City’s closed bridge likely candidate for grant money for new structure

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Flandreau’s Crescent Street bridge likely would qualify for grant money from the state for replacing it because of its poor condition, an engineer told city council members March 19.

The city’s portion of the $2.2 million estimated project cost would be about $440,000, said Vanessa Victor with Infrastructure Design Group Inc. The cost to demolish it if it is not replaced would be $300,000, she said.

“Your bridge is not a prime candidate for rehabilitation. You have general overall deterioration,” she said.

Victor updated the city council and interested community members of the bridge’s status at a regular council meeting. The closed bridge connects the community with the Flandreau Indian School, one of the biggest employers in town. With the bridge out, employees and emergency vehicles drive to the north part of the community on Highway 13 instead.

“Make sure that you’re considering this bridge and the rest of your roads a vital asset to your community,” Victor said. “It is an important bridge for your community.”

In addition, closing the bridge to vehicles and foot traffic doesn’t exempt the city from safety concerns, she said. “If there is an accident on your bridge, you’re still liable.”

The application process for state funding for a replacement bridge is easy and based on a point system which estimates show that Flandreau’s bridge would qualify, she said. The city bridge was not selected as a recipient for a different grant in the past, even though it was a finalist.

Several citizens spoke in favor of replacing the bridge saying that because the bridge is out they have to walk their dog on the highway, which makes them uncomfortable; the bridge is important economically for Flandreau because of the connection to the Indian school; as it is now, there is graffiti being painted in the area because it isn’t monitored and it provides access to an important recreation area.

Scott Ramsdell said he bikes down by the bridge, and it’s a wonderful part of town. Replacing it might be a good investment and allow Flandreau to set itself apart from other communities, he said.

“That is part of the history of our town,” he said. “I don’t want to give it up. I don’t want to say no.”

Mayor Mark Bonrud said he would rather work on making the nearby dam safe because people have died there. The city plans to study whether to remove the dam. “The bridge never killed anyone.”

Sandy Orlick, who lives near the bridge, said the area looks uncared for, and there is graffiti on the barrier because there’s no traffic in the area anymore. “It looks neglected. It looks horrible.”

Jason Unger, who will join the city council to replace Ron Smith who chose not to run, said people in town have been talking about more recreation ties to the river as part of the Healthy Hometown evaluation and planning process going on in the community. “It sounds like it’s an investment,” he said.

In other business,

  • Council members heard results of a city salary survey based on similar communities in the area. The survey, completed by First Planning District of Watertown, showed Flandreau paid above average for its city administrator, parks and janitor positions, police officers and street maintenance employees, said Todd Kays, executive director of the organization. The rest of the jobs compared were below average when measured against other communities surveyed.

Communities surveyed included Baltic, Beresford, Dell Rapids, Elk Point, Harrisburg, Hartford, Hot Springs, Lennox, Milbank, Mobridge, North Sioux City, Sturgis, Tea and Volga. Some communities only answered select questions. The survey also looked at insurance, sick leave and holiday policies.

Flandreau has 21 employees, seven elected officials and 31 seasonal workers.

  • The council voted not to increase season pass prices for the Flandreau Aquatic Center because they were raised for the 2017 season. They also approved a $20 punch card to be used for 20 lap swimming or aquanastics classes. In addition, tribal members who have an individual pass paid for by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and would like to upgrade to a family membership can pay $53 if they live in town and $59 if they are non-residents. The individual amount plus the upgrade would equal the cost for a season pass for any pool patron.
  • The council approved the transfer of an on-sale and a package liquor license from the former BJs Fine Food & Spirits to Fajitas Bar and Grill, a Mexican restaurant set to open soon on Wind Street. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner and have a bar. The business’ partners, Nitza Rubenstein and German Hernandez, are finishing remodeling and redecorating the establishment before opening. They plan to have five big-screen televisions for customers to watch.
  • City Administrator Don Whitman swore in Karen Gundvaldson as city finance officer after council members approved her appointment. She had been interim finance officer after Tammy Pitsenberger resigned Feb. 22.
  • The city accepted the bid of $3,100 from Alison Grueb of Faith for the city’s surplus park mower. The city had set a minimum bid at $2,500, and Grueb was the only bidder.