Watertown City Council to Consider Easements for Lake Kampeska Bike Trail Expansion Ahead of 2027 Construction
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council will consider approving right-of-way easement agreements and utility certifications for Segment 2 of the Lake Kampeska Bike Trail on the consent agenda at its meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
According to an agenda memo from City Manager Alan Stager, the items are associated with Project No. 2421 and South Dakota Department of Transportation Project No. P TAPU(45), PCN 09QK, located on the south side of Lake Kampeska in Codington County.
The temporary right-of-way easements allow bike trail construction, grading for proper drainage, and installation of required barriers. After the project is completed, the city will maintain a permanent drainage easement included in the agreements. In a July 14, 2026, letter to property owner Russell Warner of Kampsco LLC, Project Manager Caitlyn German stated the Kampeska Trail Phase 2B project will tentatively begin in spring 2027 and be completed shortly after it begins.
Voluntary Right-of-Way Donations and Property Agreements
The council packet includes voluntary right-of-way donation agreements with two property owners along South Lake Drive:
Parcel 1 — Loren Berg (7305 S. Lake Drive). Loren Berg signed a voluntary right-of-way donation agreement on Oct. 2, 2026, granting a temporary construction easement covering approximately 17,691 square feet. The affected property is legally described as Government Lot 6 less Outlot 1 and all of Government Lot 8 less Lot H3 and less Berg's Addition, Section 31, Township 117 North, Range 53 West of the 5th P.M., Codington County, South Dakota.
According to discussion records prepared by Senior Project Manager Kraig Engen of Infrastructure Design Group Inc., Berg met with project officials on Feb. 19, 2026, and Sept. 29, 2026. The notes state the construction project will include two rows of lilac bushes, 10 feet apart, shifted south, plus no parking and no dumping signs along his property. The record also notes that if the lot is ever subdivided, each lot could install driveway access off South Lake Drive.
Parcel 3 — Kampsco LLC (2817 15th Ave. SE): Warner signed an agreement on Sept. 17, 2026, donating both perpetual and temporary easements for $1 and other good and valuable consideration. The easements are located on Lots 1-4 of Mancell 2nd Addition and Lots 5A-5B of Mancell 3rd Addition, Section 31, Township 117 North, Range 53 West of the 5th P.M., Codington County, South Dakota.
According to German's letter and engineering exhibits prepared by Registered Land Surveyor Beau M. Koopal of Infrastructure Design Group Inc., the Kampsco LLC easements allow room to work, blend grades for the bike trail, and provide for a storm culvert extension. The easements include:
· A temporary construction easement of approximately 21,250 square feet, which remains in effect until one year after project construction is completed.
· A 20-foot permanent drainage easement in Lot 5A of Mancell Third Addition measuring 20 feet by 25.50 feet, encompassing approximately 510 square feet (0.01 acres). Construction easement tables also list a permanent drainage area of approximately 513 square feet between stations 68+67.24 and 68+87.24. Under the agreement, the donor shall not erect fences, structures, or obstacles within the perpetual easement.
Financial and Utility Considerations
The South Dakota Department of Transportation requires the right-of-way and utility certification documents as part of its review and check-offs for project funding.
Stager noted in the agenda memo that because adequate right-of-way exists today, the City of Watertown has no financial responsibilities associated with the right-of-way requirements of the certifications.
The utility certification acknowledges that the city, not the state, is responsible for moving or adjusting any public or private utilities that conflict with construction, at no cost to the state and without federal participation. According to the utility certificate, five utility companies were contacted regarding the project on Feb. 9, 2026:
· Watertown Municipal Utility
· SDN Communications
· Midco
· Lumen
· Bluepeak
City staff does not anticipate any utility relocation requirements. If any arise, the city will follow its right-of-way utility management process and notify the affected utility that, due to a public improvement project, the utility must relocate its infrastructure at its expense.
City staff recommends council approval of the right-of-way easement agreements and utility certifications.
