Watertown Council Members Urge Road Repairs Around Lake Kampeska

Left to Right - Council members Lynn Jurrens, Kyle Peters, Mayor Ried Holien, Brent Mohrmann, Dan Schutte, and Doug Allen

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Following discussions on park drainage, members of the Watertown City Council turned their attention to the deteriorating state of roads surrounding Lake Kampeska during the meeting on January 5, 2026.

Focus on South Lake Drive

Councilman Kyle Peters initiated the discussion, highlighting the poor conditions along South Lake Drive near the City Park.

“That is in really bad shape,” Peters noted, emphasizing the need to prioritize the area. “The economic impact we get from those campers, I think, is important just to showcase the lake.”

Widespread Lake Road Concerns

The call for action was echoed by other councilmembers who noted that the issues extend beyond just the south side of the lake:

·        North Lake Drive: Councilman Michael Heuer reported receiving numerous comments from residents on the north side of the lake regarding the road status.

·        A “Cruise around the Lake”: Councilman Lynn Jurrens supported the calls for prioritization, noting that the lake loop is a popular route for both visitors and local residents.

·        Underlying Infrastructure: Jurrens suggested that the “flume ride” effect felt by drivers is largely due to past water main replacements and “bad construction” dating back to the 1970s.

Call for Public Project Transparency

Heuer requested that the City Engineering Department provide a comprehensive “road status look” to determine how the lake roads compare to other city projects. He suggested that making the current project list and prioritization rankings available to the public would help address the frequent questions council members receive from frustrated drivers.

City Manager Alan Stager later noted in his report that a report on future road construction projects within the city will soon be released to the public.