TEA, S.D. – The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System’s Board of Directors awarded a $103,669,000 contract to PKG of Fargo for the third and final phase of its water treatment plant near Vermillion, SD.

This phase is needed for the full buildout of the plant which will ultimately provide the 20 member cities and rural water systems with their combined reserved capacity of 44.19 million gallons a day.

Executive Director Troy Larson said this is the largest contract Lewis & Clark has ever awarded. Phase 2 of the treatment plant, which was awarded in 2009 had a price tag of $66.6 million.

The bid opening was held on March 21. PKG’s base bid to complete the Base System portion of the plant was $85,462,100. An $18,206,900 bid alternate for a second three million gallon clearwell was also awarded, which is part of an expansion to bring the system up to 60 million gallons per day.

Non-federal funds will be used for the clearwell portion of the project.

Construction is expected to begin this spring.

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sioux Falls resident James Kooima, 46, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with eight counts of child pornography following an investigation that began with a cyber tip received by a detective on Jan. 29.

The tip, from the National Center for Exploited & Missing Children, led to the discovery of a Snapchat account allegedly used to send or receive child pornography images.

Kooima was arrested at his residence on E. Benson Road and is expected to appear in court on Thursday.

Further charges are possible as the investigation continues.

 

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Black Hills Forest Service officials hope a change in dispersed and developed camping will lead to more opportunities for travelers.

The move will cut the time before you can return to camp in the forest in half.

Currently, those who camp in the Black Hills National Forest outside of a developed campground are allowed to stay in the forest for 14 days within a 60-day period. While the days do not have to be consecutive, campers could have to wait a month and a half before technically being allowed to return.

The rule dates back to 1998.

A new rule change for dispersed camping would allow a 14-day stay within a 30-day period.

Bradley Block, recreation program manager with the Black Hills National Forest, said the change will put Black Hills Forest policy in line with most National Forests and Grasslands in the Rocky Mountain region.

“It makes things consistent,” Block said. “From a government standpoint, as people are travelling, vacationing, going from one place to another, when they show up at one location—an agency site—and it has a policy in place that differs from, in essence, the same agency, but just over the border, it causes some confusion.”

The new rule will also apply to those staying at developed forest service campgrounds. The current limit is no more than 13 days, only.

That means RVers can move from one developed Black Hills Forest Service campground to the next.

Block said updating the rule to 14 days within a 30-day window of time makes it consistent with dispersed camping.

“So it’s easier to explain. It’s easier to respond to questions. But at the same time, it allows people to move out of the developed campgrounds to go someplace else,” Block said. “Which, then opens up the campgrounds to other users who may not have access to that site.”

Block said campers at developed sites will have to move off the forest and to a private or state park campground.

Officials hope to complete the rule change in time for the busy tourism season.

 

DES MOINE, IA – Iowa landowners are waiting to find out if the company building a carbon sequestration pipeline has the authority to force access onto their property.

Summit carbon solutions wants the pipeline to take carbon from ethanol plants and store it underground out of state. Thursday, nearly all representatives voted to give landowners more clarity on the use of eminent domain.State Rep. Charley Thomson of Charles City said, “Land is the original asset in Iowa. It’s in our souls. An unjust taking of land without remedy is not only irritating, it’s outrageous.

Republican lawmakers in the Iowa House say Summit Carbon Solutions’ request to use eminent domain to built a nearly 700 mile pipeline through 29 counties is unconstitutional, saying the project doesn’t benefit the public. State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton said, “Government does not exist to make the confiscation of private property easier for you. Government does not exist to make the confiscation of private property more financially advantageous for you.”

A bill passed by the Iowa House Thursday would allow both landowners and pipeline companies to petition the court to ask whether the land being taken is constitutional and the project would exist for the public’s benefit. State Rep. Steve Holt of Denison said, “This legislation simply allows both landowners and companies the opportunity to have a declaratory judgment upfront on the constitutionality of an eminent domain request before precious time and money are wasted.”

Hearings at the Iowa Utilities Board ended in November, and landowners are still waiting to hear what will happen with their land. Since then, affected landowners have been a constant force at the state capitol nearly every day asking lawmakers to do something. State Rep. Steve Holt of Denison says the bill will ease their frustration. “So that you will not spend years in frustration and limbo pleading and spending your hard earned money to protect your fundamental right of private property The bill now goes to the Iowa Senate, who has yet to take up any eminent domain bills passed this session or last year’s.

Governor Kim Reynolds has never publicly stated her position on the pipelines, however she appointed the three board members of the IUB.