Coding County group earns $100,000 grant to address substance use in the community

A surprise announcement highlighted Tuesday’s meeting of the Codington County Board of Commissioners.

Sara Foust, director of the county’s Community Services Office, said a team of six individuals had earned a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Program. Only 12 teams and 13 individuals throughout the U.S. had earned the grant, called Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions.

The grant’s purpose is to allow teams to develop innovative solutions to substance use and misuse in communities. The year-long project will allow the team to work with leading rural justice experts throughout the nation.

The Codington County team includes Foust, Circuit Court Judge Carmen Means, Human Service Agency Executive Director Kari Johnston, Prairie Lakes Healthcare Director of Emergency Services Monica Everson, Watertown Police Department Mental Health Officer Alexis Buysee and Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars Executive Director Stacy Hendricks.

Tuesday’s meeting lasted only 39 minutes as commissioners quickly moved through agenda items that needed little discussion.

Sheriff Brad Howell provided his February report, which included the smallest average daily membership, 46.48, of inmates at the county detention center in the past 13 months. The highest daily total was 53 and the lowest 39. Another 118 convicted individuals are not incarcerated but being monitored daily or weekly.

Howell said the number of out-of-county inmates has dropped, likely because of a $35 increase to $130 per inmate per day that other counties now pay to house their inmates at the Codington County Detention Center.

The Sheriff’s Office received 549 cases and calls last month and filed reports to the state on eight accidents. Howell said there were many other accidents but only eight required reports to the state. Deputies handed out 75 warrants and 282 civil papers.

Travis Gutzmer is the county’s school resource officer, a position created in recent months. Gutzmer has just started visiting the non-Watertown schools within the county.

Howell also said some deputies are undergoing training in the use of drones. The deputies are undertaking instruction from Lake Area Technical College.

Commissioners approved the purchase of Data Pilot software for the sheriff’s office. The software will be used to download information from department cellphones and laptop computers. The cost is $8,785 for a one-year subscription, but Howell said the county received a $3,440 one-year grant from Data Pilot and future subscriptions will be $2,000 per year.

In other actions the commissioners:

• Authorized Chairman Randy Schweer to sign a memorandum of understanding between the S.D. Housing Authority and county Community Services Office to allow the county office to become a coordinated entry system access point. In a meeting earlier this year, Foust explained the agreement will allow the county to research and provide applications to the state on individuals seeking state aid for housing.
• Approved Schweer to sign state Department of Transportation Certificates for the replacement of a bridge on County Road 20 (176th Street). The certificates are aimed at resolving issues with utility companies involved in construction.
• Approved Schweer to sign a joint powers agreement for the striping of paved roads in the county. The county will receive $14,000 in state funding.
• Approved a contract with the state DOT for spraying of weeds in 2024. The state will pay the county $31,395, a $6,000 increase compared to previous years.
• Approved the destruction of two printers and a computer located in the sheriff and register of deeds offices.
• Approved the sale of alcohol at an Aug. 24 wedding at the county Extension Building. Cloud 9 of Watertown will provide and sell the alcohol.
• The commissioners also noted that all county offices will be closed for Good Friday and Easter Monday.

— J.T. Fey is a freelance reporter for the Watertown Public Opinion.