Watertown City Council Unanimously Approves Facilities Assessment Contract
- Steve Jurrens
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council unanimously approved a contract with Ameresco, a facilities consulting firm, for a comprehensive condition assessment of 16 city-owned buildings at its meeting tonight.
The contract, valued at $66,000, was the lowest bid received for the project, which had a budget of $100,000.
Councilman Dan Schutte inquired about whether this was the first of such contracts, to which City Manager Alan Stager responded that this is the first time the city has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of all its facilities, but it is not “uncommon.”
Councilman Brent Mohrmann expressed support for the study, noting the age of many city-owned buildings and the value of planning for future expenses. He stated the assessment would help the city avoid being "blindsided by suddenly a massive expense."
Councilman Michael Heuer inquired if there was a comparable company within the state that could complete the assessment, and Stager replied that there was one that bid, and it was nearly $100,000.
Mayor Ried Holien asked about the specific details of the inspections and the return on investment for the public. Stager clarified that the process will involve staff interviews, a review of building plans, and a physical walkthrough of each facility. The goal is to create a proactive strategy for future budgets, addressing issues before they become emergencies and helping the city determine whether to continue maintaining certain buildings in its portfolio. The full assessment is expected to be completed by May 2026.
The facilities to be assessed include City Hall, the Police and Fire Departments, Bramble Park Zoo Discovery Center, Prairie Lakes Ice Arena, and the Event Center, among others.
Councilman Kyle Peters was absent, but the vote was passed unanimously.
