Northeast Radio News SD Previews Watertown City Council Meeting on 9/15
- Steve Jurrens
- Sep 14
- 8 min read
Northeast News SD - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting agenda is divided into routine matters on the Consent Agenda and more detailed items on the Regular Agenda. The consent agenda items are approved in a single vote without public discussion, unless a council member requests that an item be placed on the regular agenda for discussion and voting.
The Consent Agenda is a list of routine items, including:
· Minutes: Approval of the minutes from the September 2, 2025, Council meeting.
· Business License: A motion to approve a business license for DeBoer Construction Inc. as a Pipe Layer.
· Ambulance Accounts: Approval to write-off $43,438.50 in uncollectible ambulance accounts that were sent to a collection agency.
· Fireworks Permits: Consideration of fireworks permits for displays at Watertown High School and The Bridge Church.
· Police Department Grant: The council will consider authorizing the Police Department to apply for a grant from the Office of Highway Safety. The grant would provide $14,500 for overtime, $3,000 for billboard advertisements, and $5,979 to send two officers to a national conference. The total federal request is for $23,479, with the city providing a local match of $5,869.75.
· Final Change Order: A motion to approve a final change order for a 2025 asphalt mill and overlay project with Duininck Inc., which would decrease the project cost by $59,102.35 for a new total price of $1,346,792.30. The adjustment reflects the final quantities and the removal of certain work items, including tree clearing, landfill road grading, and sidewalk ramps that were deferred due to upcoming WMU projects. The project, led by Duininck Inc., covered 15 street segments across the city and included the installation of 2 valley gutters, 31 pedestrian ramps, and 883 feet of curb and gutter. Funding was split between the Capital Improvement Fund and the Solid Waste Fund.
The Regular Agenda contains items that will be discussed individually and voted on by the council. The key items include:
· Ordinance First Reading: A first reading of an ordinance to amend regulations in the public right-of-way. The Watertown City Council will hold a first reading of Ordinance No. 25-14, a comprehensive revision aimed at streamlining and clarifying how the city manages its public right-of-way. City staff say the changes will improve transparency, reduce confusion, and align ordinances with current engineering standards and permitting practices. The revised structure also makes it easier for residents and contractors to locate relevant rules. This is a first reading only. A second reading and public hearing are expected at a future meeting before any final vote is taken.
o The ordinance consolidates and relocates existing rules from Chapter 5.03 (General Regulations) into a newly proposed Chapter 18.20 under the renamed Title 18: “Right-of-Way Management.” Key updates include:
§ Creation of Chapter 18.20 to establish clearer permitting rules for occupying the right-of-way, including sidewalk cafés, community events, and construction materials
§ Permit requirements for excavation, sidewalk work, and driveway approaches, with mandatory ADA compliance
§ Clarification that snow from private property cannot be pushed into city boulevards, even where curbs are absent
§ Requirement for sidewalk installation with new construction or building expansions, unless exempted
§ Reinforcement of a five-year moratorium on cutting into newly paved streets, with limited waiver options
§ Updates to sidewalk café regulations, including renewal every three years and stricter timelines for correcting violations
§ Removal of outdated job descriptions and reassignment of address duties from the City Engineer to the Fire Marshal
· Public Hearings: The Watertown City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday to consider a transfer of ownership for River Card Casino’s Retail (on-off sale) Malt Beverage & South Dakota Farm Wine license and Video Lottery license. The transfer would move the licenses from Rodney Parent to Sherley Parent, with no change in location—remaining at 7 8th Street SW. All required fees have been paid, and the property has prior conditional use approval for alcohol sales in the C-3 Highway Commercial District.
· A public hearing and second reading of an ordinance for the annexation and zoning of the Kenneth and Arlene Lukonen Addition.
o The Council will hold a public hearing on Monday to consider final approval of a petition to annex and zone a 1.97-acre tract of land located in the southeast quarter of Section 28, Township 117 North, Range 53 West in Codington County. The property, currently outside city limits, is owned by the Kenneth J. & Arlene M. Lukonen Revocable Trust and represented by Deborah Lukonen under power of attorney.
§ The parcel fronts Golf Course Road with 270 feet of frontage and is developed with a single-family home and accessory structures. It meets all zoning requirements for the proposed R-1 Single Family Residential designation and aligns with the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Adjacent properties to the north and west are already zoned R-1, while the east and south remain in the county.
§ Upon annexation, the property will be subject to utility connection requirements. It currently relies on a private well and will need to connect to Watertown Municipal Utilities (WMU) water and sewer services once released from the Sioux Rural Water System (SRWS) territory. A trunk sewer assessment fee of $6 per linear foot will apply at the time of platting.
§ The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the zoning designation at its August 21 meeting. No park dedication is required, as the property is not considered a subdivision and cannot be further divided. A recreational trail already exists adjacent to the site along Golf Course Road. If approved, the plat will be recorded administratively, and the zoning designation will extend to the centerline of adjacent public rights-of-way.
· Facility Assessment: The Watertown City Council is set to authorize a $66,000 contract with Ameresco for a comprehensive Facility Condition Assessment covering 16 city-owned buildings. The assessment will help city leaders prioritize repairs, extend asset life, and plan capital improvements over 5- and 30-year horizons.
o Facilities included in the review range from City Hall and the Police Department to the Aquatic Center, Zoo Discovery Center, and Regional Landfill. The assessment will evaluate mechanical, electrical, plumbing, envelope, safety, and energy efficiency systems.
o Ameresco, a national firm with experience in over 150,000 buildings, will deliver detailed reports, lifecycle cost modeling, and capital planning dashboards. The project is budgeted at $100,000, with the approved bid coming in well below that.
· Tax Levy: The Watertown City Council will hold a second reading and vote on Ordinance No. 25-13, which authorizes the city’s Finance Officer to certify the 2026 property tax levy to the Codington County Auditor.
o The proposed levy totals $4,679,000 for the city’s General Fund, reflecting a year-over-year increase of $220,337 compared to 2025. This increase is based on a 2.9% Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment set by the State of South Dakota, along with an estimated 2.04% growth in property valuation.
§ The ordinance is a routine but required step in the city’s annual budget process. Once approved, the Finance Officer will formally certify the levy amount to the county auditor, enabling the city to collect property taxes for the upcoming fiscal year.
§ No changes to the ordinance are expected, and staff recommend approval. The ordinance will take effect upon publication in the Watertown Public Opinion on September 20, 2025.
· Finalize Acceptance of Willow Creek Village Fifth Addition Infrastructure: City Council will vote on Resolution No. 25-20, formally accepting public infrastructure improvements installed in the Willow Creek Village Fifth Addition, specifically around Overlook Ridge Court. The work was completed by Clausen & Sons Construction, LL & Sons Excavation, BX Civil & Construction, Duininck Inc., and Skyview Construction on behalf of Willow Creek Development Inc.
o The project included installation of storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water mains and services, curb and gutter, and roadway improvements. Following inspection and a one-year warranty period, city staff confirmed the work meets current Engineering Design Standards and recommended transferring ownership and maintenance responsibilities to the city.
Accepted improvements include:
3,609 square yards of asphalt paving over 12" aggregate base
2,360 linear feet of curb and gutter
125 square yards of valley gutter
2 storm drain inlets and 70 linear feet of 24" storm sewer
4 sanitary sewer manholes and 1,024 linear feet of sanitary sewer
1,300 square feet of 6" sidewalk
· Accept Infrastructure for Morris First Addition Phase 2: City Council will vote on Resolution No. 25-28, formally accepting public infrastructure improvements installed in Morris First Addition Phase 2, located along 7th Avenue Southeast. The work was completed by Up North Concrete, J&J Earthworks, Duininck Inc., and Skyview Construction on behalf of developers Uthe Commercial LLC and PJNI LLC.
o The project included installation of storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water mains and services, curb and gutter, and roadway improvements. Following inspection and a one-year warranty period, city staff confirmed the work meets current Engineering Design Standards and recommended transferring ownership and maintenance responsibilities to the city.
Accepted improvements include:
1,416 square yards of asphalt paving over 12" aggregate base
784 linear feet of curb and gutter
2 storm drain inlets, 38 linear feet of 15" storm sewer, and 42 linear feet of 18" storm sewer
2 sanitary sewer manholes and 368 linear feet of 8" sanitary sewer
· Sanitary Sewer Main Easement: Consideration of a resolution to accept a sanitary sewer main easement from the Watertown Development Company.
· Municipal Utility Easement: Consideration of a resolution to accept a perpetual utility easement from the Watertown Development Company for the construction of a lift station.
· Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): City Council will vote on authorizing City Manager Alan Stager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Calvin Industrial Park Lift Station Project (No. 2428). The project involves constructing a 30-foot-deep sanitary lift station and installing approximately 9,200 feet of force main to connect the Calvin Industrial Park Second Addition to the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
o The total estimated project cost is $3,666,600. A federal grant of $2,529,789 from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has already been awarded, and the city plans to apply for an additional $200,000 through South Dakota’s Local Infrastructure Improvement Program (LIIP). Depending on the outcome of the LIIP grant, the remaining local share will be either $936,811 or $1,136,811.
§ Under the proposed MOU, the remaining local cost will be split evenly among four entities: the City of Watertown, Watertown Development Company (WDC), Watertown Municipal Utilities (WMU), and Codington County. Each party’s contribution will range from approximately $235,000 to $285,000. The city’s portion will be allocated from Account No. 604.43252.43696, which has not yet been funded.
§ The agreement outlines roles and responsibilities for design, construction, and payment administration. The City Engineer will oversee technical aspects and contractor selection, while WMU will handle payments and invoicing. Any future cost recoveries from landowners or developers within the extended service basin—approximately 330 acres—will be split equally among the four parties.
§ The agreement will terminate upon completion of the lift station and force main. All parties have confirmed their authority to enter into the agreement, which is limited to this specific infrastructure component; other development costs will be addressed separately.
· Discussion on proposed changes to Watertown’s restaurant liquor license ordinance—including fee adjustments and eligibility requirements—is expected to resume at the end of Monday’s City Council meeting.
There is a section for council members to introduce topics for future discussion, a city manager report if necessary, and an executive session if required, and then the meeting will adjourn.
