NEW: Watertown City Council takes key vote on potential new City Hall (Audio)

February 22, 2022
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–The Watertown City Council has decided to take the next step in renovating the former Wells Fargo Bank building downtown into a new City Hall.

The city bought the building for $1.3 million in November 2020, but since then, the building has set empty, with no renovations taking place.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the council voted 5-to-2 to go ahead and seek bids from construction companies on renovating the building.

Mayor Ried Holien voted “no”. He’s says he’s never looked at moving into a renovated bank building as a permanent, long term solution……

Councilman Mike Danforth says there’s no harm in seeking renovation bids, because if they’re too high, the council can reject them…

Councilman Bruce Buhler supports moving city operations into the former bank, but says delays in moving forward with renovation are costing the city money……

The conversation circled back to Danforth, who said the city should take a, “dual path” at this point, by seeking renovation bids for the bank building, but at the same time, keeping other options on the table……

Joining Holien in voting “no” on this issue was Councilman Colin Paulsen.