Watertown City Council Approves Road Maintenance Agreements, Formalizing Growth Partnerships
- Steve Jurrens
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council has unanimously approved two separate Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Lake Township and Pelican Township, formalizing agreements for the maintenance and financial responsibility of roads along the city's expanding boundaries.
City Engineer Justin Petersen presented the two items, noting that the MOUs are similar to a recent agreement with Elmira Township and primarily serve to document existing responsibilities for roadways shared by the City and the townships or located on the border of the City and the townships.
Lake Township Agreement Establishes Existing Duties
The agreement with Lake Township (Item 13A) was described as simply "documenting what we already do."
The MOU confirms the City’s maintenance responsibilities for specific portions of the boundary roads, including Golf Course Road, South Lake Drive, Third Avenue, and a segment of 33rd Street West. The Township will maintain the remaining portions of Third Avenue and 33rd Street, among others. The motion to approve the agreement was carried unanimously.
Pelican Township Agreement Includes Cost-Sharing for 42nd Street.
The agreement with Pelican Township (Item 13B) was more involved, focusing on two roads:
1. Maintenance Transfer: The City will formally take over maintenance of a small stretch of road on the east side of Pelican Township that the City already maintains.
2. Cost-Sharing for 42nd Street: The Township requested that the City split the cost of crack and chip seal repairs and patching along a section of 42nd Street. The Township will continue to perform the physical maintenance work.
This request was prompted by increased traffic from new city developments, specifically the Kaks 4th Edition, which utilizes 42nd Street as a required secondary access point. The township estimated the significant cost to be the crack and chip sealing, which typically occurs every four to five years at an estimated cost of $30,000. The City’s obligation under the two-year agreement is estimated to be approximately $15,000.
The discussion highlighted the balance between current maintenance costs and future urban development:
· Long-Term Strategy: Council members emphasized that the two-year agreement is a temporary solution, noting that staff will revisit the agreement biennially. The ultimate goal is for roads like 42nd Street to eventually be upgraded from a rural to an urban street section once most of the adjacent properties are annexed and zoned by the City.
· Cost Mitigation: Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten added that the City had already collected a pro-rata share from the developer for the eventual urban street reconstruction of 42nd Street, stating this significant up-front collection will help with the long-term cost of maintenance and eventual reconstruction.
· Council Philosophy: Councilman Shetty supported the cost-sharing, describing it as a "philosophy behind this to partner... as we're developing to the west there," recognizing the mutual benefit of maintaining access roads for new residents.
The motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Pelican Township also carried unanimously.
