Federal grant will pay most of Stone Church Bridge replacement; Yankton County faces roughly $1.4M local match

YANKTON COUNTY — County engineers and staff told the Yankton County Commission at its December meeting that the Stone Church Bridge, built in 1959, has significant bearing and abutment deterioration but no imminent failure, and that a federal grant and a low contractor bid have put replacement within reach.

Engineer Josh Prather of IMA Corp presented the county's 2025 bridge-inspection findings and read the low bids for replacing the Stone Church Bridge. "This year I only have to inspect the bridges that would be considered serious condition or, it would be, scour critical," Prather said, and later read the bid list, saying the low bid was about $7.5 million and was roughly $300,000 under the engineer's estimate.

The county's Mike (county staff) summarized the grant history and the local obligation: Yankton County received a federal construction placement grant for the Stone Church project but must provide a local match. "With the low bid being 7 and a half million, we're on the hook for 18.05 percent, which comes out to about $1,400,000," Mike said. He outlined options including taking a loan, reallocating STIP funds, or waiting for an available state 0 percent interest loan in 2027.

Residents and local officials who spoke during the public-comment period urged the commission to keep the Stone Church Bridge a top priority. "I just wanna make sure that we're still first on that list," said Jody Klute, who told commissioners the bridge links north and south Yankton County and that detours make emergency and school access difficult. Daryl Malhoff, mayor of Mineral, and area residents also stressed impacts on school buses, ambulance and fire service and farm access.

Kurt Ulmer, a Hutchinson County commissioner who spoke as a neighbor and farmer, urged the county to consider a road‑and‑bridge levy, describing his county's levy as a long-term funding stream that raises about $1.3–$1.4 million annually. "That tax is raising about 1.3 to $1,400,000 in our county," Ulmer said, and recommended Yankton County consider a similar dedicated revenue source.

Commissioners discussed possible near-term ways to cover the $1.4 million share if the county proceeds on the current schedule — cutting other highway projects, reallocating STIP funds, using contingency or general‑fund reserves, or pursuing a state loan in 2027. Chair and commissioners repeatedly said they would "find a way" to provide the local share but did not record a formal vote to appropriate the match during the meeting.

On timing, Prather reported recent DOT contact with the low bidder, GrandGuard, and said the contractor might start in January–February 2026 or in November 2026 depending on whether the contractor wins other work: "They're either gonna start in January, February '26 or November '26," he said. Prather estimated construction would take about a year, weather permitting.

The commission authorized staff to continue procurement and planning work and asked county staff to return with firm funding options. No formal appropriation of the local match was recorded; commissioners instructed staff to explore loans, STIP reallocations and other revenue options and to report back with recommendations.