The Dell Rapids City Council met in session Monday, April 1st, and was faced with a full house of concerned citizens wanting to give their input on a couple of the items on the agenda. The first big splash dealt with the Chamber of Commerce request for an outdoor event permit for Quarry Days on June 21st. The permit request is for a ‘concert/entertainment’ to be held at the City Park band shelter with multiple musical groups performing. Members of the Chamber requested a time range from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am, but the council reduced those hours from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am after comments from the public regarding past events of this nature. Most of the concern from the public was on the ‘intoxicating behavior’ of some of the people once they leave the fenced in area. Chamber President, Katie Luttmann, said very tight volunteer control would be put in place to help prevent potential problems. The council did give their approval of this outdoor Quarry Days event. Big Sioux Media will be listing some of the local bands performing once contracts have been agreed upon by the Chamber committee and the groups.
The other topic that brought a lot of discussion and comments from local businesses regarded the ‘council’s passage’ at a previous meeting allowing the closure of the downtown area to parking and traffic for a movie production ‘without asking the opinions of the local businesses’. Dalton Coffey had previously asked and was granted permission for the filming of the downtown area with stores closed on Sunday, April 28th, and no parking in front of the stores. Several businesses objected to ‘how the request was made to the council and passed’ without the businesses knowing about that event permit. It has been determined that the Sunday closure date is now April 21st with the film makers needing to work around some of the businesses that will remain open, such as the movie theatre. The council will be writing a policy detailing the communication and responsibility of notifying businesses and residents of such permit requests before passing them.