Spearfish grows, struggles to expand infrastructure - KOTA Territory News

Spearfish grows, struggles to expand infrastructure

The town of Spearfish continues to expand, but can city leaders keep up?
 
A request for annexation into city limits has been submitted for a 160-acre area off exit 17,next to the Elkhorn Ridge campground.

Developers hope to erect 200 single family homes, a retail complex, and office parks, according to Jayna Watson, Spearfish City planner.

The proposed development would change the city's timeline for adding some much needed infrastructure upgrades to the area, and may not be the first project in line.
 
"We do have quite a bit of area to catch up on in terms of city services that are newly annexed areas, and I think that's really the key right there, how do we look at those newly annexed areas in priority as opposed to t his one," said Watson.

Watson says an industrial park area and large portions east of Evans road have recently been annexed into the town. Engineers with the Elkhorn Ridge development say not having infrastructure in place could slow development, whether or not the annexation is granted.

"Once development reaches a certain peak factor the water tower would need to be put in anyway, or the sanitary sewer would have to be put in as well," said Nick Hoffman, project manager with Interstate Engineering.
 
A comprehensive sewer line upgrade would cost the city roughly $8 million dollars. The next phase of the annexation will continue in the next month with public meetings.