Commissioners authorize liaison and chair to approve urgent jail construction changes up to $100,000; formal resolution to follow

At its Oct. 14 meeting the Codington County Board of Commissioners approved two actions to keep the county’s new jail construction moving when time‑sensitive issues arise.

First, the board voted to authorize the chair to sign a construction directive to address additional hydrant valves the city required during the jail build. The authorization was made by motion of Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Gable; the motion carried.

County commissioners then considered a broader request from the county’s owner’s representative, TEGRA, to designate an on‑call decisionmaker for routine and urgent construction items that otherwise could delay work. Strasberg, identified as a TEGRA representative, described the need: “This is one where the city is requiring some additional valves...we need an immediate action on this...we don’t know the cost on it yet because it hasn’t been priced to keep construction going,” and added that such actions are typically reserved for circumstances that would otherwise hold up the project. Strasberg said in other counties the board had authorized a designee with authority up to $100,000.

Commissioner Johnson moved to authorize a commissioner liaison for the jail project — with the board chair as an alternate — to provisionally approve future design and construction changes when it is not practical to wait for the next scheduled commissioners meeting, and to set a $100,000 limit on that delegated authority. Commissioner Gable seconded the motion; the motion carried. The board directed staff to draft and present a formal resolution for adoption at next week’s meeting to memorialize the delegation.

The board emphasized that larger or significant changes would still be returned to the full board and that the liaison is expected to keep the commissioners abreast of provisional approvals. Commissioners also discussed customary practice in other counties and said that in cases under the dollar threshold, routine items would be handled by the liaison while substantial items would be brought to the full board. No specific expenditures were reported at the meeting; staff said cost estimates will be provided when available.