City of Dell Rapids Archives

New Home Numbers Rise in 2021 in Dell Rapids

January 6, 2022 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The final numbers for new homes and total building permit values in Dell Rapids were reported during the latest regular city council meeting on Monday, January 3rd. Dell Rapids had 17 new homes built in 2021, which is up from 10 in 2020 and 12 in 2019. The city also had one new commercial building in the Industrial Park in 2021.

Even though new home numbers increased, the total building permit value total for 2021 was down just slightly in 2021 from 2020. The city had a total of $6,715.992.36 in building permit value in 2021 compared to $7,238,823 in 2020. The $6.7 million, however, is still higher than the values reported in 2018 ($6.2 million) and 2019 ($4.09 million).

The council has yet to hear to final sales tax total for 2021. The latest report included through the month of November, and numbers were trending to show have an increase in 2021.

City of Dell Rapids Enters Partnership with Sioux Metro Growth Alliance for Economic Development Management Service

December 23, 2021 by Submitted

DELL RAPIDS, SOUTH DAKOTA – The Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA) is excited to partner with the city of Dell Rapids for the SMGA Economic Development management Service (EDMS). Under the service, participating communities receive direct support from an economic development professional and the whole SMGA team. The EDMS is intended to help provide additional expertise to growing communities that have historically relied on volunteers or small municipal staffs to encourage growth. Each community receives between 16 and 20 hours per week of direct work from an SMGA economic development specialist as well as continued support and expertise from the whole SMGA staff.

City staff in Dell Rapids, including city administrator Justin Weiland, looks forward to future opportunities for economic development as the Sioux Metro continues to grow. “The community of Dell Rapids will continue to grow because of our proximity to the explosive growth of the Sioux Falls metro. SMGA’s EDMS program is an opportunity for our community to provide the direct focus towards economic development that we have been seeking. It allows our community to further professionalize our on going efforts towards improving our local economy. We also anticipate that having an individual dedicated to economic development will help to enhance and clarify a community conversation focused on what type of growth we want for our community.”

Jesse Fonkert

The Dell Rapids Economic Development Corporation currently helps to attract and support local businesses as well as creating and promoting the Fiegen Development Park. With an economic development group already in place and helping the community, the SMGA Economic Development Management Service will help further the agenda of the current economic development leaders in town in addition to bringing new ideas and insights to the table.

“Dell Rapids is ripe for further development” said SMGA President and CEO Jesse Fonkert. “The Dell Rapids Economic Development Corporation and the City of Dell Rapids have been proactive in their economic development efforts. We’re excited to start working there with the EDMS in January to complement their hard work and help as requested.”

Dell Rapids is the fourth community to utilize the EDMS; Lennox and Baltic began working with the SMGA in May and August 2021 respectively. Salem will also begin with the service in January. Ryan Solberg, Economic Development Specialist at SMGA, is the staff person currently working with Lennox and Baltic and Sheldon Jensen, the newest addition to the SMGA staff, will begin working in Salem and Dell Rapids in January 2022.

Sheldon Jensen

The SMGA welcomes the continued growth and trust in our organization and Jensen and is very excited to take a direct role in working with Dell Rapids to help the city achieve their economic development goals. “Dell Rapids is an exciting community to be a part of in the Sioux Metro. I am excited to work alongside passionate community and civic leaders to further grow the city in quality-of-life aspects to further attract residents and businesses.”

About Sioux Metro Growth Alliance

The SMGA is a non-profit economic development organization that improves the economy and advocates for business development and greater quality of life across the Sioux Falls area. Formed recently as a merger between the Lincoln and Minnehaha County Economic Development Associations, the SMGA serves fifteen member communities, three counties, and a variety of investors from across the Sioux Falls MSA to help create vibrant communities which provide rewarding places to live and work.

City Reports Strong Use of Campground in 2021

November 18, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

City officials reported strong use of the Dell Rapids City Campground in 2021 during the most recent regular meeting of the Dell Rapids City Council on Monday, November 16th. The campground was flooded in 2019 and closed for construction in 2020.

The city added 14 full service campsites and also a shower comfort station facility. Campground reservations were also moved to an online system. The report also mentioned the online reservation system worked really well and saved many hours of City staff time dealing with answering questions, processing payments, and tracking reservation.

For the 2021 camping season, the city collected $35,200 in fees. The average revenue that was generated by the campground for the years of 2015 through 2018 was approximately $12,500.

Dell Rapids Economy Remains Strong in 2021

October 6, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

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Spending in Dell Rapids has remained strong in 2021. The Dell Rapids City Council received a sales tax revenue report during their regular meeting on Monday, October 4th. The report shows an increase in spending through the month of August compared to the same time frame in 2020.

“If you look at the month of July compared to last year, what a difference,” said Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley. “Thanks to everybody for shopping local.”

The month of July in 2021 had an 18.84% increase in sales tax revenue compared to July in 2020. Over the eight-month reporting period, revenue is up 6.1% for an increase of $58,320.30 from last year at this time. The city has collected just over $950,000 in sales tax through the month of August.

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.

About Sioux Metro Growth Alliance

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