking the rezoning of property located between South Lake Drive and Toby’s Slough from single family residential to C-L Lake Commercial District. The petition has been approved by the Watertown Plan Commission and will be up for approval at the March 20 meeting of the Watertown City Council.
The commissioners advised DeVille to speak with Luke Muller, zoning officer for county, which maintains the portion of South Lake Drive where the zoning change would occur.
In other actions, all approved by 5-0 votes, the commissioners:
• Approved increases of about 5% for monthly Delta Dental premiums for county employees. Individual plans will increase $2.16 to $45.42; $3.90 to $81.80 for two family members, and $5.67 to $119.07 for three family members. The county pays the premiums for single plans and 50% for the other two plans.
• Approved a mounting charge of $5,018 to Diamond Mowers of Sioux Falls. Diamond Mowers had neglected to add the charge in its bid. The new mower deck will be mounted to a John Deere tractor owned by the county.
• Approved all 2023 rates for weed chemicals and hourly spraying rates within the county.
• Approved a contract with the S.D. Department of Transportation for payment ($24,695) to the county for spraying along state highways located within the county.
• Approved a budgeted purchase of $11,500 for a new overhead, insulated, remote-controlled door from Overhead Door of Watertown for the Codington County Detention Center. According to research performed by Overhead Door, the door in question is opened and closed on average 19 times a day.
• Approved tax abatements of $1,771.26 for an owner who missed the original abatement request deadline, and $76.98 to an owner whose buildings were destroyed during the May 12, 2022 derecho storm.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Plan for emergency housing in Codington County close to fruition
