Sen. Perry tells Brown County Commission SB121 passed, secures $8.21 million for local project

Sen. Perry told the Brown County Commission on the public-comment portion of its meeting that SB121 passed the legislature and included $8,212,497 for a local project. He said the House vote was 61 to 3 with five members absent and the Senate vote was 28 to 2 with five absent. "SB121 did get passed," Perry said, and credited House lead Northrop and Senate colleagues Otten and Lapka for work on the conference committee.

Perry identified the local champions who helped secure funding and referenced Brock Greenfield and others who worked on related public-lands issues. He said the bill includes funding tied to a project with a completion target of 2028 and told commissioners, "sooner they get started, the sooner it gets done." The senator said the contractor chosen for the project is a company he identified as "the Journey" from the Sioux Falls area and that discussions included a possible 24/7 operation; he declined to answer technical or legal questions and deferred those to staff.

The commission’s chair thanked Perry for the update. Commissioners asked for a public briefing and the chair said Commissioner Greenfield and others involved in the project will give a more detailed timeline and facts at a special update planned for next Tuesday. That session, the chair said, will allow the public to hear the expected start date and other implementation details directly from project officials.

Why it matters: The funding described by Perry would cover a multi-year infrastructure project in Brown County, and local officials plan a follow-up briefing so residents can learn timing and next steps. No formal county action was taken on the funding at this meeting; the senator’s remarks were an informational update during public comment.