County authorizes Banner Associates for bridge inspections; jail project reported ahead of schedule

The Codington County Commissioners voted Feb. 3 to hire Banner Associates to perform the county’s annual bridge inspections and received a progress report on the county jail construction project.

On the bridge inspection item, staff described the request as an annual contracting action and recommended Banner Associates continue as the county’s inspection contractor. A staff speaker explained inspection cadence: "most of them are on a 2 year cycle...some are on a 4 year cycle," and commissioners approved the resolution by voice vote.

Why it matters: annual inspections are a regulatory and safety requirement for maintaining county bridges; contracting decisions determine who performs technical inspections and the continuity of inspection records.

Commissioners also received an update on a separate infrastructure project (referred to in the meeting as the 14th Avenue work and related jail components). Project staff said the job is "ahead of schedule as of now," reporting removal of a coffer dam, placement of riprap, and that some sheet piles are being pulled. Staff relayed concerns raised by the Lake Capesco water project district about potential spring‑thaw water‑flow restrictions but said the schedule should keep work clear of those risks. "If there is an issue as far as ice melt and stuff like that, GrandGuard will mitigate it," a staff member said.

Staff reported the deck was scheduled to be poured April 1 and that panels produced at the precast factory looked good when commissioners toured the facility. The meeting record noted only a small pending change order concerning doorway widths, described in the packet as under $1,000.

Next steps: the county will execute the inspection contract with Banner Associates and continue monitoring the jail project schedule; the board moved into executive session later in the meeting to consult counsel on contract matters related to county projects.