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Johnson Tours Yankton’s Future
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| U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), left, fields questions from reporters following Tuesday’s economic development tour of Yankton with a ride over the nearly-completed Discovery Bridge. (KELLY HERTZ/P&D) |
BY RANDY DOCKENDORF
randy.dockendorf@yankton.net
On Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson rode as one of the first passengers on the nearly-completed Discovery Bridge connecting him to Nebraska.
And for the next hour, the South Dakota Democrat took an economic-development tour connecting him to Yankton’s future.
Johnson visited Yankton as part of his 19-city tour across South Dakota during the congressional recess. During the local visit, business and government leaders provided a tour of local projects.
The first stop took Johnson across the Discovery Bridge, which is slated for completion next month. He was greeted by curious looks from construction workers who have seen limited traffic on the new bridge.
“This is Yankton’s signature,” Johnson said, referring to the 1924 Meridian Bridge and now the Discovery Bridge.
Johnson holds more than a passing interest in the project. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the senator has helped secure more than $11 million for the Discovery Bridge replacement project.
“We have waited a long time for the opening of the Discovery Bridge, and it’s a further step for the community and for other area towns,” he said.
As the van moved forward, Discovery Bridge construction manager Bob Wiebelhaus said the bridge remains on schedule for its Oct. 11 ribbon cutting. “We’re not sure if there will be normal traffic at that time, but it will be close,” he said.
Johnson noted the Discovery Bridge will become the third new Missouri River bridge in a decade — with all three lying within about a 60-mile span. The Chief Standing Bear Memorial Bridge linking Running Water and Niobrara, Neb. lies to the west, while the Vermillion- Newcastle, Neb., bridge lies to the east.
“Having three bridges in that short of a span is just phenomenal,” Wiebelhaus said.
After Wiebelhaus was dropped off, the tour resumed with a swing through downtown Yankton.
Allen Sinclair, chairman of the Yankton County Commission, pointed out the new Public Safety Center.
“It has 42 beds compared to the former 20 beds (in the county jail),” he said. “This was built to federal standards. It serves Yankton County as well as local communities that don’t have jails.”
Yankton County voters approved a bond issue for the Safety Center with a 62 percent majority, Sinclair said. “The citizens of Yankton County saw the need and got behind it,” he said.
Sinclair also explained the tremendous growth along Lewis and Clark Lake west of Yankton. The area has about 5,000 residents, and the county is working on infrastructure needs, such as roads, water and sewer, he said.
As the tour continued, executive director Josh Svatos explained the impact of the Regional Technical Education Center (RTEC) located in northwest Yankton.
“We are creating opportunities for people to take classes while they work,” he said. “They earn their degree, so they can get higher wages and more benefits.”
This year alone, RTEC trained 71 welders through its basic welding and skill upgrade courses. In addition, RTEC has trained 12 CNC (computer numeric controlled) machinists in conjunction with Northeast Community College (NECC) of Norfolk, Neb.
“There is a labor shortage of welders,” Svatos said. “We graduated 11 students, and 10 of the 11 have been placed in jobs.”
Yankton County has a 3 percent jobless rate, but the region could easily absorb new companies and workers, Svatos said.
Johnson noted the unique local workforce need. “Yankton has low unemployment but high under-employment,” he said.
Svatos asked if federal funds were available for RTEC programs. “We are moving into robotics, and it’s not cheap to start it,” he said.
The tour continued with Mayor Dan Specht, City Manager Doug Russell and Yankton economic development director Mike Dellinger.
Russell pointed out the usage of the airport and its services. Johnson asked about possible upgrades to the terminal, which could attract more planes and usage.
Dellinger compared Yankton to his former home in Indiana. The two areas are similar not only in landscape but in economy and future goals, he said. Yankton has the ability to combine quality of life with new jobs, expanding its labor force of 6,800, he said.
Specht pointed to the Fox Run housing development in northwest Yankton, then residential growth on the east side of town. “We average 50 to 60 building permits a year (for single-family housing),” the mayor said.
The greater Yankton area has 20,000 residents and a workforce area of 90,000 residents, Specht said.
The key to continued growth will be adequate infrastructure, the mayor said. “Water is a big thing to the community. We have water and wastewater needs,” he said.
Looking at Yankton’s broad-based economy, Johnson noted the community should weather economic storms.
“I’m so impressed with the bridge, RTEC and the improvements downtown,” he said. “Yankton is well developed. If there is a factory or other business that is failing, Yankton will not go down. It will stay strong.”
As the tour ended, Johnson spoke of his plans Friday to tour and attend the dedication of the Sanford School of Medicine’s Lee Building on the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion.
Johnson said he has worked to secure funding for the medical school, which will benefit Yankton and the rest of the state.
Johnson, a Vermillion native, said he and his wife, Barb — who was also on Tuesday’s tour — enjoy visits to Yankton.
“It’s like coming home when I go to Yankton,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite places, along with Vermillion.”
And for the next hour, the South Dakota Democrat took an economic-development tour connecting him to Yankton’s future.
Johnson visited Yankton as part of his 19-city tour across South Dakota during the congressional recess. During the local visit, business and government leaders provided a tour of local projects.
The first stop took Johnson across the Discovery Bridge, which is slated for completion next month. He was greeted by curious looks from construction workers who have seen limited traffic on the new bridge.
“This is Yankton’s signature,” Johnson said, referring to the 1924 Meridian Bridge and now the Discovery Bridge.
Johnson holds more than a passing interest in the project. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the senator has helped secure more than $11 million for the Discovery Bridge replacement project.
“We have waited a long time for the opening of the Discovery Bridge, and it’s a further step for the community and for other area towns,” he said.
As the van moved forward, Discovery Bridge construction manager Bob Wiebelhaus said the bridge remains on schedule for its Oct. 11 ribbon cutting. “We’re not sure if there will be normal traffic at that time, but it will be close,” he said.
Johnson noted the Discovery Bridge will become the third new Missouri River bridge in a decade — with all three lying within about a 60-mile span. The Chief Standing Bear Memorial Bridge linking Running Water and Niobrara, Neb. lies to the west, while the Vermillion- Newcastle, Neb., bridge lies to the east.
“Having three bridges in that short of a span is just phenomenal,” Wiebelhaus said.
After Wiebelhaus was dropped off, the tour resumed with a swing through downtown Yankton.
Allen Sinclair, chairman of the Yankton County Commission, pointed out the new Public Safety Center.
“It has 42 beds compared to the former 20 beds (in the county jail),” he said. “This was built to federal standards. It serves Yankton County as well as local communities that don’t have jails.”
Yankton County voters approved a bond issue for the Safety Center with a 62 percent majority, Sinclair said. “The citizens of Yankton County saw the need and got behind it,” he said.
Sinclair also explained the tremendous growth along Lewis and Clark Lake west of Yankton. The area has about 5,000 residents, and the county is working on infrastructure needs, such as roads, water and sewer, he said.
As the tour continued, executive director Josh Svatos explained the impact of the Regional Technical Education Center (RTEC) located in northwest Yankton.
“We are creating opportunities for people to take classes while they work,” he said. “They earn their degree, so they can get higher wages and more benefits.”
This year alone, RTEC trained 71 welders through its basic welding and skill upgrade courses. In addition, RTEC has trained 12 CNC (computer numeric controlled) machinists in conjunction with Northeast Community College (NECC) of Norfolk, Neb.
“There is a labor shortage of welders,” Svatos said. “We graduated 11 students, and 10 of the 11 have been placed in jobs.”
Yankton County has a 3 percent jobless rate, but the region could easily absorb new companies and workers, Svatos said.
Johnson noted the unique local workforce need. “Yankton has low unemployment but high under-employment,” he said.
Svatos asked if federal funds were available for RTEC programs. “We are moving into robotics, and it’s not cheap to start it,” he said.
The tour continued with Mayor Dan Specht, City Manager Doug Russell and Yankton economic development director Mike Dellinger.
Russell pointed out the usage of the airport and its services. Johnson asked about possible upgrades to the terminal, which could attract more planes and usage.
Dellinger compared Yankton to his former home in Indiana. The two areas are similar not only in landscape but in economy and future goals, he said. Yankton has the ability to combine quality of life with new jobs, expanding its labor force of 6,800, he said.
Specht pointed to the Fox Run housing development in northwest Yankton, then residential growth on the east side of town. “We average 50 to 60 building permits a year (for single-family housing),” the mayor said.
The greater Yankton area has 20,000 residents and a workforce area of 90,000 residents, Specht said.
The key to continued growth will be adequate infrastructure, the mayor said. “Water is a big thing to the community. We have water and wastewater needs,” he said.
Looking at Yankton’s broad-based economy, Johnson noted the community should weather economic storms.
“I’m so impressed with the bridge, RTEC and the improvements downtown,” he said. “Yankton is well developed. If there is a factory or other business that is failing, Yankton will not go down. It will stay strong.”
As the tour ended, Johnson spoke of his plans Friday to tour and attend the dedication of the Sanford School of Medicine’s Lee Building on the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion.
Johnson said he has worked to secure funding for the medical school, which will benefit Yankton and the rest of the state.
Johnson, a Vermillion native, said he and his wife, Barb — who was also on Tuesday’s tour — enjoy visits to Yankton.
“It’s like coming home when I go to Yankton,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite places, along with Vermillion.”
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