City OKs West Dam construction bid

By this time next year, West Dam will be full once more.
The Custer City Council, at its Dec. 1 meeting, unanimously approved accepting the low bid of $1,945,566.87 from RCS Construction of Rapid City for phase three of the West Dam project, which is the actual construction of the dam itself. Once the dam is reconstructed—work is expected to begin in the spring and be completed by the fall—the reservoir will fill again, completing an arduous journey that has spanned 14 years, four mayors and countless hours of work and headaches.
“We are happy with where we are,” said Mike Tennyson, leader of the ad hoc West Dam Committee that has worked to raise funding for dam reconstruction. “We got a really good bid from a really good company to do the dam construction.”
The committee has worked to raise $1.7 million this year, which, when combined with in-kind work donations, $1 million in city funds and some expected other funding, allows the city to move ahead with the third phase of the project, which is by far the most expensive of the three phases. The first phase saw diversion of water from the reservoir and storm water pollution prevention at a cost of $99,435, while the second phase, the mass excavation that is ongoing, came in at $575,150.
“(Phase three) is going to complete the project in its entirety so we can put water back in it,” Tennyson said.
Tennyson said the committee is now looking ahead, and with fundraising still taking place, funds still coming in and some surplus funds already in hand, it would like to focus on developing the area between Wazi Lane and the dam.
Tennyson went over a list of possible projects in what would be considered phase four of the overall project, some of which are required by grants the committee has applied for successfully. Among the required projects are a trail north of the dam leading to the Gates Park baseball field, fishing docks and habitat and donor benches and wall.
Among the other projects potentially in phase four are mass grading for a future park, utility extensions, sports courts—including pickleball, basketball and soccer—walking paths, parking lots, restrooms and storage, playgrounds, interpretive kiosks, picnic shelters, landscaping and gardens, irrigation and a rebuild of Wazi Lane. All told, the projected cost is around $2,917,000, to be paid for through a variety of raised funds, grants and possible city funding.
“We are hoping the pickleball enthusiasts will open their checkbooks and write some checks to support those particular features,” Tennyson said.
Additional parking in the area would be welcome, Tennyson said, pointing to when the golf course hosts cross country events as an example of when extra parking is needed. Wazi Lane will need some work once all the heavy truck traffic from the project is done traversing it, Tennyson said, and state Game, Fish & Parks (GFP), which has pledged $402,000 to the project for the fishing docks and habitats, will take care of the placing of the fish habitat so that fish can spawn.
The committee hopes to receive as much as $750,000 in grant money from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which would help fund a butterfly park and other features, and a future pledge from the city could push the fourth phase past the finish line.
“This is pretty remarkable what has been happening and what we are looking at,” alderwoman Nina Nielsen said of the committee’s work.
“Thank you for your guys’ efforts,” alderman Todd Pechota said.
Committee member Jim Ashmore said the committee was not done.
“We’ve come a long way in 12 months. We just have to look at the spreadsheet and you can see how far we’ve come in 12 months and the effort everyone has put in,” Ashmore said, adding GFP didn’t have interest in the project unless the community got behind the effort. “The city, committee and everybody involved has shown that, and it snowballed from there. It’s a good thing.”
Tennyson said the focus of those who currently sit on the committee has been on the dam, but the community fund the money is parked in through the Black Hills Community Foundation could serve as a vessel for future projects such as Harbach Park, the community center, etc.
At the same time, Rocky Knolls Golf Course has embarked on a separate fundraising campaign that could see half a million dollars raised to improve the course and clubhouse.
“It shows what you can do when you work together,” alderwoman Jeannie Fischer said.
The council formally accepted the RCS Construction bid to rebuild the dam, with Steve Bareis of RESPEC Engineering saying the project should be completed by next September.
The council tabled a $200,000 request from RESPEC for phase three construction services, including construction administration, observation, testing, etc.