As primary election approaches, Deutsch visits with Codington County commissioners

Funding for new jails and water problems were among the issues state Rep. Fred Deutsch, R-Florence, heard about from members of the Codington County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

Deutsch, who’s up for re-election this year, said he scheduled the visit as part of his effort to attend county commission and school board meetings across District 4.

Commissioner Myron Johnson asked why Deutsch voted against a 2022 bill that would have allowed counties, with voter approval, to implement a half-cent sales tax to raise funds for specific capital improvement projects, such as a new jail.

“Do you have any suggestions on how to raise money if we can’t impose a new sales tax?” Johnson said, adding that raising property taxes is less palatable because only property owners are paying it. “And it’s not just for a new jail, but everything, including county highway costs.”

Commissioner Lee Gabel followed up, noting that the last vote on a new Codington County jail failed by fewer than 100 votes even though it found approval within the Watertown city limits. He also said residents of nearby counties, some of which house their offenders in the current Codington County jail, shop in Watertown, and a sales tax on their purchases would have help pay for a new facility.

Deutsch said he was “torn in many ways” regarding the issue, but added that he primarily serves rural communities and farms. He said rural Codington County was the second-smallest population in his district.

“When I hear from constituents, I feel compelled to represent their views,” said Deutsch, explaining why he voted against the bill to allow a county-imposed sales tax. “I don’t have an answer. I’m just being honest.”

A legislative summer study will examine the issue of funding county jails, which are increasingly coming under pressure. One county, Walworth, closed its jail in October 2020 following a lawsuit that found the jail to be unsafe. Walworth now sends some of its inmates to the Codington County Detention Center.

“We’re all anxious to find out what happens with this summer study. I don’t know if we should get our hopes too high,” said Johnson. “But we can always hope that some of this might be resolved.”

The discussion comes less than a month after commissioners learned the county detention center might need more than $3 million in repairs to its heating and cooling system.

Later in the meeting, Deutsch asked the commissioners if they thought their county “was getting a fair shake” in state funding for roads and bridges. Gabel responded by saying he thought the allocation was fair, but “it’s just not much funding.”

The commissioners then provided stories of the county’s problems with roads in the lake-populated western half of Codington County.

“We’ve got water issues,” said Johnson. “That’s a very expensive fix and it’s a long-term fix. We spend thousands of dollars to build the road up so residents can even get out and the school buses get in and the mail service get in and out. Two years later, the same roads are under water again.”

“We’ve had homeowners concerned about emergency services being able to get to their residences,” said Commissioner Troy VanDusen.

Johnson also queried Deutsch about his thoughts on the growing influence of state government over what’s being taught in pubic schools.

“It frustrates me when they’re pulling books out of schools, and those types of things,” Johnson said. “Is government overstepping a little bit there?”

Deutsch said parents want to know what’s going on in schools and what’s being taught. He said he believes it’s important to listen to the parents.

“The Legislature has a role to play, in my humble opinion,” Deutsch said. “I am also frustrated when I read stories about a community wanting to burn books. What frustrates me is that we have pornography in schools also.”

There are four Republicans on the June 7 primary ballot for District 4 House. The others are Val Rausch of Big Stone City, Adam Grimm of Wallace and Stephanie Sauder of Bryant. The top two vote getters will advance to the general election.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: State Rep. Fred Deutsch visited with Codington County commissioners