Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Commissioners received updates on the ongoing jail and law enforcement center construction project during their Sept. 1 meeting, including discussions on structural upgrades to unfinished spaces and the hiring of an independent quality control agent.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 1 to approve an amended rental agreement for the county coroner’s facility after high summer temperatures forced equipment additions to maintain required cooling levels.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Veterans Service Office secured more than $105,000 in monthly and retroactive benefit increases for area veterans in August, Veterans Service Officer Jay Roberts reported during the Sept. 1 Codington County Commission meeting.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The South Dakota Transportation Commission has approved funding for 40 local bridge projects totaling approximately $3.5 million, advancing design and engineering work for communities across the state.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - As the world mourns the passing of iconic entertainer Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the age of 80, community leaders in Codington County are reflecting on her profound local impact. Beyond her music career, Parton’s passion for childhood literacy continues to shape young lives across South Dakota through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The debate over a proposed local tax shift is officially heading to the ballot box. During the Tuesday meeting, Codington County Commissioners formally noted that a citizen-led petition to refer Ordinance No. 83 has been successfully filed and verified. As a result, the measure will appear before voters on the upcoming November 3, 2026, General Election ballot.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a move to prevent a gap in critical housing assistance, the Codington County Commissioners have authorized the local Community Services Office to take over the application and management of the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The unanimous decision during Tuesday’s meeting ensures that local funds aimed at homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing will remain accessible to residents in need.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Coinciding with the first day of the new school year in Watertown and surrounding rural communities, Codington County Sheriff Brad Howell presented the annual School Resource Officer (SRO) report to county commissioners, highlighting the profound impact the program has had on local youth.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Sheriff’s Office is officially hitting the brakes on its stationary Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program. During the latest Codington County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Brad Howell announced that the county’s Flock cameras have been taken down and placed in storage following an ongoing string of vandalism.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Sheriff’s Office remains busy, maintaining high operational paces and generating revenue from state and out-of-county contracts. Codington County Sheriff Brad Howell presented the comprehensive July 2026 monthly report to the Codington County Commissioners during their Tuesday meeting, detailing a month of extensive field operations, steady jail populations, and strong financial balances.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - First responders in Codington County will soon have a powerful new tool at their disposal for large-scale operations. During the Tuesday, August 25, 2026, meeting, the Codington County Commissioners unanimously approved a $15,834.14 down payment to initiate the build of a new Joint Command Post Trailer from local Watertown manufacturer Team Lodge.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - It was a close call for Codington County this past week, as severe storms that swept through the region narrowly missed the immediate Watertown area. “Dodged a bullet last night,” noted Codington County Emergency Management Director Andrew Delgado during the Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Codington County Commissioners meeting.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - County officials, law enforcement representatives, select community members, and construction crews gathered Thursday morning in Watertown to celebrate a major milestone in the construction of the new Codington County Jail & Law Enforcement Center. Hosted by general contractor Beckenhauer Construction, Inc. and the Codington County Sheriff’s Office, the event featured a traditional “topping-out” ceremony to celebrate the completion of

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Commissioners took financial actions during Tuesday’s regular meeting, approving a $2 million construction payout for the new county detention facility and receiving an updated multi-year budget breakdown as building momentum peaks.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Highway Department is moving into late summer at full operational capacity, tackling road resurfacing, bridge maintenance, and ongoing shop renovations, according to Highway Superintendent Randy Falvey’s monthly report to the Board of County Commissioners.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County’s bridge infrastructure is showing steady signs of progress, though local officials still face millions of dollars in future replacement costs, according to the 2026 annual bridge inspection report presented to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County is moving to hire a quality control expert to oversee the installation and performance of major mechanical systems in its new detention facility project, commissioners learned during Tuesday’s meeting.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Public comment at Tuesday’s Codington County Board of Commissioners meeting featured local resident James Simmons raising questions regarding public phone access, proposed law enforcement radio encryption, and county legal reporting, prompting commissioners to test their call-in system live in commission chambers.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Commissioners approved precinct consolidations for the 2026 General Election, authorized more than $1 million in net county claims, and processed routine monthly financial reports during Tuesday’s meeting.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Commissioners continued their fiscal planning for 2027 on Tuesday, taking a close look at line items for commission operations, contingency funds, court-appointed attorneys, and soil conservation.