Monroe Deifendorf, Jr., chief executive officer for Argonne Trust Company, traveled to Dell Rapids to ask the Dell Rapids City Council to reconsider the failed motion of Zoning Ordinance 789, which would have allowed Argonne Trust Company to apply for a conditional-use permit to operate out of the building located at 503 E 6th Street.  Deifendorf sent a letter to the council asking for reconsideration.  In the letter Deifendorf stated that he believes his company should and would align with the citizens of Dell Rapids.

Zoning Ordinance 789 would have given the council the ability to grant a conditional-use permit to a business to use a church building as an office.  However, the council did not pass that ordinance by a vote of five to three.

The building Argonne Trust Company purchased in 2013 was built in 1905 and was home to Dell Rapids’ Episcopal Church until 1985.  The structure has been a residential home until the Argonne Trust Company purchased the building.

After discussion during the council meeting on Tuesday, February 18th, the council voted against the re-consideration of Zoning Ordinance 789.  The motion passed on a six-to-two vote.  Council members Chad Andrews and Mike Geraets voted in favor.

The discussion can be seen on the archive of the council meeting.  The discussion starts around the 56:25 mark of the video and ends at the 1:48:00 mark.