The public is urged to stay advised of changing weather conditions, to implement winter safe-driving techniques, to have a survival kit in their vehicle, to implement additional time in their commutes to account for winter road conditions.
(City Photo)
**AIR QUALITY INDEX:
Check out this link regarding the current air quality conditions in Rapid City.
Click to see the current Air Quality Index
**CITY OFFICES OPEN MONDAY, COUNCIL'S MONDAY MEETING MOVED DUE TO DR. KING HOLIDAY: City officials remind the public that next week’s City Council meeting is moved from Monday to Tuesday due to the federal observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
City offices will be open Monday and there will no adjustments to City services or operations next week due to the federal holiday, with the exception of moving the City Council meeting to Tuesday. The Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers and is open to the public. The Rapid City Landfill, Rapid City Public Library and Rapid Transit System will be open and providing services Monday.
Mayor Jason Salamun will provide remarks at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the Rapid City Hilton Downtown Convention Center. The event, with the theme ‘The Music of Freedom’, is hosted by Faith Temple Church and is open to the public.
**CITY HOSTING OPEN HOUSE JANUARY 28 ON VACATION HOME RENTALS: The City’s Community Development Department is hosting an open house on development of a proposed ordinance regarding vacation home rentals in the community.
The public open house is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Dahl Arts Center, 713 Seventh Street.
Community Development staff will be available to share information, answer questions and collect public feedback. Attendees will be able to view numerous display boards regarding the issue. The City is seeking public feedback with the goal of developing a proposed ordinance regarding vacation home rentals. The proposed ordinance would go before the City Council later this year.
For more information, contact Jessica Olson with Community Development at 605-394-4120.
**CITY COUNCIL APPROVES FORMATION OF VISION FUND CITIZEN COMMITTEE & SOLICITS FOR PUBLIC PROJECT APPS: At its January 6 meeting, the Rapid City Council approved two Vision Fund resolutions, one establishing a nine-member citizen committee and another increasing the amount of money being allocated to public projects from the Vision Fund in the upcoming 2025-2029 funding period.
“With the Council’s approval of resolutions Monday night, we are ready to move forward with the Vision Fund process,” said Mayor Jason Salamun. “I have appreciated the input and feedback we have received over the past year from the public and the hard work put in by the Council to get us to this point.
“I’m encouraging citizens to consider applying to serve on the Citizen Committee, which will have a very important role in determining public projects to be funded from the Vision Fund. I’m also encouraging citizens and groups to submit proposals for public projects to be considered by the Citizen Committee.”
CITIZEN COMMITTEE
With the Council’s approval, the City is seeking applicants to develop a nine-person Vision Fund Citizen Committee. Interested citizens are encouraged to apply by submitting the committee application found https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance.html . The links are also available on the Finance Department page and the Vision Fund Citizen Committee page on the City’s website. Application deadline is Friday, February 7.
The Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consist of a chair person and eight additional committee members. Committee members must be legal residents of Rapid City and willing to serve until the end of 2025.
The purpose of the Vision Fund Citizen Committee is to accept and take requests for city government Vision Account projects. The committee will provide thorough review of the applications and make recommendations to the City Council in support of projects in accordance with the Council-approved Vision Fund plan for the upcoming five-year cycle.
PUBLIC PROJECT APPLICATIONS
The City is also seeking applicants for potential Vision Fund public projects. Vision Fund public projects will be considered for the five-year period 2025-2029 in the areas of community projects, economic development and civic improvements. Project applications can be found on the Vision Fund Citizen Committee page on the City’s website or obtained in hard copy through the mayor’s office. Deadline for submission of public project applications is Friday, March 7.
With Council’s approval Monday night, the Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consider city government projects with approximately $12 million in Vision Funds.
Project applications can be found at the following link https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance.html , on the Finance Department and Vision Fund Citizen Committee pages on the City’s website or obtained in hard copy from the Mayor’s Office.
The origin of the Vision Fund dates back to 1972 when voters approved an additional half-penny sales tax increase with the revenue to be spent on the building of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. In the mid-1990’s, voters approved continuation of the half-cent tax to build a fund to support community projects. Today, Rapid City assesses two cents in municipal sales tax on every dollar spent with one cent devoted to the City’s general fund and the second penny divided between the City’s Capital Improvement Fund (58 percent) and to the Vision Fund (42 percent).
A portion of the Vision Fund resources are used towards the debt on The Monument’s Summit Arena with other funds to be utilized for civic improvements, economic development and community projects.
Please direct questions regarding the Vision Fund Citizen Committee or the project application submittals to the Mayor’s Office at 605-394-4110.
**CITY SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR VACANCIES WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION: The City is seeking to fill two vacancies on the Historic Preservation Commission.
The Historic Preservation Commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The Commission works to preserve historic buildings and archaeological sites through public education, policy development and advocacy. The Commission conducts surveys of local historic properties, promotes and conducts educational and interpretive programs on historic properties and recommends ordinances that will promote the preservation and restoration of historic properties and districts in Rapid City.
Interested Citizens are encouraged to apply by submitting a Citizens Interest Application online. Application deadline is Friday, January 31 at 5 p.m.
Consideration is given to professionals in the disciplines of history, architectural history, architecture, archaeology, planning, urban planning, American Studies, American civilization, paleontology, law, cultural geography and cultural anthropology. Due consideration is also provided to stakeholders from within the community’s historic districts including property owners, residents, merchants, business owners, developers, investors, active members of a downtown organization or neighborhood association..
More information on the Historic Preservation Commission can be found in the ‘Boards, Commissions and Committees’ section under the Government tab on City’s website at www.rcgov.org. Please direct questions to the Mayor’s Office at 605-394-4110.
**LARGE SPIKES IN RIDERSHIP REFLECTED IN YEARLY REPORT ISSUED BY RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM: Rapid Transit System (RTS) experienced substantial increases in ridership in 2024, including the final month of the calendar year.
“This past year was a fantastic year in terms of increases in both overall ridership and youth ridership,” said RTS Manager Megan Gould-Stabile. “We continue to see impressive growth in ridership. We are initiative a route refresher this month with some route adjustments and in some instances, adding new locations.
“We appreciate the confidence shown by residents in the increased use of our community’s public transportation system. For many of our community’s residents, RapidRide and Dial-A-Ride is a vital and important component in their lives.”
In statistics released Thursday, RTS reports 258,131 passenger trips were recorded in 2024, an increase of eight percent or more than 20,000 passenger trips from the 237,619 recorded in 2023. Last year’s overall ridership numbers are a 21 percent increase from 2022 and a 26 percent hike from the ridership numbers experienced in 2021. RTS experienced an increase of more than 66,000 passenger trips from the 2021 ridership numbers when 191,922 trips were recorded.
December’s overall ridership numbers also reflect a hefty increase. A total of 21,697 boardings were recorded last month, a 14 percent increase over the 18,605 rider trips recorded in December 2023, a 41 percent increase over the December 2022 ridership numbers and a 29 percent increase over December 2021.
YOUTH RIDERSHIP
Large ridership increases were also experienced with the ‘Youth Ride Free’ program in 2024.
A total of 61,168 youth passenger trips were recorded during the period January through December last year, a 14 percent increase over the 52,557 youth trips recorded for the 2023 calendar year. RTS recorded nearly 25,000 more youth passenger trips in 2024 than were recorded in 2021 (36,599).
December youth passenger trips totaled 5,472, a significant 24 percent boost from the 4,174 youth passenger trips recorded in December 2023 and more than doubling the youth trips recorded on RTS buses just three years ago in December 2021.
In eight of nine months coinciding with the academic school year, RTS recorded five-year highs in youth ridership.
ABOUT RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM
Rapid Transit Service began as a general public Demand Response program in late 1983 with two vans. In 1985, RTS expanded to four mini buses. In 1992, the service expanded into a fixed route service and complimentary paratransit service.
RapidRide operates six different fixed routes and provides timely service to many convenient locations throughout Rapid City. All RapidRide routes run on 35-minute frequencies.
Dial-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb/door to door transportation service in Rapid City operated by the Rapid Transit System. Dial-A-Ride operates within the city limits of Rapid City and has been providing services to local residents who qualify for service under the Americans with Disabilities Act since 1992.
Rapid Transit System has also been operating the ‘Youth Ride Free’ program since 2015, allowing youth passengers to utilize the RapidRide system for free throughout the year.
For more information about RTS contact 605-394-6631 or visit www.rapidtransitsystem.org .
**CITY ISSUES 2024 YEAR-END BUILDING SERVICES REPORT: Rapid City’s Building Services Division issued 2,593 building permits in 2024 with a combined valuation total of more than $383.6 million, the third highest annual valuation total in the City’s history.
The 2024 building permit valuation total is surpassed only by the record set in 2023 of $463.5 million and the $393.5 million valuation total produced in 2021.
The City issued 54 building permits in 2024 with a valuation total exceeding $1 million each, including 18 permits issued with at least $5 million each in valuation. By comparison, the City issued 57 building permits in 2023 with a valuation total exceeding $1 million each, which included 15 permits with a valuation total of more than $5 million each. In 2022, the City issued 45 building permits with valuation totals exceeding $1 million each, including 10 permits over $5 million in valuation.
Eight of top 10 – and 18 of the top 30 -- highest-valued permits were issued for apartment complexes in the community.
Building permit fees collected by the City in 2024 totaled more than $2.4 million ($2,445,394), the third-highest amount of fees collected annually for building permits in the City’s history.
In December, the City issued 162 building permits with a combined valuation total of more than $21.5 million ($21,574,163). It was the second-highest December valuation total in the past decade.
Top permits issued in December included a permit valued at more than $6.6 million to Amerco Real Estate Company with Bauer Design Build LLC as contractor for the U-Haul Multi-Story Building at 501 E. Stumer Road; two permits valued at nearly $2.8 million each to Buffalo Run Apartments LLC with Lloyd Construction Company as contractor for 24-unit apartment complexes at 2858 E. Anamosa Street and 2846 Anamosa Street; a permit valued at more than $1.8 million to Amerco Real Estate Company with Bauer Design Build LLC as contractor for the U-Haul, U-Box facility at 495 E. Stumer Road; a permit valued at $1.2 million issued to Dakota Heartland Inc. with JMC Inc. as contractor for interior alterations and finish to facility suites at 510 N. Cambell Street.
“It was a very busy and active year for building in the Rapid City community,” said City Community Development Director Vicki Fisher. “We knew it would be a challenge to reach the permit valuation level of 2023, but any time you are approaching the shadows of $400 million in valuation, it’s a good year. We’ll take it.”
The highest-valued permit issued last year totaled more than $28.9 million and was issued to the City of Rapid City with Scull Construction Service Inc. as contractor for the expansion of the Rapid City Regional Airport facility. By comparison, the record-breaking annual valuation total of $463.5 million for 2023 included a permit issued for the Block5 facility on St. Joseph Street, valued at $56.2 million. The Block5 permit was the fourth-largest permit in terms of valuation issued in the City’s history.
**NOVEMBER SALES TAX REPORT CONTINUES TO REFLECT SOLID NUMBERS: The City’s sales tax report through November shows the sales tax collections for the first 11 months of 2024 total more than $79.1 million ($79,106,158), a 3.45 percent increase over the more than $76.4 million ($76,466,816) reported in sales tax collections for the January through November period of 2023.
The total of sales tax receipts collected in November set a record for receipts received in the 11th month of the year. More than $6.89 million was collected in November, surpassing the previous mark of $6.67 million in sales tax receipts collected in November 2023.
The November sales tax report is among the agenda items under review and discussion at the upcoming January 30 meeting of the City’s Legal and Finance Committee,
The breakdown of sales tax collections in October include:
- The tourism sales tax collected in November totaled $472,113 – a record for tourism sales tax receipts in the month of November – and a significant 17.75 percent increase over the $400,940 collected in November 2023. Through 11 months of 2024, more than $5.6 million has been received in tourism sales tax receipts, a nearly 4.7 percent increase over the first 11 months of 2023 ($5.39 million).
- General fund city sales tax receipts collected in November totaled more than $3.21 million – a record for November and 2.55 percent higher than the November 2023 general sales tax receipts of $3.13 million. The 11-month total for this category of receipts stands at more than $36.75 million, a 3.42 percent increase over the $35.53 million collected in the classification for the first 11 months of 2023.
- General Fund sales tax collections are running approximately one-half of one percent lower than budgeted by the City.
“We had a strong month in November overall and through the major classifications,” said City Finance Director Daniel Ainslie. “The final quarter of the year is showing solid numbers and we are encouraged to see December’s numbers and how the year will close out.”
**CITY'S REMOTE WASTE SITES REMAIN OPEN FOR TREE DISPOSAL: Through January 31, natural trees, wreaths and garland from the Christmas holiday season can be taken to the remote yard waste sites for disposal and the Rapid City Landfill. The remote disposal sites are located at Fitzgerald Stadium and West Boulevard North.
Officials with the City’s Solid Waste Division advise the trees and greenery items should be cleaned of ornamentation, tree stands, and not be placed in plastic bags. No yard waste is allowed at the tree disposal sites.
After the Christmas holiday season last year, the Solid Waste Division collected a record 49.92 tons – nearly 50 tons – of Christmas trees, wreaths and assorted greenery from the City’s two remote disposal sites at Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium and West Boulevard North, and the Rapid City Landfill. The total was an incredible spike over the 27 tons of greenery material collected after the 2022 holiday season and the 28.79 tons of material collected after the 2021 holiday season.
**RAPID CITY YOUTH COUNCIL CELEBRATES FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE: The Rapid City Youth Council celebrated an important anniversary milestone in January when the group observed its fifth anniversary of existence.
The Rapid City Youth City Council was created in late 2019 after a year of advocacy and promotion with City leaders, including former Mayor Steve Allender. The creation of the youth group was approved in November 2019 by the Rapid City Council. The youth council began meeting in January 2020.
The Youth City Council is comprised of 18 high school-aged, public, private and home school students from the Rapid City area. The purpose of the Youth City Council is to provide an accessible channel for open communication between the Rapid City Common Council and youth in the community and provide opportunities to spark civic engagement and gain valuable learning experiences about government to young people.
The group meets the second Tuesday of each month at City Hall. During the past five years, the Council has evolved to include various working committees, organizes and participates in numerous community events, sends members to each City Council meeting and report back to the youth group of the Council’s work on community issues, and hosts monthly presenters on City and community organizations.
In recent years, the group has sent members to National League of Cities meetings in Washington, DC, hosted a meeting with US Representative Dusty Johnson, met with Apolda, Germany Sister City students, held a student art auction to raise funds to ease the student lunch debt in local schools, place apparel items on downtown statues to highlight community need of the homeless and folded shirts at Monument Health for cancer awareness, and participated in community clean-up activities.
City Council member Lindsey Seachris serves as the Common Council’s liaison to the youth group with Kristin Kiner, Rapid City Area School’s Youth Engagement Coordinator, and Rapid City High School instructor Sean Binder serving as the group’s advisors.
Comments about Rapid City Youth City Council:
Euana Matute, current chair of the Rapid City YCC:
“This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Rapid City Youth City Council. I am overjoyed to see this youth-led organization thriving and continuing to serve the community. As someone who has been a member for almost three years, I am proud to say that we have grown and learned tremendously. The RCYCC truly is a testament of the rigor and dedication of the youth in Rapid City, and with how many continue to show interests in the activities we do, I don't see it slowing down anytime soon.”
Hannah Churchill, founding chair of the YCC group in 2020:
"I can’t believe the RCYCC is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year! It doesn’t feel like very long ago that we were holding our very first meeting in the council chambers in January of 2020. I remember the excitement that I felt that day, and I hope that is the same feeling that current and future members experience each time they get ready to make positive and meaningful change in our community. The longevity and success of the RCYCC speaks to the value of youth voice in our community and its future. I will always be proud to have been a part of this amazing group of young people. Happy five years RCYCC!!"
Kristin Kiner, who has served as YCC advisor since its inception:
“It's fun to reflect on five years of successful Youth City Council exploration, experiences and advocacy. I am proud of how young people share their voice, advocate for change, and strengthen our community. I can't wait to see where they take things from here.”
**DELTA AIRLINES TO LAUNCH NONSTOP FLIGHTS BETWEEN ATLANTA AND RAPID CITY: Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is thrilled to announce that Delta Airlines will begin offering seasonal nonstop service between Rapid City, South Dakota, and Atlanta, Georgia, starting June 2025.
This route will operate once weekly, utilizing a 132-seat Airbus A319. The addition of the Atlanta route provides western South Dakota residents with direct access to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest airport, opening the door to numerous domestic and international travel connections.
“This is exciting news for Rapid City and the entire region,” said Megan Johnson, Air Service Development Manager at RAP. “This direct flight will be a convenient travel option for locals and create new opportunities for visitors to discover the Black Hills.”
The route addition demonstrates the airport's commitment to expanding air service options for the community and fostering economic growth through increased connectivity.
Tickets for the Atlanta-Rapid City service are now available for purchase on Delta Airlines’ website. For more information on the new service and other updates, visit RapAirport.com.
**CITY PARKS & RECREATION ISSUES 2025 ONLINE WINTER PROGRAM GUIDE: Looking for fun activities and options this winter season for yourself and family members? Want to get a team of co-workers together and put your skills to the test on the hardwood, the volleyball court or on the ice? Want to play water polo, know the best times for open swim or to strap on the ice skates for some ice time?
This week, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department issued its 2025 Winter Program Guide, available on the Department’s home page at https://www.rcgov.org/.../parks.../parks-program-guide.html .
The 48-page Program Guide provides detailed information on activities, leagues, programs, lessons and special events for the Department’s various divisions. Included in the Guide’s offerings: admission rates, session dates, on-line activity registration information, contact information, hours of operation, facility policies, safety rules, gym rental fees, etc.
Some of the Guide’s offerings include information on ice skating, hockey programs and leagues, learn to skate classes and public skate rates at the Roosevelt Ice Arena; winter youth and adult swim lessons, holiday open swim dates, health and safety program courses, lifeguard, CPR and scuba diver certifications and trainings, fitness and exercise classes and water polo with the Aquatics Division at the Roosevelt Swim Center; information on spring volleyball leagues, winter basketball leagues, adult hockey leagues; information on outdoor ice rinks, off leash dog parks, park shelter rental information and more.
“The Winter Guide is a handy and useful resource, providing important information on everything you want or need to know about our Recreation Division programs, activities and events,” said Parks and Recreation Specialist Lindsey Myers. “Literally it’s an A-to-Z guide – from aquatics, volleyball and skate lessons, to water polo, exercise classes and where the closest off-leash dog park is located, it’s all in the Guide. If you want to know about special events at our facilities, scheduling a birthday party, how to register for leagues, classes and lessons, it’s in the Guide.
“Our Winter Guide helps you plan ahead and consider options for kids and family activities. We offer numerous programs, classes, lessons and special events at the Swim Center and the Ice Arena during the long winter season. Our activity leagues are very popular and there is literally activities, classes and events for people of all ages.”
The Guide also includes the schedule for the Badlands Sabres ice hockey team, information on February’s Black Hills Gold Rush program presented by the Black Hills Figure Skating Club and the Black Hills Skating Academy and other special event programs. Recreation youth programs, adult sports leagues, youth sports camps, certification programs through the aquatics division and a list and location of the City’s parks and off-leash areas are included in the 48-page Guide.
The Guide is available online on the Parks and Recreation Department’s page. For more information, contact 605-394-5223.
**NUMEROUS LOCATIONS SET UP FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS RECYCLING PROGRAM: The City’s Solid Waste Division has established 14 locations throughout the community this holiday season with recycling collection bins for disposal of non-working strings of lights and extension cords.
The annual Christmas Lights Recycling Program began earlier this month and all locations are set up for disposal of lights and cords, just in time as many homeowners are beginning to decorate for the upcoming holiday season.
Last year, a record 3.5 tons of non-working strings of lights and extension cords were recycled through the program. The community recycling program is scheduled through January 31 this season. Since 2020, nearly 11 tons of non-working lights and extension cords have been recycled through the community collection bins.
“Holiday lights are huge tanglers for us,” said City Solid Waste Education and Outreach Coordinator Ria Hannon. “This means that when they get thrown into the recycling bins, they can get caught up and tangled or twisted in our equipment, which causes backups and delays because we need to cease operations and cut them out.”
Hannon said the public can also turn in strings of non-working lights that may have been set aside from other holiday observances.
The Christmas light recycling containers are available at the following locations:
*Ace Hardware (3): 1602 E. St. Patrick Street, 1724 W. Main Street and 320 West Boulevard
*Boyd's Drug Stores (2): Baken Park (entrance on pharmacy side) and at 909 E. St. Patrick Street
*City Hall: 300 Sixth Street
*Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street
*Runnings, 1020 N. Lacrosse Street
*South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (Surbeck Center)
*Fleet Farm, 1001 E. Mall Drive
*Education Center at Landfill: 5165 S. Highway 79
*RC Hardware: 770 Mountain View Road
*Rapid City ReStore: 610 E. Omaha Street
*Menards: 710 N. Creek Drive
The bins will be located at these locations until January 31.
**CITY'S WATER JUDGED BEST IN SOUTH DAKOTA: Rapid City has been recognized as having the best water in South Dakota!
The City was recognized with the distinction at the recent annual conference of the South Dakota Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Rapid City’s water will now represent South Dakota in the ‘Best of the Best’ competition at the AWWA 2025 Annual Conference and Exposition in Denver next June.
To be considered for the honor, AWWA utility member cities must not have incurred any state or federal drinking water violations in the past year. Judging includes taste and aesthetics.
“We are really honored to have that privilege, to have been awarded and recognized as having the best water in the state of South Dakota,” City Water Superintendent Eric Boyda told members of the City’s public works, and legal and finance committees this week. “The water was judged based off of taste and aesthetics. It’s great recognition and an honor our staff appreciates and the community can take great pride in.”
The City Water Division’s primary mission is the delivery of a clean potable water product in ample supplies that meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water regulations for the customers on the Rapid City water system. For over 20 years, Rapid City has been recognized annually with the Secretary’s Award for Drinking Water Excellence by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
**CITY OFFICIALS REFLECT ON CALL CENTER'S FIRST YEAR OF SUCCESS: Since the Public Works Department opened its customer service call center in mid-September 2023, the staff team has taken a total of 39,470 calls and created 1,910 service orders for the various divisions within the department.
“By all accounts, our Call Center has been a huge success,” said City Public Works Administration Operations Manager Shannon Truax. “The call service center was created to provide an increased level of service, efficiency and transparency to City residents and the general public. The results have been remarkable and beyond expectations.”
The City’s Customer Service Center opened in September 2023 and was expanded in November to include additional public works divisions. The call center staff fields citizen calls for the City’s water, water reclamation, solid waste, streets, utility billing and utility maintenance divisions. Call center staff also works on projects for other departments as needed.
When City customers call these divisions, the calls are routed to service center staff where questions and concerns are fielded and addressed by a customer service agent. The agents are City employees and are staff of the public works department.
The call center is located in the City’s water treatment plant on Mountain View Road with four City employees tasked with taking calls and addressing questions and concerns. Within weeks of the call center opening, staff members were fielding an average of 100 calls per day. That number has grown significantly to more than 200 calls per day.
“When we started the customer service center, we hoped it would increase the level of service we could provide to residents and the public,” Truax said. “It’s an opportunity to connect with someone and address a specific issue or questions and get immediate attention.”
The ongoing objective for call center staff is to provide callers with a positive first interaction when contacting City offices and getting them needed assistance.
**AREA RESIDENTS CAN CHECK ONLINE SITES TO MONITOR FIRES & LOCAL AIR QUALITY CONDITIONS: With the smoky haze covering Rapid City and the surrounding region this week due to the Canadian wildfires, City officials remind the public of website features providing updates on North American wildfire conditions and daily and hourly air quality conditions for Rapid City and anywhere in the country.
To view locations and the severity of wildfires in North America, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ . To check air quality in the Rapid City area, and any community in the nation, the ‘Air Quality Index’ link has been on the City’s website since 2021 and can be found on the City’s home page at located on the City’s website at www.rcgov.org - in the ‘What’s News In The City’ section. The online feature displays the current air quality in the Rapid City areas, and any community in the nation, by simply inputting the zip code, city or state.
The Air Quality Index reading for Rapid City at 9 a.m. Monday morning was listed at ‘164’ in the red category with the description ‘Unhealthy’.
The site is updated hourly and alerts the public to pollutants and allergens in the air for a selected area. The site also provides recommendations for sensitive groups, an advisory on outdoor activities and other important data concerning air conditions.
“Forecasters indicate impacts this week due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Both online features provide important and updated information. The Air Quality Index is convenient and provides online visitors with a great opportunity to monitor the air conditions in our area,” said City Environmental Planner Morgan Twombly. “The site is updated hourly and provides useful information, especially for those who have health conditions, issues or sensitivities to pollutants like smoke or specific allergens.
“It’s also a great tool to check on the air conditions of family and friends living in other parts of the country, or to assist you with your travel plans.”
Online visitors checking the Air Quality Index are taken to AirNow, a one-stop source for air quality data. AirNow reports air quality using the official US Air Quality Index (AQI). AirNow is a partnership of the US Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control and tribal, state and local air quality agencies.
For Rapid City, the Air Quality Index displays a color-coded scale from 0-500, ranging from good to hazardous designations. Other features of the page include a color-coded map matching the color scale to show the air quality of the region.
**DETAILS AND UPDATES ON CITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS JUST A CLICK AWAY: Staying informed on City construction projects is just a click away on the City’s website. Officials remind the public to check out a feature on the City’s home page to stay updated on local construction projects.
The feature has been a part of the City’s website for many years, according to Shannon Truax, interim assistant public works director. The website feature provides viewers with important information on specific projects, including details on the projects, start/end dates, location of the projects, maps, traffic restrictions and any detour information, along with contractor contact information.
The site is updated regularly by staff in the public works department as part of community outreach, which includes issuing the announcements to media outlets and posting the information to the City’s social media platform.
To view City public service announcements on construction projects, visit the City’s website at www.rcgov.org and click on “Road Construction Updates” on the Main Page.
**CITY'S BUILDING REPORT REFLECTS SECOND HIGHEST PERMIT VALUATION FOR AUGUST: The City’s Building Services Division issued 263 building permits in August with a combined valuation total of more than $48.9 million, the second highest permit valuation total issued for the month of August in the City’s history.
The only August with a higher valuation total was in 2017 ($54.8 million), when a permit was issued to Monument Health as part of the facility’s multi-phase expansion project.
Through two-thirds of the year, the City has issued 1,741 building permits with an eight-month valuation total of more than $234.1 million ($234,117,437). The August valuation total is the fifth-highest month in terms of permit valuation in 40 months dating back to May 2021.
“August was a strong month in terms of permit valuation,” said City Community Development Director Vicki Fisher. “The combined total helped stem the tide of a developing trend of slow activity. We’ll be interested in the permit activity of the next few months.”
Top permits issued for August included two permits issued to Fifth Park LLC with Gustafson Builders as contractor. One permit valued at more than $19.7 million is for a 78-unit apartment building as part of the Fifth Park Apartments at 4916 Fifth Street. A second permit valued at more than $12.7 million is for a 54-unit building, also part of the Fifth Park Apartments, located at 4908 Fifth Street.
Six permits with a combined valuation total of more than $1.28 million were issued to Kansas City Holdings LLC with Dean Kurtz Construction as contractor for six mini storage unit buildings (156 units) on Concourse Drive. A permit valued at more than $1.1 million was issued to Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan with C Eagle Construction as contractor for alterations to convert apartments at 1851 City Springs Road to assisted living. A footing foundation permit was issued to WR Hospitality LLC with Scull Construction as contractor for the WR Restaurant at 2181 Promise Road. A permit valued at $905,000 was issued to the City of Rapid City with RCS Construction as contractor for the Fire Department training tower facility at 2420 Creek Drive.
**RAPID CITY RANKS HIGH AMONGST HAPPIEST PLACES TO LIVE: Rapid City and Sioux Falls are ranked among the nation’s happiest cities to live in the nation in a report released this week by WalletHub.
Rapid City ranked 36th among the top 182 cities referenced in the report. Sioux Falls ranked 11th. According to WalletHub, the happiest city in America is Fremont, CA followed in the top five by Overland Park, KS, San Jose, CA, Madison, WI and Irvine, CA. WalletHub compared 182 of the largest cities, including the 150 most populated US cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state, across three key dimensions: emotional/physical well-being, income/employment and community/environment.
Rapid City was among the top six cities for happiest place to live in the region listed in the report with all six ranking in the top 20 percent of the listing: Sioux Falls (11th), Minneapolis (13th), Fargo, ND (16th), Lincoln, NE (19th), Bismarck, ND (20th) and Rapid City (36th). Other regional cities in the 182-city rankings included Omaha, NE (41st), St. Paul, MN (44th), Cedar Rapids, IA (45th), Missoula, MT (70th), Des Moines, IA (72nd), Billings, MT (82nd) and Casper, WY (153rd).
“The WalletHub reports confirms what many people who live and visit here have known and sometimes take for granted. Rapid City is a great place to live You can find a lot of happiness here,” said Mayor Jason Salamun. “Rapid City is a great place to live, work and raise a family. Rapid City and the Black Hills have many quality of life experiences and opportunities for residents and visitors alike. And visitors often complement us on how friendly and helpful we are.”
Rapid City consistently ranks high in WalletHub reports. Last May, Rapid City ranked as the fifth best place in the nation for summer jobs.
WalletHub used 29 indicators of happiness to determine the happiest places to live rankings, ranging from income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day to depression rate. Among the indicators: unemployment rate, commute time, job satisfaction, poverty rate, physical-health and mental health factors, weather, acres of parkland, separation and divorce rates, hate-crime incidents, depression rates among others.
View the report at https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-places-to-live/32619 .
**CITY REMINDS RESIDENTS OF UTILITY RATE RELIEF PROGRAM: Rapid City utility customers can apply for a reduction of their monthly utility charges through a decade-long program administered by the City's Public Works Department.
The program, entitled the Utility Rate Relief Program, is designed to lower the monthly utility expense for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The program recently underwent an update, to make the qualification process more straightforward.
Under the City's updated Utility Rate Relief Program, applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria: they must be 65 or older or disabled as defined by the Social Security Act; they must fall below the “very low income” limit criteria outlined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Rapid City Metro Area; the applicant must be the person who is responsible for payment of the utility bill directly to the City; the property must be the applicant’s primary residence.
If qualified, the rates charged for utility services billed to the applicant will be reduced by 25 percent for a period of two years or until the renewal date established by the Public Works Director. New applications are accepted at any time, but renewal requests must be received by April 30 of odd numbered years in order for current participants to remain on the program.
For more information and an application, visit https://www.rcgov.org/departments/public-works/water-division/urr-587.html or call the City's Public Works Department at 394-4165.
**CITY LAUNCHES 'REPORT A PROBLEM' LINK TO REPORT ISSUES WITH LIGHTS, POTHOLES, ROADS: The City’s Public Works Department has launched a new “Report A Problem” link to the City’s website, providing an opportunity for the public to report road or street-related issues they encounter.
The link: https://bit.ly/RapidCityLightsAndPotholes is an easy access point for the public to report non-emergency issues such as non-working street lights, potholes, traffic signs or signals that need attention, and other issues related to roads or streets. The link invites the visitor to complete an online form describing the concern, the location of the problem, when the problem was noticed and contact information. The form can also be accessed at the City’s website rcgov.org by clicking on the ‘Government’ tab and then clicking on City Online Forms for the ‘Non-Emergency Traffic Safety Concern’ entry.
The public can also call the Traffic Operations Division at 605-394-4118.
City Public Works Executive Coordinator Shannon Truax says the public has provided great assistance to the city on reporting issues in the past, utilizing the City’s Pothole Hotline and contacting the City’s Traffic Division about non-working street lights.
“This new link will provide the public and the City with a new tool to work together in addressing issues in a quicker and more efficient manner,” Truax said.
Truax said the public answered the City’s call for assistance two years ago and has made hundreds of calls regarding non-working street lights. The public also utilizes the City’s Pothole Hotline to report road issues.
“We really appreciate the public’s response and continued communication with the City on reporting issues they see with street lights, potholes and other issues,” said Truax. “Our crews can’t be everywhere at all times and this is a clear case of the public serving an important mission, as a collective second set of eyes to help us in keeping our streets and neighborhoods lit and getting issues with our roads and traffic lights addressed.”
STREET LIGHTS
Since May 2021 when the City first called for the public’s help in reporting issues with street lights, more than 750 calls have been received by the City’s Traffic Operations Division, including more than 450 calls in 2022.
Most of the citizen calls involved street light outages or malfunctions.
“Some of the callers indicate they’ve noticed a problem for days or weeks. If they see a problem, call the City and our crews can get it checked out and addressed right away,” said Truax, noting a malfunctioning or inoperative street light can have a safety impact in the affected area.
Callers should provide a close or exact location of the street light. Truax says the light poles display a four or five-digit number a few feet off the ground. The pole number or the block of the street with the malfunctioning light will allow for a more immediate response from City crews.
POTHOLES
Truax said the public can use the new “Report A Problem” link to share information about potholes. For several years, the public has accessed the Pothole Hotline at 605-394-4152 to report thousands of pothole locations. Last year, Truax said City Street Division crews repaired more than 3,000 potholes, many called in by residents.
For both non-working street lights and potholes, Truax said once a call is received from the public, a crew member is sent to the affected area, often within a day, to assess the concern and begin corrective action.
**PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO CHECK OUT 'PENNINGTON OUTDOORS!': Looking for details on recreational opportunities in Rapid City and Pennington County? Residents and visitors to the area have a quick tool to access information through an interactive map that helps users explore local recreational facilities and opportunities.
The site, Pennington Outdoors!, was launched last year by the City’s Geographic Information (GIS) Division, can be accessed at rapidmap.org and is one of many valuable map and informational tools available on the GIS Division page which includes access to City and County voting precincts, the City's air quality zone, downtown parking map, the City's major street plan and much more.
Pennington Outdoors! site users can zoom in, zoom out or pan across a map to view different park facilities; Rapid City, Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands trail systems; location of statues; the Rapid City bike path; park amenities and recreational sites in Pennington County and the communities of Rapid City, Box Elder, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Wall, Hill City, Keystone, New Underwood, Wasta and Quinn. Once a desired site is visible, users can click on it using the 'identity' tool to see details, website and a photo associated with the recreation site.
As an example, clicking on Wilson Park will yield information indicating the Park includes a flowering garden, gazebo, ice skating area, tennis courts, playground, restrooms, basketball court and other amenities. Users can easily identify the location of the Park. Clicking on Robbinsdale Park will yield information including locations of the BMX Track, several baseball fields, location of picnic shelters, playgrounds, restrooms and walking paths.
Users wanting to know the location of specific downtown and area statues can access the site for the actual location
The City's GIS Division provides mapping services, data and technical support to the public as well as staffs of City and County government. the GIS Division page which includes access to City and County voting precincts, the City's air quality zone, downtown parking map, the City's major street plan. RapidMap services offers information on land parcels, aerial photos, address points and other map information. Survey Points provides information on area survey points.
**PUBLIC REMINDED TO SIGN UP FOR COLLECTION ALERTS: Officials with the City's Solid Waste Division remind residents to sign up for alerts about curbside collections and adjustments in pickups due to holidays and weather.
"We've had great response since launching our website back in January," said Jancie Knight, Solid Waste community outreach coordinator. "The site is an excellent way to receive alerts and reminders on trash collections and other updates."
Knight says residents can visit www.rapidcityrecycles.org to register in the 'Stay Informed' section. Other informational items on the page include a color-coded map of the city to determine specific curbside pickup days, where to dispose of specific items, and hours and contact information.
**GOT A POTHOLE? CALL THE POTHOLE HOTLINE: The City Street Department's pothole patching crews are at it as the calendar flips toward summer. If you see a pothole that needs to be fixed, call the Pothole Hotline at 394-4152 and provide a location and crews will be on it quickly.
**CONSTRUCTION MAP FEATURE ALLOWS DRIVERS TO STAY UPDATED ON PROJECTS: To stay updated on local construction projects, City officials remind the public they can utilize a newly-launched road construction site feature on the City's website which provides detailed site, map and project information.
The City's Geographic Information System (GIS) Division launched the 'Rapid City Road Construction Site' link on the GIS page last month, accessed by visiting rapidmap.org and clicking on the orange construction barrel. It is also available by clicking on 'Road Construction Updates' on the City's home page at rcgov.org . Once on the site, users can click on a highlighted segment and get additional information such as the project's location, the start date and estimated end date of the project, listing of the contractor and other useful information. Each segment on the map will also have the public service announcement attached to it and there will be a link provided for State Department of Transportation projects.
The site will be updated as active projects begin and sites will remain on the map through the duration of the specific projects.
With local construction season well underway, City officials are also reminding drivers to slow down and use caution when driving near and through all road construction areas, allow additional time to reach their destinations and to consider alternate routes.
**DIGITAL MEDIA POLICY: The City is advising the public of a requirement for digital media material for presentations at City Council and City Committee meetings. Effective May 1, 2017, digital media submissions must be provided at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting where the material will be presented. In addition, no digital media containing music will be accepted.
"This new guideline will allow for more efficient presentation of the item, ensuring there are no compatibility or virus issues with the item and the City's display system, as well as providing sufficient time for City staff to contact individuals for any changes that may be needed to the item prior to the meeting," said Darrell Shoemaker, City Communications Coordinator. "Too often, items are brought in a few moments before the start of a meeting, even after the meeting has started, and there is not sufficient time to ensure compatibility with our system, make sure there are no viruses, problems or issues with the item and for effective presentation of the item."
Digital media items can be submitted to the appropriate department division at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. For Monday's Council meetings, the item should be provided no later than Friday at 5 p.m. The City reserves the right to reject any items for presentation due to digital compatibility issues or content appropriateness.