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TEGRA Group says Codington County jail is on track despite weather delays; topping‑out slated for Aug. 20
Summary
TEGRA Group project manager Tyler Klot told the Codington County Board of Commissioners the new jail is largely on schedule despite about 34 weather delay days; the guaranteed maximum price stands at $32.6 million and the project is roughly 32% billed through May 2026, with a tentative topping‑out ceremony Aug. 20 and substantial completion expected late summer 2027.
TEGRA Group representative Tyler Klot told the Codington County Board of Commissioners on July 14 that the county’s new jail remains largely on schedule despite weather‑related interruptions. He described Area A as awaiting precast and steel, Area B as fully enclosed with interior plumbing and ductwork being roughed in, and Area C (the sheriff’s office side) as finishing roofing and mechanical rough‑ins. "Right now, what it looks like though is late summer of 2027," Klot said, adding that the schedule already accounts for roughly 34 weather‑delay days.
Klot provided budget and progress figures: the project’s guaranteed maximum price (GMP) through May 2026 is $32,600,000; about $10.3 million had been billed through May (approximately 32% of billing). He said construction contingency use is currently at about 32% and owner contingency about 7%, with owner contingency intended for furniture, fixtures and equipment such as IT, signage and furnishings. "Once the building is fully enclosed, that's when a lot of the risk goes away," he said, noting an anticipated milestone of the building being fully enclosed in mid‑August and a tentative topping‑out ceremony on Aug. 20.
Board members pressed a few follow‑ups about the causes of delay and risk. Staff and Klot emphasized that the primary cause for recent schedule slips has been weather (wind and related safety concerns), not contractor performance: when conditions make lifting panels unsafe the crews must stand down, which is tracked as weather days in the project schedule. Klot said the payment/billing profile should taper after the building is enclosed as interior fit‑out continues.
Commissioners also raised site‑access and traffic questions tied to the new facility’s approaches off Highway 212. One commissioner said he has observed fast‑moving westbound traffic at the jail approach and suggested consideration of signage or a turn lane; staff said SDDOT has reviewed approaches and permits exist for options, and that the department prefers to wait for actual traffic counts once the facility opens before committing to changes.
Next steps include asbestos and finishing work inside the facility, continued tracking of weather days, and near‑term milestones (mid‑August enclosure and the tentative Aug. 20 topping‑out event). The board did not take any new funding action at this meeting; the update was informational.
