Harrisburg City Council rejects proposed sewer connection for new state prison – Sioux Falls Live

HARRISBURG – The Harrisburg City Council voted unanimously Tuesday against connecting a new state prison to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The Justice Department had submitted a proposal to the city that included financial compensation. Lincoln County would forgive some of Harrisburg's debt and reduce residents' sewer bills. If approved, Harrisburg residents could have received a reduction of about $20 on their monthly water bills.

The state of South Dakota plans to build a new prison in Lincoln County on farmland south of Sioux Falls between Harrisburg and Canton. The proposal is facing strong opposition in the area surrounding the proposed site. While the issue of wastewater treatment by the Harrisburg system is not critical to the state's plans, it provided an opportunity for the group Neighbors Opposed to Prison Expansion (NOPE) to voice its opinion.

The proposed prison would house up to 1,200 male inmates and replace the aging state prison north of Sioux Falls, parts of which were built before the state was founded. Infrastructure and utilities were a major part of the debate over the location. The state has the option of using lagoons to treat wastewater instead of tapping into the Harrisburg system.

In the days leading up to the meeting, NOPE urged Harrisburg residents to voice their opinions, which drew a packed audience at Liberty Elementary School. Many citizens spoke during the meeting, voicing their concerns about declining property values ​​and inadequate infrastructure. Some residents said they chose to live in Harrisburg because of the small-town safety and argued that a prison nearby would detract from that quality.

Alex Sproul reminded council members of their past commitments and pointed to a news report in which the mayor stated, “We are doing everything we can to find out if there is a way to stop this.”

He called on the Council to remain true to its convictions.

“Stay strong. Vote no,” Sproul said.

Speakers included Lynette Johnson, the widow of Ron “RJ” Johnson, a corrections officer who was murdered in a botched prison break 13 years ago. Johnson made an emotional plea to the council to adjourn the discussion to conduct further investigation.

“Where this new prison is going to be built, there are overwhelming safety issues. The prison is the most unsafe place for inmates, correctional officers, nurses, food service; the place is a disaster. Please move this, please,” she said.

Ryan Brunner from Governor Kristi Noem's office advocated for the prison, stressing that a new facility was needed.

“The current prison was built in 1881. It is very old. It has exceeded its useful life and needs to be replaced so that we can create a safe environment for our staff and inmates and everyone who interacts with the prison system,” Brunner said.

He said the deal with Harrisburg involved more than just a one-time $7 million payment and indicated the city would continue to receive annual payments throughout the contract term.

“So this is a long-term investment in Harrisburg,” Brunner said, noting that the city currently uses only about 40 percent of its wastewater treatment capacity and the prison would only add another 17.5 percent.

Ultimately, the city council voted unanimously against approving the sewer connection from the planned prison to Harrisburg.

Mayor Derick Wenck thanked the community for their participation.

“That was tough,” Wenck said. “I've been up here for four years and that was probably the toughest thing I've ever seen.”

Jennifer Leither joined the Mitchell Republic in April 2024. She grew up in Sioux Falls, SD, where she attended Lincoln High School. She continued her education at South Dakota State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in journalism in December 2000. While in college, Leither worked as a reporter for the campus newspaper, The Collegian. She also interned at Anderson Publications in Canistota, SD in the summer of 2000. After graduating, Leither continued to live in the Sioux Falls area and worked as a freelance writer for the Argus Leader for several years.
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