Dell Rapids City Council Archives - Page 3 of 20 - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

City of Dell Rapids Planning for Spring Flooding

February 29, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

With the City of Dell Rapids having gone through two major floods in 2019 and the prediction of more flooding possible this spring, city staff is already busy making plans to be better prepared if flooding happens again.

Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley, City Administrator Justin Weiland, Public Works Director Clarence Fjellanger, and City Finance Officer Claire Baartman recently attended a training in Brandon hosted by the Minnehaha County Emergency Management. The meeting was held to give a base knowledge and training of Emergency Operation Centers. Attendees of the meeting also ran through a scenario exercise of how to run an operations facility with different roles.

“You walked away with at least a lot better understanding of when things happen, why they’re happening, and who’s making the decisions. There is a process in place,” said Mayor Earley during the Dell Rapids City Council’s last meeting on Tuesday, February 18th. “It was really helpful to understand the role, not only the county, but the people who were there from the state as well.”

Along with attending the training, the city is also making other plans in anticipation of more spring flooding.

Weiland reported, “We’re just making sure we have pumps ready to go, our lift stations are capable of handling. We kind of know what to expect from the waste water treatment facility and type of things we need to be prepared for when the water starts coming in.”

Other plans include making sure utilities in the flood prone homes are secure from sewer infiltration. Staff is also putting together cost estimates to replace fencing, fix damaged electric, repairs to various facilities, as well as calculating time for cleaning up fields and the campground once the waters recede. The goal would be to get the parks up and running prior to the summer events.

The National Weather Service is currently predicting a 25-50% probability of major (>15.0 ft) flooding from mid March to beginning of April and a 50-75% probability of moderate (14.0 ft) flooding. The same prediction shows a significant probability of at least minor (12.0 ft) of flooding from mid March through mid May.
https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/probability_information.php?wfo=fsd&gage=ders2

Dell Rapids School Gets Permission for Parking Update

February 14, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids school board member Jeff Traill and Dell Rapids Superintendent Dr. Summer Schultz presented a parking update plan to the Dell Rapids City Council during the council’s regular meeting on Monday, February 3rd. The plan will give the school approximately 70 new parking spots over by the high school and middle school.

“I would term this a shorter term fix for some parking issues. Those of you that have been members of the community for a long time have heard it. We are short on parking at the middle school and high school. We agree 100 percent. Unfortunately it’s kind of a land-locked facility,” said Traill.

Traill said that this plan is more of a five-to-ten year short term fix or enhancement to the existing parking by the schools. The approximately 70 additional spots equates to an average of about one class enrollment every year to the high school. He said that the plan may not be ideal, but it does add spots by a combination of using existing school parking lots and areas as well as encroachments up to or within the city right of way. Because the plan does involve city right of way, this plan had to be approved by the Dell Rapids City Council.

The update will add 20 new spots to the staff parking long on the east side of Garfield Ave, but the majority of the updates will be done over by the middle school and football field area on 13th St. The north and south side of 13th St between Garfield Ave. and Harrison Ave. will remain parallel parking spots as they are today. The northeast parking lot and bus barn area will remain unchanged as of now.

The Dell Rapids City Council approved the plan which will allow the school to be able to add the parking lot updates to the already scheduled school renovations that will begin this spring. Those renovations include changes to the high school to bring modern technology into classroom teaching methods as well as changes to the middle school to accommodate four sections of classes.

Dell Rapids Staff Parking

Drawing of current DRHS staff parking area

Drawing of updated DRHS staff parking long

Dell Rapids Parking by middle school

Drawing of current parking by DRMS

Drawing of updated parking by DRMS

Sales Tax and Building Permit Numbers for 2019 Reported

January 12, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council heard the final 2019 totals for building permits and an updated sales tax numbers during their regular meeting on Monday, January 6th.

The city reported lower building permit valuations in 2019 as compared to 2018. Dell Rapids had 12 new homes built and one new four-plex in 2019. This number is down slightly when the city saw 17 new homes built in 2018. Dell Rapids also did not have any large scale commercial projects in 2019. Despite the lower number of homes, building permit valuations were just over $4 million.

The council also heard that sales tax numbers continued to remain strong for 2019. Numbers are in through November, and the city has seen an increase of 5.1% over the same period in 2018. With the closing of both Shopko and Family Dollar in 2019, expectations were that sales tax revenue would be down slightly from 2018. Not only have numbers exceeded 2018, but signs point to 2019 surpassing the 2017 record numbers after the December numbers are finalized.

Economy Strong in Dell Rapids Despite Rough 2019

December 8, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The economy in Dell Rapids is holding strong despite a rough year in 2019 with business closings and two major floods. Sales tax revenues remained on a pace to surpass 2018 totals according to a report given by City Administrator Justin Weiland at the latest Dell Rapids City Council meeting on Monday, December 2nd.

“Things are still looking good on the year. The bottom didn’t fall out on the community when we lost Shopko, which was an obvious concern. We just kind of hope that November and December months are strong, which they generally are. We haven’t really ever seen any big dips in a year in those months in the past. Hopefully that will continue strong,” said Weiland at the council meeting.

Administration was not sure what the sales tax numbers might be in 2019 with the closure of big retail businesses. Shopko closed its store at the end of February. Video Plus also closed in March, and Family Dollar shut its doors in the middle of May.

Even though the community lost some businesses this year, new ones have opened in the last year. Papa’s Pub opened in the middle of December in 2018. Pinz opened in October of this year, and The Shoppe just recently opened in early November. All three of these businesses are located in downtown Dell Rapids.

Sales tax revenue has been reported through the month of October. Dell Rapids has seen a 5.4% increase in sales tax revenues compared to the same time in 2018, which is an increase of just under $53,000. The city has surpassed the million dollar mark already this year, and only three of the reported 10 months saw a decrease from last year.

Dell Rapids Community Comes Together Again

September 18, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Less than six months after major flooding in March, the Dell Rapids area was hit worse with flooding starting on September 12th. Rain totals from two nights of storms on September 10th and 11th ranged from eight to ten inches which led to historic flooding of the Big Sioux River.

The river rose to a record high of 16.72 feet during the evening of Friday, September 13th. The record level caused major water damage and displaced many families from their homes.

The community of Dell Rapids rose to action for those in need. Dell Rapids City Administrator Justin Weiland praised numerous people for all their help. The Dell Rapids City Public Works Department pulled rotating 24 hour shifts to make sure the city’s sewer system didn’t back up into people’s homes, plus they waded through flood waters to save city infrastructure. Local businesses donated property for anyone who was impacted by the flood to store items, allowed sandbags to be stored and collected from their property, and donated meals. Volunteer groups were set up to help direct those who were in need of help to get the things that they needed. Organizations also helped to provide hotel rooms for those in need, and local fundraisers have also been held for those affected by the flood.

River levels have started to drop in the last week. As of Wednesday, September 18th, the Big Sioux River level was at 14.5 feet. The river is predicted to continue to drop to near the 13-foot mark by Monday, September 23rd. As the waters recede, expectations are more damage may be revealed that is yet unknown.

Property owners and tenants affected by the two floods this year have asked the city if anything could be done during the council’s regular meeting on Monday, September 16th. They noted that some cities, such as Sioux Falls, have purchased properties prone to flooding. However, the city mentioned during the meeting that the City of Dell Rapids does not have the income to do something like that. Administration did mention that they would continue to research different options that might be available and communicate findings to the property owners. Meanwhile, members of the council said that they would do what they could legally do as a city entity to help those in need and give them guidance on how to move forward with any restoration or construction work on the homes in the future.

New City Council Called at Regular Meeting

May 13, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Even though no election was needed to fill the four open seats on the Dell Rapids City Council, a new council had to be called to order on Monday, May 6th. All the members of each ward are the same and the council members are Gary Haak, Bill Schmidt, Mark Crisp, Barry Berg, Mike Geraets, Chad Ronshaugen, James Borchert, Bob Mier, and Mayor Tom Earley. Some of the council positions have changed from last year.

Councilman Crisp was elected the President once again. Councilman Ronshaugen will be the new Vice President. Committee appointments are as follows:

Finance and Public Works Committee: Crisp, Schmidt, Haak
Policy and Procedure Committee: Borchert, Ronshaugen, Berg
Surplus Property Appraisal Committee: Entire Council
Minnehaha County Economic Development Association: Ronshaugen
Dell Rapids Economic Development Corporation: Geraets
Library Board Liaison: Mier
Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce Board Liaison: Mayor Earley

City Council Election Canceled, School Board Election to be Held

March 9, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council will not need an election on Tuesday, April 9th. This announcement came during the council’s regular meeting held on Monday, March 4th.

All four of the open seats will be filled by the incumbent council members. Each of the four wards had an open seat up for election, but the only petitions submitted to fill those seats were filed by the incumbent council members. Gary Haak in Ward 1, Mark Crisp in Ward 2, Mike Geraets in Ward 3, and James Borchert in Ward 4 will all serve another three-year term on the Dell Rapids City Council.

The Dell Rapids School Board will still continue to have their election on April 9th as three petitions have been filed for two open spots. Matthew Weiland, Denise Cavigielli, and Lee Bollock will be up for election.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. All precincts will vote at the Lutheran Church located at 701 North Orleans Avenue in Dell Rapids.

Free Rubble Site Days Announced for Spring

February 25, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council decided on the free rubble site days for the spring season during their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 19th.

City Administrator Justin Weiland said, “I thought it was time we should maybe start thinking spring here a little bit. Let’s get this established for the spring. It’s a few months away, and we get some advertising for it. We’ve been doing Saturday, Thursday, Saturday. First part of May has been the tradition.”

Weiland proposed to the council that the free rubble site days be May 4th, 9th, and 11th. The motion passed unanimously.

The free rubble site days will be held on May 4th, 9th and 11th. The council did not make any plans for electronic recycling during any of those days. The electronic recycling is only done once a year in the fall.

Water Rates Set to Increase in Dell Rapids

February 11, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Water bills in Dell Rapids are headed for an increase starting with the June 1st bill. The Dell Rapids City Council approved the first reading of three new ordinances that will increase the water bills for all residents in Dell Rapids. The increases are being put in place to pay back loans for the Southeast Infrastructure project.

The new rates and surcharges that are being implemented will go into effect for water used from April 20th to May 20th and will be first seen on the June 1st water bills.

Ordinance 860 will implement a SE Project Drinking Water Rate Surcharge per customer. The cost of this surcharge will be $7.70. Ordinance 861 will actually reduce some of the water bill. The ordinance will change the base rate from $12.00 to $11.90, and the per 1,000 gallon rate will decrease from $4.64 to $3.92. With the implementation of these two ordinances, a customer that uses 5,000 gallons of water a month will have a total water bill increase of $4.00 from $38.20 to $42.20.

Ordinance 862 is implementing a SE Project Clean Water Surcharge for $7.20 to the waste water portion of the bill. A customer that uses 5,000 gallons will have a waste water bill increase from $54.40 to $61.60.

The ordinances will have to have a second reading approved before they will be adopted.

Dell Rapids 2018 Sales Tax Revenues Dip from 2017

January 27, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The final 2018 sales tax revenue report was shared at the latest Dell Rapids City Council regular meeting held Tuesday, January 22nd. The numbers showed a drop of 3.45% from the 2017 numbers.

The city of Dell Rapids had $1,227,419.65 of sales tax revenue in 2017. By contrast, the city had $1,185,064.63 of sales tax revenue in 2018. A drop of just over $42,000.

“It looks better than it did in July and August. $42,000 less, if you look at July and August, that’s about $40,000. That’s at the height of the construction. That’s the way I interpret those numbers,” said City Administrator Justin Weiland.

July 2018 was an 11.68% decrease from the numbers in July 2017. August 2018 had a bigger drop from 2017 at 23.24% decrease. The numbers rebounded in October, November, and December with each of those three months having positive gains in 2018 over 2017 numbers.

« Previous Page