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New Home Numbers Rise in 2021 in Dell Rapids

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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.

Dell Rapids City Council Approves New Liquor License Ordinance

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The Dell Rapids City Council approved the second reading of a new restaurant liquor license ordinance during their regular meeting on Monday, December 6th.  The council approved the new ordinance, Ordinance 903, unanimously.

This ordinance is a specific license that will allow new restaurants in Dell Rapids to be able to serve alcohol, provided they are approved for the license, as long as the total gross sales of alcohol does not exceed 40% of total revenue.  The ordinance requires that all holders of this new license submit an annual financial report to the city proving they meet the 40% criteria.

This ordinance only includes “full-service restaurants”.  The ordinance defines such a business as one in which a waiter or waitress delivers food and drink offered from a printed food menu to patrons at a table, booth, or bar area.  The business shall have a dining room(s), a kitchen, and the number and kinds of employees necessary for preparing, cooking, and serving of meals.  Any restaurant that only serves fry food orders or foods such as sandwiches, hamburgers, or salads would not be considered as “full-service”.

The reason this ordinance was proposed and approved is because the city is limited to the number of liquor licenses according to state statute based on the population of Dell Rapids.  All available licenses the city has are currently issued.  This ordinance will allow the city flexibility offer this new type of liquor license to a new restaurant.

City Reports Strong Use of Campground in 2021

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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 Free Rubble Site Days Announced for Fall

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DellRapidsTowerThe Dell Rapids City Council approved three “Free Rubble Site Days” for the upcoming fall season.  The three days will be October 30th (Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM), November 4th (Thursday, 1 PM to 6 PM), and November 6th (Saturday 9AM to 4PM).

A free technology drop off day will not be held this fall.  A technology drop off day is being planned for the spring of 2022.

There is still a $10.00 fee for appliances.

As a reminder the rubble site is licensed by the State of South Dakota and is restricted to trees, branches, untreated wood, construction and demolition debris, sheet rock, plaster, concrete, carpet, furniture, mattresses, grass, yard and garden waste and leaves, and large household appliances. Fees are enforced by volume and type of material.  This is for Dell Rapids residents only that live within city limits.

Unaccepted items include household waste, cardboard, plastic (of any kind), small electric appliances (TVs, stereo equipment, microwaves), toys, bikes with tires, shingles, asbestos, tires, hazardous materials, and fiberglass.

Please visit the Rubble Site page for a list of accepted materials.

Dell Rapids Economy Remains Strong in 2021

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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.

Library Continues Big Presence in Dell Rapids

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Dell Rapids Carnegie Library Director Brittany Moeller provided the Dell Rapids City Council an update on the operations for 2021.  The update was given on Monday, August 16th.

The Summer Reading Program recently ended, and 650 people took part in the program this year.  Last year’s summer reading program had a total of 305 people, but there were many changes due to Covid restrictions last year.

“Everyone was really excited to be back and back in the library and have normal programs.  That was really fun to see,” Moeller.

The library also held six programs throughout the week, with an occasional seventh program,  throughout the summer.  A total of 1,313 people attend those programs.  As of August 5th, the library has issued 55 new library cards for a total of 141 people.

Moeller also shared one of the biggest successes from 2020.  Despite not being open for in-person programming due to Covid, the library was still able to run a total of 1,149 programs reaching 5,129 people.  Most of that was through all of their video and social media programming.  Moeller mentioned they not only reached people locally, but also connected with people from across the country in states such at Texas, Kansas, Maine, and Minnesota.

Unlicensed Drivers on Golf Carts Causing Potential Issue on Dell Rapids Streets?

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A report was given to the Dell Rapids City Council by City Administrator Justin Weiland during the regular meeting on Monday, June 7th that there have been a couple of instances in the last couple of years of serious accidents with golf carts with unlicensed under-aged drivers.

“I just felt that this has reached a critical point.  It has been brought to my attention in the past,” said Weiland.  “The number of complaints that have come my way, come city hall’s way, in the last two years regarding the use of golf carts on city streets, and mainly a problem with younger age kids that aren’t licensed drivers driving golf carts on city streets”.

The city council passed a golf cart ordinance a number of years ago that allows for the use of golf carts on city streets.  Carts need to be licensed with the city every year for $5.00, and that allows for the use of the carts on city streets.

The city council discussed a couple of directions to remind golf cart owners they need to license the cart with the city and to make sure the drivers have a valid driver’s license.  One idea was potentially having a letter or flyer describing the golf cart regulations emphasizing a licensed driver rule.  Another idea is to amend the current ordinance that might include stiffer penalties to dis-incentivize underage driving of golf carts.

The biggest thing the city is trying to do is create awareness of the issue that will hopefully end the trend of unlicensed drivers operating golf carts before a major tragedy happens.

Phase 2 of SE Infrastructure Project to Begin Soon

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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.

Wenzel Officially Joins Dell Rapids City Council

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Newly elected council member Marlana Wenzel officially joined the Dell Rapids City Council as the new council was called to order on Monday, May 3rd.

Wenzel was the only new member of the council that was elected during the April 13th election.  She replaces Robert Mier in Ward 4.  The current members of the council are Gary Haak and Bill Schmidt from Ward 1, Mark Crisp and Barry Berg from Ward 2, Mike Geraets and Chad Ronshaugen from Ward 3, and James Borchert and Marlana Wenzel from Ward 4.

Haak was nominated and elected as the President of the council.  Schmidt was nominated and elected as the Vice President.  Committee appointments are as follows:

  • Finance and Utilities Committee:  Berg, Crisp, Haak, Ronshaugen
  • Policy and Procedure Committee:  Borchert, Schmidt, Wenzel
  • Surplus Property Appraisal Committee:  Entire Council
  • Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA):  Ronshaugen
  • Dell Rapids Economic Development Corporation:   Geraets
  • Library Board Liaison:  Wenzel
  • Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce Board Liaison:  Mayor Earley

Dell Rapids City Council Will Welcome One New Member

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The City of Dell Rapids held an election on Tuesday, April 13th for two of the five spots that were up for election this year.

Only Wards 3 and 4 needed an election with one than more petition filed back in mid February.

Incumbent Chard Ronshaugen won the vote in Ward 3 by a 74-48 margin over Stephanie Deuter.  Ronshaugen will serve another three-year team on the council.

Challenger Marlana Wenzel defeated incumbent Robert Mier by a 25-20 vote and will be a new member to the council representing Ward 4 for the next three years.

These results are unofficial until the Dell Rapids City Council canvasses the election during their next regular meeting on Monday, April 19th. 

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