Watertown City Council Meeting Recap: Council Approves 20-Acre Commercial Annexation, Dakota Commons Housing Plats, Speed Limit Ordinance
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council approved a 20-acre commercial annexation, three subdivision plats, a speed-limit enforcement ordinance, four alcohol-related license applications, and a final street project change order at its meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
At the start of the meeting, Mayor Ried Holien noted that Ward D Councilman Allen was attending remotely, and the council approved the evening's agenda on a motion by Ward A Councilman Mohrmann and a second by Ward B Councilman Peters. At-Large Councilman Heuer announced he would recuse himself from agenda items 12B, 12C, and 12D. No members of the public spoke during the open forum.
Final Change Order for 2026 Asphalt Mill and Overlay Project
The council unanimously approved Change Order No. 1-Final with Duininck Inc. for the 2026 PMP A - Asphalt Mill and Overlay Project (Project No. 2602), increasing the contract by $78,848.20 for a new total contract price of $596,119.00.
City Engineer Justin Petersen explained that the final adjustment reconciled project quantities following construction.
"This is the final adjustment quantities for the mill and overlay project," Petersen said. "There were several deductions and the increase was due to additional base course. We were able to adjust some of the quantities to keep it within the $600,000 that was allocated for the project."
Ward C Councilman Schutte moved to approve the change order, Heuer seconded, and the motion carried by voice vote.
Festival of Trees and Alcohol License Applications
The council held four public hearings under Item 12 regarding alcohol and special event licenses, presented by Chief Financial Officer Kristen Bobzien:
· LATC Foundation Festival of Trees (Item 12A): The council approved a special event license for the Lake Area Technical College Foundation for its annual Festival of Trees fundraiser from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026. Bobzien noted that notice was published, all fees were paid, and the event has taken place without issue for many years.
o During the public hearing, Tracy Buisker of the Lake Area Technical College Foundation spoke in support of the application.
"Our annual Festival of Trees fundraiser is coming up on Friday, November 20th," Buisker said. "It serves as our largest fundraiser for the college. It supports scholarships and sometimes campus improvements and educational advancements on the college. And we appreciate the city's support and the community's support."
Buisker noted tickets are available by calling 605-882-5284 or visiting lakeareatech.edu. Peters moved to approve the application, and Schutte seconded.
Schutte remarked that Nov. 20 is his wedding anniversary, adding, "So that's my wife and my anniversary, so maybe we should spend it there with you guys."
Holien also praised the event before the council approved the license by voice vote. "I'll just say it's a good event for LATC and therefore it's a good event for Watertown," Holien said. "It's a good fundraiser, keeps the technical college going and brings in more young students, which always helps the entire community."
· Hazel's Attic LLC Wine and Cider License Transfer (Item 12B): The council approved the transfer of ownership of a retail on-off sale wine and cider license from Raise the Bar LLC to Hazel's Attic LLC, doing business as Raise the Bar at the same location. Bobzien confirmed all fees were paid and the location was previously approved. The motion by Peters, seconded by Schutte, carried by voice vote with Heuer abstaining.
· The Village of Harmony Hill Inc. Licenses (Items 12C and 12D): The council approved two new licenses for The Village of Harmony Hill Inc., doing business as the Commons of Harmony Hill: a new retail on-off malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine license (Item 12C) and a new retail wine and cider license (Item 12D). Bobzien explained that the applicant previously held licenses but was unsure whether to renew them, so the applications came forward as new items. The council passed Item 12C on a motion by Mohrmann and a second by Peters, and Item 12D on a motion by Schutte and a second by Mohrmann, with Heuer abstaining from both votes.
Rezoning, BRS Addition Annexation, and Speed Limit Ordinance
The council acted on three zoning, annexation, and traffic ordinance items:
· 700 Second St. SE Rezoning (Item 12E): The council approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the city zoning map from C-3 Highway Commercial District to R-2A Single Family Attached Residential District for the property located at 700 Second St. SE.
Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten told the council an existing house on the property meets minimum square footage requirements and is surrounded on three sides by the R-2A designation. Hanten noted that because R-2A is a closed district, the Planning Commission had to initiate the rezoning.
After a public hearing with no testimony, Heuer moved to pass the ordinance, and Peters seconded.
BRS Addition Annexation and Zoning (Items 12F1 and 12F2):
The council approved two separate motions to annex and zone the BRS Addition, which encompasses about 20 acres of contiguous land east of Interstate 29 and south of U.S. Highway 212.
Hanten stated the property owner requested the C-3 Highway Commercial District designation.
Following a public hearing, the council approved the resolution initiating annexation (Item 12F1) passed on a motion by Ward E Councilman Lynn Jurrens and a second by Heuer, and the second reading of the ordinance establishing C-3 Highway Commercial District zoning (Item 12F2) passed on a motion by Schutte and a second by Mohrmann.
Speed Limits and Traffic Control Devices Ordinance (Item 12G):
The council approved the second reading of an ordinance amending city ordinances regarding speed limits and traffic control devices.
City Manager Alan Stager explained that the update cleans up existing ordinances that previously listed individual roadways to establish speed limits.
"This ordinance change will allow speed to be enforced by the posted signs versus the ordinance," Stager said. "It is drafted with language similar to language found in all 50 states as well as chapter 23 of state statutes. actually chapter 32 of state statutes."
The Council approved the ordinance on a motion by Mohrmann and a second by Schutte.
Subdivision Plats: Martin's Railway Second Addition and Dakota Commons
Under Item 13, Hanten presented three subdivision plat resolutions recommended by the Planning Commission:
Martin's Railway Second Addition (Item 13A — Resolution No. 26-42)
The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-42, the Plat of Martin's Railway Second Addition, via roll call vote (Peters, Schutte, Allen, Heuer, Holien, Mohrmann, and Jurrens voting aye) on a motion by Jurrens and a second by Peters.
Hanten explained that the replat reduces five existing lots into three lots in the C-3 Highway Commercial District. Although the lots do not meet the minimum lot size for the C-3 district, the replat brings the property into better conformance by separating three existing buildings that the original lot lines currently intersect.
When the council asked what businesses are currently located on the property, John Beebe stepped to the microphone to identify the occupants.
"Currently there's a residential home there," Beebe said. "Behind it is Aflac and Ron Schultz Law. And then the building behind is going to be Knights of Columbus Insurance."
In response to a question from Heuer, Hanten confirmed the replat establishes three distinct lots to encompass the individual buildings rather than intersecting them.
Dakota Commons Tenth Addition (Item 13B — Resolution No. 26-43)
The council approved Resolution No. 26-43, the Plat of Dakota Commons Tenth Addition, and authorized the city manager to enter into a development agreement on motion by Peters and seconded by Heuer.
Hanten stated the 8.13-acre plat extends Poinsett Street NE from Park View Trail and creates 19 conforming lots zoned R-2 Single Family Attached Residential District, plus a cul-de-sac portion with 10 conforming PUD lots for single-family homes.
Dakota Commons Eleventh Addition - Phase 1 (Item 13C — Resolution No. 26-44)
The council approved Resolution No. 26-44, the Plat of Dakota Commons Eleventh Addition-Phase 1, and authorized the city manager to enter into a development agreement on a motion by Schutte and a second by Mohrmann. Hanten noted the plat includes two PUD single-family residential lots and a small extension of Lewis and Clark Trail, and associated infrastructure.
Calvin Industrial Park Access Grant Application
Under Item 13D, the council approved Resolution No. 26-45, expressing support for an Industrial Park Access Grant application to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.
Stager told the council that the Watertown Development Company (WDC) is developing plans to expand the Calvin Industrial Park (referred to during the presentation as the Calvin Trade Center Industrial Park).
"This is a grant through the South Dakota Department of Transportation for approximately $500,000 to provide access onto 20th Avenue," Stager said. "Associated with this is a 20% local grant, which will be covered through the infrastructure funding of the overall WDC development project in the park."
Watertown Development Company Executive Director Chris Clifton attended to answer questions. Mohrmann moved to approve Resolution No. 26-45, and Peters seconded. Before the unanimous voice vote, Holien thanked Clifton and Stager for their work on the industrial park expansion.
"Just say it's nice to see the development going on out there," Holien said. "And we shouldn't always take it for granted. But when it's not controversial like this is, or even the preceding several, it's easy to take it for granted, but it's it shouldn't be because we're talking a lot of work and a lot of money that goes into this."
