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Codington County approves bid advertising and testing contract as jail project advances
Summary
On Aug. 5 the Codington County Commission authorized advertising bid package 2 for the new jail, accepted a proposal for construction materials testing and discussed project financing and a groundbreaking scheduled for Aug. 18.
Codington County Commissioners on Aug. 5 authorized advertising for bid package 2 of the county's new jail project and approved hiring a firm to perform construction materials testing and special inspections, steps officials said are needed before the county proceeds with the next construction phase.
The commission voted to advertise bid package 2 after a motion from Commissioner Gable and a second from Commissioner Schwere; the motion carried on a voice vote. Commissioner Gable said the advertised package covers the interior and remaining trade work following the earlier site-and-envelope package. "This is basically the rest of everything, so all the details," Gable said before making the motion.
Consultants on the project said a separate agreement for special inspections and materials testing was needed to monitor excavations, concrete, soils and other work on-site. Tyler Klett, who identified himself as a consultant with TEGRA (listed in meeting materials), recommended GeoTech’s proposal based on experience on a similar county project and on Geotech’s knowledge of the schedule and testing needs. "We felt very strongly that this was a a good partner," Klett said.
The commission approved the testing agreement following a motion by Commissioner Gable and a second by Commissioner Schwere. Commissioners were directed to the proposal packet; during the meeting staff and commissioners referenced a cost range listed in the packet for the testing work.
County staff and consultants also reviewed the project budget and schedule. Project documents presented at the meeting show a projected overall project cost of about $17,370,000. Officials said a combination of voter-approved bond funds and county reserves will cover the county share; Colliers (bond advisers working with county staff) has been advising on the bond process. Commissioners noted that some construction payments will fall in 2025 and some in 2026 and possibly later depending on schedule. The county plans to levy for taxes for 2026 toward the project financing.
County staff announced a groundbreaking for the jail project scheduled for Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. No specific public parking plan was finalized during the meeting; commissioners asked that organizers make parking and traffic guidance clear and avoid parking along the highway.
Actions taken at the Aug. 5 meeting were procedural approvals to move the project forward; commissioners and consultants emphasized that final contract awards and detailed scope decisions will follow the competitive procurement and CMAR (construction manager at risk) coordination.
