Dell Rapids City Council Archives - Page 11 of 20 - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Election Day Set for April 12

January 10, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The City of Dell Rapids and the Dell Rapids School District will have a joint election on Tuesday, April 12th. The election will take place at the Dell Rapids Lutheran Church.

The Dell Rapids School District election will be for three vacancies on the Dell Rapids School Board that will come open this summer. The Dell Rapids City Council election will be for five vacancies. Ward 1 will have one open spot, Ward 2 will fill two open spots. Wards 3 and 4 will also each have an open spot. Circulation of nominating petitions for City Council may begin on January 29th. Petitions must be filed at City Hall no later than February 26th.

City Council Makes Recommendation for 10th Street Project Assessments

December 27, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council made a recommendation for potential property-owner assessments for the 10th Street Improvement project. The project will improve the street between Orchard Hills and Iowa Ave as well as utilities, drainage, sidewalk, driveway approaches, and retaining walls. The project is estimated to cost around $1.05 million.

The city received a grant from the Department of Transportation in the amount of $400,000 for the project. The Dell Rapids City Council discussed different options for assessments to fund the cost of the project during it’s regular meeting on Monday, December 21st.

Dell Rapids resident Terrance Nemec was in attendance at the meeting and spoke against the assessment. He said, “The presence of that section of 10^th street does virtually nothing for those property owners. They get virtually nothing out of having that street there. If anything if I was one of those property owners, I wouldn’t want it to go through because it’s going to be such a busy street. They don’t gain enough value in this process to warrant any assessment to them. If there is any benefit to that street, it’s to the City of Dell Rapids, the citizens of Dell Rapids, not to those property owners. So we as citizens of Dell Rapids have a responsibility to pay for that street. Let’s not expect them to pay our bill. I encourage the council to not place any assessment on these property owners.”

City Councilman Mark Crisp noted, “The land to the south side of 10^th street…is prime development land, and also to the east of Orchard Hills, there’s more developable land. So you think the taxpayers should pay for that, and not the developers? Then I would say turn the clock back to 15^th street. There was some haggling and negotiating back and forth, and we came to a compromise. Did I want that street? No. Did I want the assessment? No. But I was a developer along that, and for the future for the City of Dell Rapids, we came to an agreement and the street was put in. It is no different than this situation right here. Do I think the full assessment should probably be put on the owners? No, but I think the fairest to the taxpayers would be the second option.”

The second option discussed by the council is to apply the $400,000 DOT grant to the cost of the project, which will cover 38% of the total cost. The remaining amount of the project would then be assessed to the property owners along the street.

The roll-call vote passed unanimously for this option as the recommendation from the council to move forward on the assessment of the project.

Waste Water Rates Set to Increase in Dell Rapids

December 13, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The waste water rates in Dell Rapids are set to increase. The Dell Rapids City Council approved a 20% increase in the sewer rates for the 2016 adopted budget. The rate increase is to help with costs for the waste water treatment facility project.

Ordinance 827 had its first reading during the latest city council meeting held on Monday, December 7th. The proposed increases are as follows:

Base rate will increase from $15.25 to $18.34.
Per 1,000 gallons rate will increase from $4.22 to $5.06.
Total increase for 5,000 gallon user will be $7.26 per month.

This proposed increase will be the first increase of a total increase that will be phased-in to cover the costs of the new treatment facility. The total increase will not be known until the final funding package for the waste water treatment facility is received from DENR.

Councilman Gary Haak motioned to approve this increase. Councilman David Sommerfeld seconded, and the motion passed.

Rezone Ordinance 822 Going to Public Vote

December 13, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The citizens of Dell Rapids will get to decide if Ordinance 822 will be approved or rejected. Referendum petitions were submitted to City Hall to put the ordinance to a public vote. On October 19th the ordinance passed the second reading to rezone 608 E 6th Street from R2 to B2.

The Dell Rapids City Council voted to accept the petitions during their regular meeting on Monday, December 7th. The motion carried which meant the decision of this ordinance would go to a public vote. Councilman Mark Crisp then made a motion to set the date of the vote to coincide with the Municipal Election, which is being held on April 12th, 2016. Councilman David Sommerfeld seconded the motion, and the motion carried.

Water Deposit Increase Proposed by Council

November 30, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council passed the first reading of Ordinance 825, Water Utility Deposit Increase, at their last regular meeting held on Monday, November 16th. The ordinance proposed will raise the deposit required for water utility from $50.00 to $125.00 for renters.

City Administrator Justin Weiland said, “The council had discussion at the previous meeting regarding this issue, and it was the vocal consensus that the council was to raise it to that rate. This was spurred when council member (Lee) Burggraff brought up the issue between owners of the property and their renters, and leaving them with past due water bills.”

The $50.00 deposit rate has been in place since 1999. If the council passes the second reading of the ordinance, the new rate will go into effect on January 4th, 2016.

Rezone Request Passes Second Reading Again

October 24, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council passed the second reading of Ordinance 822, Rezone Request for 608 E 6th St from R2 to B2, during their regular meeting on Monday, October 19th. This is the second time a rezone request for this piece of property has passed a second reading. The first time was in February when the request came to the council as Ordinance 816. The rezone never took place as residents near the property obtained enough signatures to keep the rezone from taking place.

This city ordinance was again met by opposition by neighboring property owners. Michael Carpenter voiced his concerns to the council about rezoning the property to B2. He also mentioned that the last time this came up to the council, those opposing the rezone received more than enough signatures to keep the rezone from happening.

Carpenter said, “It doesn’t matter the number of people that come into the room against it, it doesn’t feel like our voices are being heard. I have petitions here from the last time of 238 residents in Dell Rapids that don’t want this rezoned. Not me, not my neighbors. We got the percentage we needed of the 250 ft around the neighborhood. We also went out and got 238 registered voters in the city of Dell Rapids to say no to this, which is over and beyond what was required by that petition, and we didn’t even petition the whole town. My question is, ‘How many people does it take before you guys listen to them?”

City Councilman Tom Earley responded, “All we are going to do is follow what the zoning laws say should do. It’s up to this board to act in the manner they think is right, the action they feel is correct. You guys also have the right to follow suit as the zoning laws allow you to. And I would hope that whatever does transpire will happen in a respectable way. There’s a difference of opinion, and that’s great. That’s what democracy is all about. … I think we need to be responsible to the intent and act in good faith of the zoning laws. We have that responsibility to Mr. Roemen, and we have that responsibility to you guys. ”

Blain Beck and Chad Andrews also spoke against the rezoning of this property. Paul Roemen briefly spoke in favor of rezoning. After the discussions finished, City Councilman Lee Burggraff made a motion to approve the second reading of the ordinance. The motion was seconded by City Councilman Mike Geraets. The motion passed by a vote of 6-2. Councilmen Mike Sterud and Mary Klockman voted nay.

Even though the council passed the second reading, residents will once again have an opportunity to stop the rezone from happening. If 40% of the property owners within 250 feet of the property are opposed, they can bring a protest to the council.

City Council Decides on Engineering Firm for Waste Water Project

August 24, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

After a month-long battle, the Dell Rapids City Council finalized the engineer firm for the design of the new waste water treatment facility project during their regular meeting on Monday, August 17th.

Stockwell Engineers was first assigned to the project, however, during the city council meeting on July 20th, the Dell Rapids City Council voted to enter into a contract with DGR due to concerns of lack of experience with SAGR systems by Stockwell Engineers. Jon Brown from Stockwell Engineers asked the council to reconsider their decision during the council’s meeting on August 1st.

Before discussions began during the latest meeting, City Administrator Justin Weiland said, “My recommendation to the council is to stay with DGR. It’s in the best interest of the community to hire the firm that has the most qualifications and expertise. In this specific area of engineering…DGR has the experience doing that. They have a facility online that is a SAGR system, and they have designed multiple mechanical plants.”

Both Brown and Trent Bruce with DGR then fielded questions from the council members. They both answered questions on the background, experience, and the team of engineers that would be completing the design for this project.

After both firms finished answering questions, City Councilman Mark Crisp said, “At this point, we started with Stockwell Engineers. After the conversation that you and I had, Trent, you gave me confidence that I was making the right decision by letting Stockwell Engineers continue on with our waste water treatment facility plan. I still stand with that, and I feel re-assured that you feel confident that Stockwell can do it.”

Crisp then made the motion to back out of the contract with DGR and enter into a contract with Stockwell Engineers. Councilman Lee Burggraff seconded the motion. The roll call vote was split down the middle with Crisp, Burggraff, Mike Geraets, and Paul Miles voting in favor of Stockwell Engineers. Mike Sterud, Mary Klockman, Gary Haak, and David Sommerfeld voted nay.

Mayor Scott Fiegen broke the tie by voting in favor of staying with DGR, saying, “So based on the decision that the council made before and the contract we’re already in, my vote would be for DGR.”

Slide the City Vote Taken off Agenda

July 7, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo: www.slidethecity.com

Slide the City submitted an application for an outdoor permit which was to be heard by the Dell Rapids City Council during their regular meeting on Monday, July 7th.

The event permit was being requested for Saturday, August 22nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The 1,000 ft water slide was asked to be set up on Iowa Ave from 9th St to 5th St. The event would have also had live music and food for all ages.

However, during the city council meeting, City Administrator Justin Weiland noted that the event permit was pulled from the city earlier in the day. The Dell Rapids City Council did not have the opportunity to vote on the permit.

According to Slide the City organizers, they pulled the application to try to get the event set up in Sioux Falls in 2016.

Dell Rapids was the third location that Slide the City had explored in the area for this summer. Sioux Falls and Brandon had also been explored as possible locations prior to Dell Rapids.

Rickeman Field Grandstand Replacement Reconsidered

June 16, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

After no action was taken on the Rickeman Field grandstand replacement project during the June 1st meeting, the Dell Rapids City Council voted to submit the project for bidding after hearing from Dell Rapids Baseball Association board members during their regular meeting on Monday, June 15th.

Several members of the DRBA spoke in favor of replacing the grandstand in hopes of having the council change their mind on the project. DRBA board member Bruce Mogen mentioned that the grandstand has been in place since the early 1960s, and the north side addition has been in place since the late 1960s.

Mogan said, “Two questions I kept hearing about…’Does Rickeman Field get used?’ I know between two amateur teams, a legion team…four teener teams…we have somewhere between 50 t0 60 baseball games during the summer. We also host many tournaments. Second question is, ‘Is there value?’ I think the value is again for the fans. All those people that come to town, they spend their money at our businesses.”

Councilman Mike Geraets thought another project should be done first before replacing the grandstand. “There are some repairs that need to be done (to the grandstand). But it’s still useable to me. It looks like we need to update our comfort station, and we have the ability to do that now that we have the sewer across the river.”

Councilman David Sommerfeld agreed that a comfort station is needed, but felt the grandstand should come first. “I agree with Mike that we need a comfort station, but I think right now we need to take care of the bleachers. One thing is our insurance company doesn’t like it. This has been talked about with our insurance company for the last three to four years.”

City Administrator Justin Weiland mentioned to the council that the grandstand has been brought up to the city by the insurance company for the last nine to ten years. Recommendations were made to do a structural report on the grandstand dating back to 2006.

Seating capacity for the new grandstand would be estimated at around 175 with four handicap accessible spots in the front. The current grandstand currently is estimated to hold 250 people including the north stand.

“We are talking about replacing just the main section of the grandstand, not the north/south piece. That can go away until we have a future need, and I don’t think we will see that for a while,” said Clarence Fjellanger.

DRBA board member LeAnn Kerzman added, “One little thing to consider too, we used to take a stipend for the DRBA, and we quit doing that a few years ago. And that’s when we started doing the improvements in the rest of the parks…We did give up our annual request in order to see budget improvements to the park capital assets.”

Sommerfeld motioned to put the Rickeman Field grandstand project out for bid. Mary Klockman seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6-1.

New City Council Members Take Office

May 11, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The new members of the Dell Rapids City Council took office on Monday, May 4th, during the council’s regular meeting. Mike Sterud is representing Ward 3, replacing Craig Lauritzen. Mary Klockman is representing Ward 4, replacing Chad Andrews. David Sommerfeld was re-elected in Ward 1, and Paul Miles was re-elected in Ward 2.

Mayor Scott Fiegen recognized Lauritzen and Andrews for their service on city council before the new council commenced.

Along with the new members of the council taking office, committees were also determined during the meeting. Mark Crisp was nominated as President, and Miles was nominated as Vice President. Sommerfeld, Crisp and Miles will serve on the Finance and Utilities Committee. Sterud, Gary Haak, and Lee Burggraff will serve on the Policies and Procedures Committee. Mike Geraets will serve as Minnehaha County Economic Development Association/Dell Rapids Economic Development Corporation liaison. Mary Klockman will serve as Library Board liaison.

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