Clay County commissioners table river-access planning after federal funding update

Clay County commissioners on April 21 debated whether to ask Federal Highways to obligate previously awarded planning funds for river-access projects and then voted to table the item until the next meeting.

The county’s lead commissioner summarized recent communication with Jill Locken at Federal Highways, saying county staff had been told funds could be transferred to South Dakota and obligated for local planning work. “She also noted that the funds don't need to be used by the end of the fiscal year,” the commissioner said in the meeting transcript, adding that some proposal deadlines in the county RFP were flexible.

Why it matters: the roughly $250,000 federal planning award (the transcript refers to the “flat funds” grant) would let the county study four possible projects without spending local property tax dollars up front. The projects identified in the RFP included: adding a boat launch on the county line, improvements at Myron Grove boat launch and public access, improvements across Clay County Park (including natural-area considerations), and studying a bike route in existing rights-of-way from Vermillion to Lake County.

Commissioners and members of the public described mixed community reaction. One commissioner said public meetings and written comments showed majority support for planning work if it centered on safety and public input; another commissioner and multiple members of the public expressed concern that the RFP and subsequent planning could lead toward permanent trail construction or easement requests that landowners oppose. One resident called the project a “want, not a need” and questioned whether easements could be obtained.

County staff said that if funds were obligated into South Dakota’s coffers the county could then invite the five proposers who previously responded to the RFP to indicate whether they would revise timelines and still pursue the study. The staff member who presented the item told the commission the RFP capped eligible reimbursement at about $250,000 and emphasized the county would not commit local property tax dollars to build projects; planning could, however, create a document for state partners to use when seeking construction funds.

After extended discussion, commissioners made a procedural motion to table the item to the next meeting so a full commission could consider whether to request obligation of the federal funds. The motion carried.

What’s next: The county will revisit the question at the next regular meeting; staff proposed contacting the five prior proposers to see if they remain interested and to give them an opportunity to revise timelines if funding is secured in-state.