City of Dell Rapids Archives

Slurry Seal Project Starting Soon in Dell Rapids

June 30, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The City of Dell Rapids has scheduled to have several city streets have a slurry seal applied. Slurry seal is similar to chip sealing as it maintains and protects streets to extend the expected life of the street. It’s a 1/2 inch layer applied on top of the existing asphalt surface by a paver and is a mixture of asphalt oil, small rock, and other additives.

During the slurry seal surfacing, there will be no vehicle traffic and no parking on the street until it has cured. Curing time is approximately four-to-six hours.

The contractors are tentatively planning to begin the project on Thursday, July 8th. The exact date(s) they will be working on the impacted streets will depend on the weather. Residents of each street will be notified with a door hanger the day before the operation is scheduled to begin.

Phase 2 of SE Infrastructure Project to Begin Soon

May 21, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The second phase of the SE Infrastructure Project in Dell Rapids will be starting soon. During the Dell Rapids City Council regular meeting on Monday, May 17th, it was reported to the council that a pre-construction meeting was to be held on Wednesday, May 19th.

Once the finalized project schedule is completed, it will be shared with the affected property owners.

The plan is to start right away with Iowa Avenue and 6th Street in the coming weeks. The 5th Street portion of the project will be held until sometime in July. The city is anticipating that tree removal should occur within the next week and the demolition of 6th Street will start to occur prior to June 1st.

Discussion and Plans in the Works for Community Center in Dell Rapids

March 11, 2021 by Tammy Chamley, Dells City Journal

**Check out this week’s (March 13th, 2021) Dells City Journal for more details on this story**

Dell Rapids continues to grow and flourish with population, new businesses and so much more. Something that has been missing from our town is a community center for all to enjoy. From basketball and volleyball tournaments to batting cages or the simplicity of safe walking in winter months, the possibilities are endless.

At a recent City Council meeting, discussion was brought to the table by a group of residents ready to help make a community center a reality for Dell Rapids. Lee Bollock addressed the Council with introduction of the plans for the future community center. Bollock, along with his wife Brittani, have lived in Dell Rapids for seven years and are active in the community being on the Connections Charitable Board and Lee is an active member of the Dell Rapids School Board. “Since we have lived here, and talking with others that have lived here, this has been a topic of conversation ongoing for at least the past decade if not longer,” Bollock expressed to the Council. “Maybe part of the reason this has never come to fruition is that we haven’t had the community backing it enough and being active in the process. That is what our committee intends to do, work with City Council and the community to drive this thing home.”

The Dells City Journal will continue to follow the process of the project. To show your support for the community center, reach out to your Alderman for your designated ward or express your support at upcoming council meetings. With community support, this plan can become a reality. “The more engagement and the more push we have from the public, the more successful we will be,” Bollock concluded.

City of Dell Rapids Proclaims Dan Ahlers Day of Appreciation

February 22, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley and the City of Dell Rapids made a proclamation that Monday, February 22nd was Dan Ahlers Day of Appreciation. Mayor Earley made the proclamation during the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on Sunday, February 21st.

Ahlers made the announcement during the banquet that he was stepping down as president of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce after over twelve years serving on the chamber.

“Tonight the city wants to recognize Dan for the work that he has done. His involvement in Quarry Days is a great example. I did not realize how much stuff has to happen and be done, preparations in such detail, and Dan was right in the middle. And if it wasn’t for the work Dan has done and the other people he’s got to support him, a lot of these things wouldn’t have happened,” said Mayor Earley.

Mayor Earley presented Ahlers with the framed proclamation in appreciation for his service to the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

Final Sales Tax Numbers Show 10% Increase in 2020 for Dell Rapids

February 7, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council heard the final 2020 sales tax numbers during their regular meeting on Monday, February 1st. The December 2020 numbers were 22% higher than December 2019.

Total sales tax collected in December was $120,207.00. With that number, every month but February and March saw over $100,000 in sales tax revenues for the city.

“Just taking into factor the affect the pandemic had and how it was kind of the opposite affect that was expected when we first got into the thing,” said City Administrator Justin Weiland.

The total sales tax revenue for Dell Rapids in 2020 was $1,362,405.82. That is a 10.1% increase from 2019, which had $1,237,139.75 in total sales tax revenue.

Sales tax revenue was not the only increase the city of Dell Rapids saw. Alcohol sales were up 20% from 2019.

Dell Rapids Water/Sewer Bill Could Increase

January 26, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The water/sewer bill in Dell Rapids looks to be heading for an increase in the near future. The Dell Rapids City Council, during the last regular meeting on Tuesday, January 19th, approved the first readings of Ordinances 890, 891, and 892 which are related to surcharges and rate adjustments to cover costs for the 6th Street Water Project that is planned to being this spring.

Ordinance 890 is a Waste Water Surcharge. This ordinance will implement a surcharge of $5.85 per customer.

Ordinance 891 is a Waste Water Rate Adjustment. This ordinance will change the base rate charge as well as the per 1,000 gallon rate. Currently the base rate is $16.90, and this ordinance will lower that base rate to $16.00. The current per 1,000 gallon rate is $5.78. The ordinance will lower that rate to $4.82.

For an average 5,000 gallon user, the cost would change from the current $61.60 to $61.75, a 0.2% increase. These values include the base rate, per 1,000 gallon rate, and existing and new surcharges.

Ordinance 892 will be implementing a $2.70 per customer to fund the drinking. water bond for the 6th Street project.

With the three new proposed ordinances and the water and sewer rates are added together, for an average 5,000 gallon user, the current cost of $103.80 will increase to $106.65, which is an increase of 2.7%.

“I think it’s important to let our citizens know that we appreciate their support in the fact that through paying their water and sewer bills, they are making it possible for us to do these improvements,” said Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley.

The second reading of the ordinances will be held on the first council meeting in February on Monday, February 1st. If the ordinances pass the second reading, they will take effect on April 20th, and customers will see it on their May 1st bill. The new charges would be assessed for water/sewer usage for March 20th through April 20th.

Building Permit Valuations up in 2020 for Dell Rapids

January 15, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The final numbers for building permits in 2020 for the City of Dell Rapids were presented to the Dell Rapids City Council during their last regular meeting. The numbers for 2020 surpassed the numbers from 2019.

The total valuation for 2020 was $7,238,823. That was a big increase from 2019, which saw a valuation of just over $4 million. There were 10 new homes built in 2020, one new four-plex, and one new two-plex. There were 12 new homes built in 2019 and 17 new homes in 2018.

Dell Rapids did not have any large scale commercial projects in 2020, but the Dell Rapids public school had over $2.5 million improvements done to the inside of the building.

“We’re looking good going into 2021. In the last year there was the acquisition of property north of 15th street, so you know we’ve got future residential multi-family and single-family homes that will be slated for building in the future,” said City Administrator Justin Weiland during the council meeting.

City of Dell Rapids Sets Sales Tax Income Record

December 27, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Even though the 2020 year has yet to come to an end, the city of Dell Rapids has already set a record for sales tax revenue during the year. The latest sales tax revenue figures through the end of November were reported at the Dell Rapids City Council’s regular meeting on Monday, December 21st.

“We had a little dip in November, not too bad though,” said Justin Weiland. The month of November showed a sales tax revenue of just under $105,000, which is down 2.74% compared to November 2019. However, the total for 2020 is just over $1.24 million which is still up 9.1% when compared to the same time frame in 2019.

“Hopefully December’s comes in strong, and we can be between 8-10% category for the year increase which is far in excess of the 30% loss we were talking about when COVID hit. The state was telling us to prepare for,” added Weiland.

The total of $1,242,135.82 collected so far in 2020 already surpasses the total collected for all of 2019 and is the highest amount ever collected in Dell Rapids.

Economy Continues to Stay Strong in Dell Rapids

August 25, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The economy in Dell Rapids has continued to be strong through the 2020 year. Justin Weiland, Dell Rapids City Administrator, reported another increase in sales tax revenues for the month of July during the Dell Rapids City Council’s last meeting on Monday, August 17th.

The month of July saw a 19.36% increase in 2020 from 2019. It was the fourth straight month, and fifth overall, of sales tax revenue having an increase this year from last year.

“We’re continuing to see those numbers stay steady. August…we’ll see how August comes in, but doesn’t seem like anything’s going to change on that front,” said Weiland.

Through the month of July of 2020, the city has seen a 10.72% increase in revenue versus the same time period from last year, which is an increase of just over $76,000.

Sales Tax Revenue Continues to Rise in Dell Rapids in 2020

July 28, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids reported a 2.1% increase in sales tax revenue through the month of May in 2020 when compared to the same time period in 2019, but the month of June provided an even bigger boost to the City of Dell Rapids.

“We are showing a 9.2% increase total for the year of 2020 compared to six months in as of June 2019. The months of April, May, and June have all been exceedingly higher than normal,” said City Administrator Justin Weiland at the last Dell Rapids City Council meeting.

The month of June saw almost a 30% increase compared to the month of June in 2019. Sales tax revenue in the month totaled $124,396.22. That is the highest collected amount since the months of July and August of 2017. It was also the third straight month of over $100,000 in collected sales tax and fourth month overall in 2020.

The city has collected just over $55,000 more in the first half of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019.

Please follow & like us