Codington County commissioners received a sobering cost estimation during Tuesday morning’s meeting.

During his monthly report at Tuesday's commission meeting, Facilities Manager Steve Molengraaf gave a preliminary estimated cost of $3.5 million to replace failing heating and ventilation equipment at the county's detention center. The equipment includes chillers, boilers and items used by the jail and the courthouse.

Commissioners took the report under advisement, but took no immediate action on this topic, although they did approve a bid of $104,695 from Guaranty Roofing and Sheet Metal of Sioux Falls for replacement of the courthouse roof this summer.

Molengraaf, who oversees the county’s Memorial Park, also provided an update on camping reservations. He said there have been 306 online and 24 call-in reservations for camping at the park, which opens May 1. There have also been three cancellations. Molengraaf said he’s going to review the cost to campers who cancel reservations.

County Highway Superintendent Rick Hartley said the cold, windy and sometimes snowy spring weather have taken their toll on county roads. He said one road needed additional rip-rap protection from high waves caused by strong winds.

Most of the problems, however, have been to roads reconstructed late last year following wind tower construction. The lack of vegetation has led to extremely soft shoulders that could cause a vehicle using them to sink into the ditch, Hartley said.

One road that wasn’t rebuilt is 19th Street Northeast, which leads to the Watertown School District bus barn. Hartley described portions of the road near the bus barn as destroyed. He said the damaged areas will need to be excavated, refilled and repaved when the weather improves.

Hartley said frost remains under some roads, particularly the ones rebuilt last fall, resulting in uneven surfaces in some areas. Other roads are in need of repair to holes and cracks.