Citizens strongly encouraged to contact legislators, GFP Commissioners and the Governor’s office to create an exit road to 485th & Garretson during the park’s expansion

by Garrick Moritz, Gazette

            Palisades Township had a special township meeting on Thursday, August 26 at the American Legion Post #23 dugout. At issue was the rebuilding of 485th Street, often referred to as the Palisade Park Road or the River Ridge Golf Course Road, which had received funding from the state legislature earlier this year. The bids received for the project put it almost $85,000 over initial estimates, and over the allotted amount that had initially been budgeted.

            A roll ledger of all registered voters and residents of the township that were present showed about thirty people attended the meeting, and they made it clear that the project should move ahead despite the shortfall.

            The people gave permission to the town board to move forward with loan financing if necessary. Meeting attendees also unanimously gave the go-ahead for the town board to pursue every possible avenue of approach to finding more funds to build the road up to the original specs, if possible, to create a “30-year road.” 

            In addition, the citizenry expressed a desire that during the new construction of the Palisades State Park expansion, when their new road is built, they would like to see a one lane exit road that connects to this newly rebuilt road.

            Oran Sorenson, current board chairman, opened the meeting with a recap of events, what the situation with the township road is, and what they have been working toward since their last special meeting. After the recap, Sorenson opened the floor to Tom Pischke, formerly the District 25 House of Representatives, now the Senator-elect for that same district.

            Pischke said the bill to fund fixing this road at the state legislature was a real Hail-Mary pass.

            “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “I feel like I did my job and tried to represent you all, but the bill was dead. It had been tabled until the day after the last scheduled day of the legislature, which effectively kills any bill that happens to. Suddenly however, just the next day, it got brought back to life, it came out of committee and was really happening. I’m still astonished when I think about it.”

            Jim Kurtz, who is the Palisades township treasurer, explained the nuts and bolts of the finances to the assembly. With the bids they had received, and even with the funding from the state, they were short on the project. For the specs they wanted, they simply couldn’t afford it. The initial specs included a 24 ft road (12ft per lane with 2ft of shoulder), a foot deep on concrete and 5 inches of asphalt. Even the low bid contractor was far too high, around $300,000 over budget.

            However, that contractor was willing to do a change of the specs at the same rates, to an 11ft lane with 1ft of shoulder and 4 inches of asphalt instead. With those modifications, the project would still be short $84,396.33. It was noted that the contractor in question had been very patient with the township’s reply as well, being extremely flexible and extending their deadline, waiting for the outcome of this meeting to keep the same bids.

            “Nobody anticipated what this rash of inflation would do to the costs of this project,” said Sorenson. “Thankfully, Craig Nussbaum, who’d had a lot of experience with the City of Garretson is on our board, and he’s worked with contractors and the bidding process for roads a lot over the years, so he included more money in the proposal from the legislature and helped us create a plan that was flexible enough to change as needed.”

            The township had several options, but they needed a mandate of the citizens to move forward on them.

            The main option, and the one chosen, was to have First Bank and Trust in Garretson give the township a loan on the amount.

            Kurtz said that with the income the Township is currently making with county monies from things like wheel taxes and license fees, revenue that has steadily increased over the last 6 to 8 years, he feels confident the township would easily be able to make the loan payments. He also pointed out that with cash reserves of the Township, they may be able to simply use their reserves to make that $84k. Kurtz was confident that a this could be done without necessitating a property tax increase for the average landowner.

            Kevin Nolz, who lives in Palisades Township, made the motion to give the township board the authority to borrow the remainder of the money if needed.

            “If it gets the project over the finish line and doesn’t raise our taxes, I’d say this is a no brainer,” he said.

            Chairman Sorenson pointed out that while many registered voters around the township were present, they must talk about the fairness of the issue.

            “Most of our roads in Palisade Township are not paved, and people have a right to ask why this is the special case,” Sorenson said.

            The debate around the room centered on the park and the golf course, and the new residences built along said road. This has, without question, added revenue and quality of life to the township. Everyone in the room was in favor of pursuing the options available and getting the project across the finish line.

            When the question was called, it was a unanimous vote by all present to give the township board the authority to borrow money to finish the project.

            Ryan Reker pointed out that he thought the original project specs would be better for the township as a whole. Debate and testimony on the floor were that, while the new specs would be adequate for a road that could last 20 years, they wanted the original specs to be met if possible, which would be a road potentially lasting for 30 years. They wanted the township board to pursue additional funding from any source possible. Reker made a motion for that resolution and the people unanimously voted for it as well.

            The soonest construction on the project could begin is in April of 2023.

            State Senator-elect Pischke also said he would make it a legislative priority for this coming session. Pischke felt that he could most certainly get the additional $84,000 through the legislature, as it was a project they had already approved of, and this would just finish the job.

            “The $84K is a drop in the bucket, and it would be an easy sell in Pierre,” he said. “We’d just be maintaining our obligations. Getting more money though, say the estimated 300k to get the project back to the original specs, might be a harder sell, but I will work on your behalf and do my best.”

            One other major item talked about was Palisades State Park. Luke Dreckman of Palisades State Park was there and the residents asked several questions of him.

            According to Dreckman, the park's expansion has been delayed and no new roads or new entrance is going to be built until 2024.

            Citizens asked Dreckman if the 485th St. entrance would be left open after that, and he said that no, as the plans are now, it would be closed. Questions were also asked about the Palisades bridge, and if vehicle traffic was being allowed on it. He responded that at this time it has been deemed unsafe, and is not being used.

            Sorenson and other citizens present asked Dreckman about the possibility creating a one-lane exit road from the park that would come onto 485th, which would give campers and visitors an almost direct exit to the city of Garretson. Dreckman said that was certainly a possibility. Everyone present agreed that it would be an excellent idea to do so, as that would give park visitors a direct artery to the nearest amenities provided by local businesses and vendors. They agreed that this would require action on their behalf as well, whether that be lobbying the state commissioners of S.D. Game Fish and Parks, the State Legislature, or the Governor’s Office. Sorenson collected email addresses and phone numbers of citizens who were willing to do so.

            The township board then voted to pursue the loan from First Bank & Trust in Garretson and to move forward with finishing the project.