MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — The Mitchell City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reject plans for a new tornado shelter and restroom facility at Lake Mitchell Campground after rebid costs came in higher than available funding.
Council members Susan Tjarks, Tim Goldammer and Mike Bathke voted in favor of the project. Kevin McCardle, John Doescher, Jeff Smith and Dan Sabers voted against it. Council member Marty Barington was absent due to illness.
The low bid was $968,080. The city’s funding plan included about $594,769 from a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant and about $182,000 from campground funds, leaving an estimated shortfall of about $232,500 that could have required general fund support.
The proposed roughly 1,980-square-foot facility would have combined restrooms, showers and other amenities with space designed to shelter up to 158 people during severe weather. Mayor Jordan Hanson said the idea could return in a scaled-back form, such as remodeling existing restrooms or reducing the building’s size.