Moody County Sheriff Troy Wellman is proposing that a bridge in the county be renamed to honor a deputy who was killed several years ago while on duty.
Based on a citizen recommendation, he asked Moody County commissioners Nov. 7 to support an effort to ask the state Department of Transportation to change the name of the Big Sioux River Bridge on Interstate 29 north of the Flandreau exit to the Bill Davis Bridge. The bridge crosses the river between mile markers 124 and 125.
Because the bridge is on a state road, the county is putting together a resolution asking for the change. A decision would be up to the state.
Davis, a long-time county deputy, responded to a weather-related accident 14 years ago on the interstate and while outside of his patrol car, was struck by another vehicle that lost control.
Local citizen Tony Firman was in the emergency room when Davis was brought in the night of the crash. It’s something he will never forget, he said.
Renaming the bridge in Davis’ honor shows that the community appreciates all that first responders do to help citizens, Firman said.
“This is who we are. This is what we do. These are the people we count on every day,” he said.
Wellman said if the change is approved, he hopes the state will waive a $600 fee that typically accompanies a name change to pay for new signage. Wellman plans to submit the application along with a supporting resolution from the county as soon as paperwork is ready.
In other business:
Wellman got commission permission to buy new software for the county’s dispatch system from Zuercher Technology in Sioux Falls. Initially, the new program would cost about $6,500, but the county would save money in the long run with a smaller annual maintenance fee. The expense will come out of the sheriff’s office budget, and the system, which will allow for better dispatch coordination, could be in place by early next year.
Commissioners recommended the Wellman wait until next year to possibly buy and insure a drone. The drone would be used for county emergency personnel business, and could help in search and rescue efforts, fires, search warrants and standoffs, for example, he said.
Commissioners discussed how to proceed on a complaint that cattle got out by Egan a year ago because they were spooked by the testing of emergency sirens. Wellman said it is important to regularly test the sirens to make sure the batteries are working and that they are ready in an emergency weather situation.
The county plans to continue to test the sirens. Commissioners decided to wait on any other changes until it’s determined whether the National Weather Service will require a mandatory testing time.
Commissioners approved the hire of Susan Brende as librarian at the Colman branch. She started last week. In addition, the library hours will remain the same except for Wednesdays when the branch will change hours to be open from 2 to 7 p.m. September through May.
