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Dell Rapids City Council Recognizes Former Mayor Fiegen

October 18, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Former mayor Scott Fiegen and his wife Teri were recognized for their years of service to the city of Dell Rapids by the Dell Rapids City Council during the regular meeting on Monday, October 17^th.

Mayor Tom Earley said, “We want to express our appreciation and our best wishes to Scott and Teri as they enter a new venture with their move to Sioux Falls.”

Scott served the city of Dell Rapids for 16 years. He was an Alderman from 1998-2001, and he served as Dell Rapids mayor two different times, once from 2001-2007, and then again from 2009-2016. Scott also served as a District 25 State Senator in 2016.

“Many people voice concerns, but few take steps to be involved to see if they can make a difference. Scott you can certainly be proud of your work and your accomplishments that have greatly helped make Dell Rapids the community it is today. Your willingness to work with others, to listen to all sides of an issue, to look for the right way to accomplish a goal, these skills and values have directly benefitted our community and the people who chose to make Dell Rapids their home. This city council is a better council today because of your guidance and your leadership since 2001. Thank you for your service to Dell Rapids,” stated Mayor Earley.

Teri was also recognized by Mayor Earley for the many years on the board of the Dell Rapids Society for Historical Preservation, work on documenting information about the Dell Rapids and St Mary cemeteries, restoring the markers that identify the veterans in the cemetery, as well as providing educational and entertaining tours of the cemeteries.

“Thank you for all the things you have done to make Dell Rapids what it is today,” Mayor Earley said thanking Teri.

Scott was presented with a framed letter of proclamation of his service and his name plate from the Dell Rapids City Council. The presentation was held at the beginning of the meeting and can be seen in the archived video found by clicking this link.

Dell Rapids City Council Appoints New Mayor

September 7, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The city of Dell Rapids has a new mayor until April 11th, 2017. During their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 6th, the Dell Rapids City Council appointed an interim mayor.

Councilman Mike Geraets made a motion to nominate Tom Earley as the interim mayor of the city of Dell Rapids. The motion was seconded by Councilman Gary Haak. No other nominations were submitted to the council for vote. The motion was unanimously voted by the council.

With the move to mayor, Earley submitted his resignation as Ward 2 Alderman. The council unanimously accepted Earley’s councilman resignation. Earley was then sworn in as interim mayor of Dell Rapids.

“Thank you for your support. The only thing I want to say is that I think we have an excellent council here. My one and only goal is to continue to work with you and ask for your support as we move ahead with the city, and we do the things that need to be done and do them right. I think everyone sitting here has that goal, intention and spirit,” said Earley.

The open seat on the council left by Earley was filled by an appointment by the city council. Councilman Mark Crisp made a motion to nominate Barry Berg to fill the open seat. The council unanimously approved the appointment. Berg will serve as Ward 2 Alderman until the April 11th, 2017 election. Berg was also sworn into the council.

The council had three options on how to fill the vacant mayor role that was left when Mayor Scott Fiegen resigned on August 15th. The first option was to continue to act without a mayor and have the board president assume the duties until the April 11th, 2017 election. The second option, which is the option the council chose, was to appoint a current council member and then fill the open council seat. The third option could have been to appoint another resident of Dell Rapids as mayor until the next election in April.

Dell Rapids Will Have New Mayor

August 16, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The city of Dell Rapids will have a new mayor as Mayor Scott Fiegen submitted his resignation during the regular Dell Rapids City Council meeting held on Monday, August 15th. The resignation was accepted by the council and was effective immediately. Until a new mayor is found, Dell Rapids City Council President Mark Crisp will assume all the duties and responsibilities of the mayor. Fiegen’s resignation comes due to him moving outside of the city of Dell Rapids.

City Administrator Justin Weiland presented three options to the council on how to move forward with the open mayor seat.

Weiland said, “The first option is the board president could just continue in the role as acting mayor until the next municipal election in April (2017). That means the board president would assume both the duties of the mayor and president until the next election.”

“The second option we put together is the council could appoint a sitting city council member to fill the role. It should be stated that this council member would have to relinquish their existing seat to take over the full mayor’s roles and responsibilities. That appointment is only good until the next election in April. That would create an open seat in the that ward where the council would have to look at appointing a new council member to fill that open seat.”

“The third option is to appoint another resident of Dell Rapids. That appointment to mayor would only last until the next election in April.”

There was potential for a fourth option. The city could have taken petitions for mayoral candidates and held an election with that elected person holding the position until April. However state statute says the city would have to have an ordinance adopted that governs how the special election would be held prior to the vacancy occurring, and the city of Dell Rapids does not have such an ordinance in place.

City council member Tom Earley said, “I firmly believe that the city needs to have somebody in position of mayor to operate until April. I think we have capable people on this board who are well versed and well aware of what’s taking place in the city right now with various projects and some potential things down the road. This council has operated with a vacant seat in the past many times. I would think that hopefully at the first meeting in Sept that we are able to agree on who we want to appoint as mayor of the city of Dell Rapids. I think it’s a position that somebody needs to be in to give it the proper attention full time.”

City council member Mary Klockman motioned to table a decision until the September 6th meeting (in hopes a full council will be present), seconded by council member Mike Sterud. The motion carried. Council members Mike Geraets and Gary Haak were absent from the meeting.

Fiegen had been serving as Dell Rapids Mayor since 2009.