With a couple of major projects in Ipswich finished or nearly complete, Ipswich city officials Monday told Rep. Kristi Noem what they would like to do next.
The Edmunds County town has plans to revamp its sewer system.
City councilman Mike Hammrich and Mayor LeRoy Kilber shared the details with Noem and told her they are likely to seek federal grants for the project that has an estimated cost of $3.5 million.
Federal grants helped with a recent drinking water project, which cost $5.1 million, Hammrich said. Of that, $3.2 million was paid for by grants, easing the local burden. The grant money also allowed the project to be completed over an 18-month stretch as opposed to being spread over years, he said.
The current sewer lines in Ipswich are 100 years old, said Kilber, explaining that sewage flows to lagoons southeast of town. When there's heavy rain, surrounding residents sometimes have to deal with sewage backup, he said.
City officials are meeting with the project architect Monday night. Before the job begins, a camera will be run through the sewer pipes to see the extent of work needed, according to Hammrich.
Some lines need to be completely replaced; others, will only need sleeves or other forms of rehabilitation, Kilber said.
One Ipswich project that's wrapping up is construction of a new high school, which Noem visited while she was in town. All of the classrooms in the new high school are finished, said Hammrich, explaining that work on the new gym and theater continue.
The cost of the project is about $7.5 million. The upgrade should be done by year's end.
It just makes sense to take care of underground projects, such as the sewer and drinking water systems, then focus on surface-level improvements, such as streets and roads, Hammrich said.
One street the city would like to improve is just south of the new high school. Kilber said the street is chip-sealed, but he'd like to see the stretch redone, including adding sewer and gutter.
Barb Gillick, a member of the city council, told Noem it would be nice to have a four-lane highway from Aberdeen, through Ipswich and to Mobridge. Mobridge has been pushing for that improvement to U.S. Highway 12 in recent years, Kilber said.
It can be hard to pass vehicles on the two-lane stretch portion of the highway, Gillick said. And, Kilber said, that can lead to a lot of accidents.
U.S. Highway 12 is four lanes from Summit to west of Aberdeen. From that point west, it's two lanes.
Hammrich said that extending the four-lane portion of the highway is not on the state Department of Transportation's five-year plan. Noem made no promises but said she'd look into the issue.