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
**CANDY & COSTUMES DRIVE BEGINS IN SUPPORT OF KNOLLWOOD TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT: For a third consecutive year, the City’s Community Relations Commission is again supporting the Knollwood Halloween Trunk or Treat and is seeking donations of candy. The group is also requesting donations of costumes for the Trunk or Treat effort this year.
The Trunk or Treat event is sponsored by the Renewal MB Church and will be held in the Renewal MB Church (formerly Chucky Cheese) parking lot on Halloween evening from 6-7:30 p.m. and the public is invited.
Community Relations Commission Coordinator LaFawn Janis says donations of candy and costumes may be dropped off in the donation box in the lobby of City Hall, 300 Sixth Street. Donations are being accepted through the month of October. Cash donations can be made to the CRC Fund at Black Hills Community Foundation. Journey On will be sponsoring a Halloween boutique at the Knollwood Clubhouse to provide youth without a Halloween costume with an opportunity to select or create one of their own.
In the previous two years of the candy donation drive, more than 21,400 pieces of candy and nearly $500 has been donated to support the event. The Rapid City Police Department also assisted with last year’s candy collection drive.
“The community candy collection drives have been a huge success the past two years,” said Janis. “And this year, we are also seeking donations of costumes. The kids look forward to the Knollwood Trunk or Treat event. It’s a lot of fun and brings a lot of joy and happiness to the youth in the Knollwood neighborhood and area. We have appreciated the community support in the past and are encouraging their support again this year with donations of candy and costumes.
“The City’s Community Relations Commission continues to work with the Renewal MB Church and with the Rapid City Police Department on ways to help create and build a better sense of community in the Knollwood area. Our goal with the event is to give the residents, especially the children, a sense of hope and to understand the entire city supports them.”
As residents prepare for trick-or-treaters this Halloween season, Janis asks the community to pick up an extra bag or two of candy for the Knollwood community children and to consider donating a new or gently-used costume.
For more information about the City’s candy donation drive, contact Janis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 605-718-2420.
**WEST RIVER RSVP+ SEEKING WINTER APPAREL ITEMS FOR CORNERSTONE VETERANS: The West River Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP+) is seeking donations of winter apparel items for veterans at the Cornerstone Mission as part of the upcoming Make A Difference Day on Saturday, October 26.
The group is seeking gently-used men’s and women’s coats, new socks and new underwear, gloves, and gently-used sweatshirts and sweatpants. Specific-sized items include large and extra-large men’s and women’s coats, large to double-extra-large men’s underwear (boxers preferred), medium and large women’s underwear, and all sizes of gloves and sweats.
Deadline for donations is Tuesday, October 22 and items can be dropped off at the West River RSVP Office in the bus depot, 333 Sixth Street (across from City Hall).
“This collection drive coincides with Make A Difference Day,” said Ann Hines, West River RSVP+ director. “We appreciate any help from the public this year with donations in helping to make that difference in the lives of our veterans.”
Make A Difference Day is the fourth Saturday of October each year
For more information about the donation drive or RSVP+, contact Hines at the RSVP Office at 605-394-2507 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
**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.
**SOLID WASTE OFFICIALS PROVIDE HELPFUL HINTS FOR CURBSIDE YARD WASTE: With Autumn upon us, many homeowners are getting out and preparing gardens, yards and trees for the winter season. Officials with the City’s Solid Waste Division provide some helpful reminders regarding yard waste disposal and curbside collection.
- All yard waste must be in paper, biodegradable bags for disposal. Do not place yard waste in plastic. Yard waste materials are used for compost at the Landfill and plastic materials do not break down in the process.
- Getting rid of branches from trees and bushes? They must be in four-foot chunks and bundled up. If the branches are over four feet, they will not fit into the back of solid waste collection trucks.
- Do not place branches on the ground around trash containers.
- Do not put dirt, sod, rocks or logs inside of yard waste bags. Bring those materials to the Landfill.
- Apples? Take apples to the remote yard waste containers or to the Landfill.
- Keep yard waste bags under 25 pounds so they don’t rip.
- Place yard waste bags at curbside about four feet from trash and recycle containers.
The remote yard waste disposal sites at Fitzgerald Stadium and West Boulevard North are open for residents to discard yard waste materials. When dropping off materials at the remote yard waste sites, place materials inside the containers and not on the ground.
For more information, contact the Solid Waste Division at 605-355-3496.
**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.
**CITY SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON APPLICATION FOR MAJOR HUD GRANT: The City’s Grants Division is seeking public comment on the City’s application for a US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) Housing grants. The City is eligible to request up to $7 million in grant funding.
HUD requires a 15-day public comment period on the grant application. The City’s draft application is available on the Grants Division webpage https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance/grants-division.html. E-mail comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line: Public Comments on PRO Housing Application. Comments can also be dropped off at the City Finance Office to the attention of Katie Pavel.
The City’s Legal and Finance Committee will review the resolution for grant application at next Wednesday’s meeting with the City Council considering action at its October 7 meeting. If approved, the Grants Division would submit formal application by the October 15 deadline.
Successful grants provide six years of funding for communities and organizations working to remove barriers to affordable housing. Grant awards will be announced in the spring or summer of 2025.
“Housing is a key issue for our residents,” said City Grants Division Manager Jamie Toennies. “This grant, if awarded to Rapid City, would bring additional resources to the table to help the City and our partners identify and implement long-term solutions to address the affordable housing situation in our community.”
The grant funds would be used to build capacity for the creation and preservation of affordable housing, preserve the City’s aging housing stock, create new affordable housing, improve aging infrastructure, identify best practices for policy and procedure improvements, and expand efforts between the community and interested stakeholders.
The City would utilize the grant funding in several ways, including piloting a new affordable housing project in partnership with the Black Hills Area Community Foundation; update City processes and create procedures to assist developers who wish to create new affordable housing; invest in neighborhood infrastructure improvements including the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, sewer and storm sewer; and supplement a Rehabilitation and Preservation Fund for low- and middle-income residents to apply for low interest loans and/or grants for needed improvements to keep homes from becoming substandard.
Specifically, Toennies said the City has committed to revitalizing the Robbinsdale neighborhood by investing more than $30 million to update aging infrastructure. The grant would complement those effort by focusing on preserving current housing stock and exploring new affordable housing options. The approach would be used to help other Rapid City neighborhoods.
**PUBLIC, CANDIDATES, BUSINESSES REMINDED OF POLITICAL SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS: With the November election just six weeks away, campaign signs are beginning to pop up in neighborhood yards and business frontage areas. Candidate signage is as much a part of the traditional election season as door-to-door visits, political literature and stump speeches.
However, each campaign season produces citizen complaints regarding the improper placement of political candidate and issue signs. The City’s Code Enforcement Division is already witnessing instances of illegal placement and fielding citizen complaints. Signs are beginning to show up in City greenway areas and railroad property areas. Stickers and signs are also showing up on traffic control devices and traffic signs.
City code enforcement officials remind the public it is unlawful to place signs in public rights-of-way or medians, including the boulevard areas of homes, public rights-of-way along streets and railroad areas, City parks and areas that can block the sight of traffic.
Examples of prohibited signage in the public rights-of-way areas include political, real estate, roofing and siding company signage, banquet and church signage. Such signage is permitted on the property owner's yard excluding the boulevard right-of-way. City ordinance 17.50.080 prohibits signs in public rights-of-way, and any signs placed in the right-of-way are subject to immediate removal. The public is also advised to not place candidate or issue stickers and signs on traffic control devices and signs.
Temporary political signs are allowed so long as they are not located within the public right of way, do not block a required sight triangle or impede traffic, or block or occupy a required parking stall or parking area. Temporary political signs are limited to 32 total square feet and a maximum height of eight feet.
The area in front of a property from and including the sidewalk to the curb is public right-of-way. Signs are not allowed in this area. Signs can be placed in a yard, or in front of a building.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation also reminds the public that political campaign and ballot-issue signs cannot be placed on state highway rights of way. The use of right of way is reserved for official highway signage. The State DOT indicates all signs in the right of way not required for traffic control are prohibited and will be removed by SDDOT crews and DOT staff will attempt to contact the owner of the signs to pick them up.
**BIG INCREASES IN RIDERSHIP REFLECTED IN SEPTEMBER TRANSIT REPORT: Rapid Transit System (RTS) has released overall and youth ridership numbers for September. All indicators continue to show significant increases in terms of overall ridership on the RTS system and with ‘Youth Ride Free’ program ridership on the RapidRide bus system.
For more information about the RTS program, visit www.rapidtransitsystem.org or call 605-394-6631.
OVERALL RIDERSHIP
Rapid Transit System recorded 26,154 passenger trips in September, an 11 percent increase over the August ridership numbers (23,267) and 17 percent increase over the September 2023 ridership totals (21,663).
September’s ridership is up an impressive 32 percent from the same month just three years ago when 17,737 passenger trips were recorded in September 2021.
The Rapid Transit System includes the RapidRide and Dial-A-Ride transportation programs.
YOUTH RIDERSHIP IN AUGUST
Youth ridership in September – the first full month of the 2024-25 school year – totaled 6,706 passenger trips, a 26 percent increase over September 2023 and 26 percent increase over the August youth ridership total.
Ridership in September increased 37 percent over the youth ridership totals of the same month in 2021 when 4,216 youth passenger trips were recorded in September 2021.
**MOST PARK RESTROOMS CLOSED FOR WINTER SEASON: One of the sure signs the area is heading towards winter is the closure of most restroom facilities in the City’s parks system.
Restroom facilities in most of the City's parks will close by the end of the day next Monday with the exception of the restrooms at the Sioux Park playground which remain open through October 31. Restroom facilities will be closed throughout the winter season until May 1.
Sioux Park Stadium facilities will be available during scheduled activities in October.
Effective October 1, the year-round restroom facilities at the Skyline Wilderness Park, Founders Park and Canyon Lake-West will adjust to winter hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be closed for inclement weather.
Portable restroom facilities will remain open throughout the winter season at the following park areas: Canyon Lake Shelter #3, Braeburn Park, LaCroix Park, West Fulton trailhead, Robbinsdale Park walking path and Jackson Park. There is also a portable facility at the Omaha football fields for fall football activities.
**CITY PARKS AND RECREATION ISSUES 2024 ONLINE FALL PROGRAM GUIDE: Temperatures are hovering around the triple-digit mark but it won’t be long before there’s a chill in the air. And with it, a number of fall seasonal programs will be underway, hosted by the Rapid City Parks and Recreation Department.
The City’s 2024 Fall Program Guide has been released online this week. The Guide can be accessed on the City’s Recreation Division page at www.rcgov.org . Fall_Program_Guide-compressed.pdf (rcgov.org)
The Fall Program Guide provides information on numerous activities, leagues and classes available at the Roosevelt Swim Center, Roosevelt Ice Arena and in the City’s parks system as well as important admission rates, rental rates, facility hours and contact information.
The Roosevelt Swim Center’s fall programs include water polo, fall swim lessons, water exercise classes, youth and adult fitness classes, Bubble Nights for certified scuba divers, open swim dates and information about the second annual Pumpkin Plunge on October 19 for youth ages 5-13. The Swim Center will also host Red Cross health and safety courses this fall, lifeguard and babysitter training and CPR/First Aid and AED training programs. Other Swim Center facility classes will focus on yoga, martial arts, exercise, fitness and conditioning classes.
The Roosevelt Ice Arena’s fall programs include figure skating and hockey activities, including adult hockey leagues, learn to skate classes and adult hockey player development sessions.
The Guide also includes location information about fall outdoor activities including golf and youth football league information
Check out the Guide for the home schedule and information about the Badlands Sabres, the NA3HL hockey team beginning its fourth season in Rapid City with the puck dropping at home September 13-14 against the Yellowstone Quake at the Roosevelt Ice Arena.
There is important rental information in the guide for using City recreation facilities and park shelters as well as hours, admission rates and rates for birthday parties at the Swim Center and Ice Arena. There is also information about the City’s new greenhouse facility.
For more information, contact the Roosevelt Swim Center at 605-394-5223 or the Roosevelt Ice Arena at 605-394-6161.
**CITY COUNCIL APPROVES CHALLENGE TO REDUCE STUDENT LUNCH DEBT: At its August 19 meeting, the Rapid City Council followed through with a pledge to establish a challenge fund up to $25,000 to match contributions to the Fed and Ready to Learn School Lunch Deficit Reduction Program.
At the August 5 meeting, City Council member Greg Strommen announced the Council’s support of the local effort to reduce the school lunch debt in the Rapid City Area School District. Strommen’s announcement was in the form of a challenge to local businesses, individuals and organizations to support the program and a commitment from the City Council to match donations dollar for dollar up to $25,000. The Council donation would come from the Council’s contingency fund.
To formalize the effort, the Council needed to bring an official motion to the City’s Legal and Finance Committee meeting on August 14 and to the full Council Monday night for approval. The measure passed without objection. The Council did extend the time frame for the Challenge, approving up to $25,000 in matching donations during the period of August 5 through November 30.
The Fed & Ready to Learn is a program managed through the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and supported by the Rapid City Public School Foundation.
Strommen said the issue was discussed by Council members at a work session earlier this summer. He also referenced the efforts of the City’s Youth Council, which held a community fundraiser earlier this year to support reducing school lunch debt.
“As a Council, we’d like to issue a challenge to the businesses, individuals and organizations in Rapid City that are like-minded and believe this Fed and Ready to Learn is a good program which students will benefit by better attendance, academic performance and behavior in student’s lives.” Strommen told audience members at the August 5 Council meeting.
For more information on the program, contact Krista Leischner, Student Nutrition Manager of the Rapid City Area Schools at 605-394-4061. To give to this fund, here is the link to give: https://bhacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4662
**RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM RELEASES AUGUST RIDERSHIP REPORT:
Rapid Transit System (RTS) has released overall and youth ridership numbers for August. All indicators show significant increases in terms of overall ridership on the RTS system, youth ridership on RapidRide and also for youth ridership on the first day of school on August 20.
For more information about the RTS program, visit at www.rapidtransitsystem.org or call 605-394-6631.
OVERALL RIDERSHIP
Rapid Transit System recorded more than 23,200 passenger trips in August (23,267), a 12 percent increase over July’s ridership and a 10 percent increase over August 2023.
August ridership is up 25 percent from the same month just three years ago when 17,529 passenger trips were recorded.
The Rapid Transit System includes the RapidRide and Dial-A-Ride transportation programs.
YOUTH RIDERSHIP IN AUGUST
Youth ridership in August totaled 4,947 passenger trips, a 30 percent spike over the 3,447 riders recorded in August 2023 and a 51 percent jump over the number of youth riders recorded in July (3,447). Last month’s numbers also represent a 28 percent increase over the youth rider numbers from August 2021. School was in session for several days this year as well as in 2023 and 2021.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL RIDERSHIP
If the first day of the 2024-25 school year is any indication, it could be a good year for youth ridership on the Rapid Transit System.
A total of 295 youth riders boarded the RapidRide buses on August 20, the first day of the Rapid City Area School’s academic year. This year’s first-day numbers are significantly higher than the 185 riders from the first day of school on August 22, 2023, the 200 riders recorded on August 30, 2022 and the 186 riders that boarded RTS buses on August 24, 2021.
**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 .
**CONTRACTORS REMINDED OF REVISIONS TO CERTAIN LICENSE RENEWAL DATES: City Public Works officials are reminding contractors of recent revisions in the ordinance governing the annual renewal date for City sewer/ water and trenching licenses.
The Rapid City Council last month approved the ordinance revision, responding to changes made by the State Plumbing Commission.
Earlier this year, the State Plumbing Commission updated the renewal date of state sewer water licenses, changing the dates required for annual license renewals from December 31 to June 30. The City’s Trenching Board recommended an ordinance change, adjusting the renewal date for City sewer/water and trenching licenses from February 28 to August 31.
“By adjusting our current renewal date to August 31, we better align with the state’s licensing,” said Interim Assistant Public Works Director Shannon Truax. “Any sewer-water or trenching license that was scheduled to expire on February 28 is automatically extended to August 31.”
License holders were notified by email of the change last month and will be sent a reminder email in July.
“We encourage anyone who has a license to keep their email updated with us so that they don’t miss any important notices about licensing,” Truax said.
Contractors doing sewer/water installation work in Rapid City are required to be licensed through both the state and city.
City Public Works officials say the change of the local licensure renewal to August 31 ensures the state license is renewed for the year, prior to the renewal deadline for local licensure.
CITY COUNCIL PASSES ORDINANCE REVISING CERTAIN LICENSE RENEWAL DATES: At its meeting last week, the Rapid City Council Tuesday approved second reading of an ordinance revising the annual renewal date for City sewer, water and trenching licenses.
The State Plumbing Commission recently updated the renewal date of state Sewer Water licenses, changing the dates required for annual license renewals from December 31 to June 30. The City’s Trenching Board recommended an ordinance change, adjusting the renewal date for City Sewer Water and Trenching licenses from February 28 to August 31.
“By adjusting our current renewal date to August 31, we better align with the state’s licensing,” said Interim Assistant Public Works Director Shannon Truax. “Any sewer-water or trenching license that was scheduled to expire on February 28 will automatically be extended to August 31.”
License holders were notified by email of the change and will be sent a reminder email in July.
“We encourage anyone who has a license to keep their email updated with us so that they don’t miss any important notices about licensing,” Truax said.
Contractors doing sewer/water installation work in Rapid City are required to be licensed through both the state and city.
City Public Works officials say the change of the local licensure renewal to August 31 ensures the state license is renewed for the year, prior to the renewal deadline for local licensure.
**CITY HALL SERVING AS RECYCLING LOCATION FOR ALKALINE BATTERIES: A collection bin for the disposal of alkaline batteries has been placed at the front desk of the Public Works Department administration area on second floor of City Hall.
Americans throw away more than three billion batteries each year, totaling 180,000 tons of waste. The average American household buys as many as 90 alkaline batteries annually, which results in 86,000 tons of waste per year just from single-use alkaline batteries.
Alkaline batteries include the AAA, AA, C and D batteries used in many household items.
“The most common small device battery is the ‘AA’ battery and are mostly used at work in remotes, computer mice and keyboards, calculators, and headphones, and used in our homes in so many gadgets from flashlights to toys,” said Rodney Swendener of the City’s Public Works Department. “We can easily take for granted the number of batteries we use and dispose of. Right now, our practice is to simply throw them away.”
The Rapid City Public Library also recycles alkaline batteries at no charge and the Rapid City Landfill accepts alkaline batteries, which can be placed in garbage containers.
“We use a lot of alkaline batteries here at the City, just within our own departments and divisions” said City Sustainability Program Development Manager Lysann Zeller. “The City Hall collection bin is a way to collect the batteries for recycling, both within our City departments and from the public.”
While dead batteries may be tossed aside by the public, they can take on a much different and destructive role after being discarded.
“Those batteries make their way to the landfill where they are buried in refuse,” Swendener said. “Eventually they break down and, in the decomposition process, batteries have the potential to leak harmful chemicals. That process alone can take over 100 years.”
Ria Hannon of the City’s Solid Waste Division says when many items, including batteries, are littered and not disposed of properly, can leak into the ground water and local water supply. She said the Rapid City Landfill lines their cells to prevent such contamination and says any proper diversion of batteries is appreciated.
Zeller said the plan is to expand the collection program to other city departments. She also referenced several local businesses that accept alkaline batteries at no charge, such as Lowe’s Home Improvement and Chris Supply. Batteries Plus Bulbs and Interstate Battery and Badger State Recovery also accept lithium batteries, which are not accepted at the Rapid City Landfill due to the combustible nature of the batteries.
“It’s important for the community at large to participate in the recycling and proper disposal of alkaline and lithium batteries,” said Zeller. “That includes homeowners, businesses and here at City Hall.”
For more information on where to recycle batteries, visit https://www.rapidcityrecycles.org/batteries--lithium-batteries.html .
**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 SWEEPS AVERAGE OF 2300 TONS OF MATERIAL FROM CITY STREETS: As this year’s edition of the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo shutters for another year, an army of workers hustle to transform The Monument facilities from dirt-filled rodeo arenas, sale rings and corrals to spit-spot display and vendors areas for this weekend’s Black Hills Sports Show and Outdoor Expo.
When most everything has been packed up, hauled away and items placed into boxes and into storage, the arenas and parking lot facilities are turned over to City crews operating street sweepers – those vehicles that move at a snail’s pace with a constant humming noise.
“A lot of work goes into the changeover of The Monument from the Stock Show to the Sports Show,” said Priscilla Dominquez, director of corporate sales and marketing at The Monument. “As part of the massive effort to tear down one huge event and set up for another large event, the city street sweepers and crews play a major role in the process by collecting the dirt and debris from the arenas and parking lots in quick order so we can begin staging of sports show vendors and displays.”
The city sweepers may move at slow speeds but they move tons of debris off city streets each year.
Consider this: City Street Department crews have swept an average of more than 2300 tons of material from city streets over the past four years.
Yes, TONS! That’s a lot of gravel, dirt, rock and other debris!
“With our considerable traffic, our seasonal weather patterns, the construction projects and our winds, our sweepers have a lot of material to collect and pick up,” said Jeremy Cahill of the City Streets Division. “Our sweepers are kept busy.”
Stacked alongside other trucks and vehicles in the City fleet, the street sweepers don’t possess the speed of the police cruisers, the brawn of the solid waste dumpsters or the girth of the dump trucks and plows over at the streets department. When it comes to speed and maneuverability, City sweepers are the sloths of the fleet.
If the City’s fleet of vehicles were in a parade, the City Street Sweepers are the equivalent of the shovel-bearing workers that follow the horses and elephants. But much like the pothole patchers, plows, dump trucks and trash haulers, the sweepers play a key role in keeping the city clean.
The City’s fleet of 10 sweepers remains busy throughout all four seasons of the year.
Cahill said the sweepers collect not only dirt and gravel, but cups, bottles, cigarette butts, paper items and other debris.
“The crews work to keep the streets clean of the debris,” Cahill said.
The sweepers collect material left behind from the thousands of cars traveling city streets on a daily basis, pick up debris residing on streets and gutters produced from various weather conditions, and round up material in wash outs produced from spring rains.
Sweeper crews work in residential areas during the day and main line areas at night for safety reasons to minimize interaction with traffic. The collected material is dropped off at the Street Shop detention area on Steele Avenue, dried and then taken to the Rapid City Landfill, which uses the material for cover.
“The work done by the sweepers and the crews – it’s a slow process but an important part of keeping our community clean,” says Cahill, noting the sweepers operate at about five miles per hour when collecting material. The vehicles display bright lights to alert the public of their presence.
The sweepers help reduce the dirt, dust and debris buildup on roads and are part of the important role of street department crews along with snow removal and patching potholes.
Cahill urges drivers to use caution when approaching or passing street sweepers and to be mindful of oncoming traffic in the work area.
**RAPID CITY REGIONAL AIRPORT SETS NEW RECORD FOR PASSENGER EMPLANEMENTS IN 2023: Rapid City Regional Airport set a new record for passenger enplanements in 2023, with 352,388 passengers boarding flights. This number exceeds the previous record of 350,960 set in 2019, and represents an increase of 4.1% from 2022.
"Air service is crucial for the growth and tourism of the Black Hills region. It contributes to a massive positive economic impact on the community. We would like to express our gratitude to our passengers who have helped us achieve this milestone. We also appreciate the hardworking staff of Rapid City Regional Airport who work tirelessly around the clock every day to ensure that our airport remains safe and operational," said Patrick Dame, the Airport Executive Director.
Rapid City Regional Airport is the only full-service commercial airport for the Black Hills and contributes over $456 million in economic impact annually to South Dakota. Our mission is to provide a safe, environmentally responsible, and fiscally self-sustainable operation, ensuring high-quality services and facilities. Our vision is to provide world-class transportation services, enhancing economic growth.
Rapid City Regional Airport Emplaned Passengers:
2023 352,388
2022 338,502
2019 350,960
For additional statistics, visit: Rapairport.com/category/stats
**NEW SIOUX PARK TENNIS COURTS COMPLEX OPENED TO PUBLIC ACCESS: Construction is complete, Mother Nature is cooperating and the City’s Parks and Recreation Department is opening the new Sioux Park Tennis Courts Complex to public access.
Wednesday (December 20) marked the first day the public can access the 12-court complex. The courts will be open from approximately 5 am to dusk until push button controls for the court lights are installed.
Construction on the $3 million project began in late January. The Sioux Park Tennis Court project was one of 11 projects approved in early 2022 by the Rapid City Common Council to receive Vision Fund money, based on recommendations from the Citizens Vision Fund Committee. The Council approved $3 million for the project, which called for a total rebuild of the area and included 12 tennis courts, new LED sports lighting, seating and shade structures, new fencing and windscreens and upgraded vendor, spectator and team amenities as well as drainage improvements.
“We are planning an official ribbon cutting ceremony sometime in the spring but with the weather being so nice, we wanted to open access to the complex for the public to get some outdoor court time and get a close look at the improvements,” said City Parks and Recreation Landscape Architect Melissa Petersen. “We appreciate the patience of the public during the past 10 months as contractor crews worked on this project that will provide great recreational opportunities for the public as well as the community in hosting big tennis events.”
Complete Concrete, Inc. of Rapid City is the contractor on the project.
Petersen said the City plans to keep at least four courts closest to the north parking lot of the Sioux Park complex open to public access throughout the winter season. There will be portable restroom facilities near the complex for public use.
**CITY EXPANDING SERVICES OF PUBLIC WORKS CALL CENTER: In September, the City’s Public Works Department established a call center to respond to the city’s growth and increasing number of customer calls.
Effective next Tuesday (November 14), the center will expand its services to include customer calls concerning additional divisions within the department. Beginning next week, call center staff will field citizen calls for the City’s water, water reclamation, utility billing and utility maintenance divisions.
When City customers call these divisions, the calls will be routed to the Customer Service Center where questions and concerns will be 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. City officials estimate center staff members are currently fielding an average of 100 calls per day. The number is expected to grow with the oversight of additional divisions within the department.
“Having the customer service center increases the level of service we are able to provide City residents and the general public,” said Jesse Rieb, program development manager with the City’s Public Works Division. “This call center provides the city resident with a level of transparency and efficiency, an opportunity to connect with someone to address a specific issue or question and get immediate attention.”
City officials are pleased with the early success of the call center and plan further expansion of the center in 2024 to employ an additional staff member and adding the City’s solid waste division for call center oversight.
**1972 FLOOD SURVIVORS AND VOLUNTEERS REMINDED TO SHARE AND RECORD MEMORIES, EXPERIENCES: Survivors of the 1972 Black Hills flood and volunteers who assisted in the area’s recovery are reminded to share their memories and experiences by providing oral histories to the Rapid City Public Library as the 51st observance of the tragic event approaches next month.
The Library has been accumulating oral histories about the 1972 flood for many years. Anyone interested in sharing their recollections are encouraged to set up an appointment with Library staff, who will assist and coordinate the recordings. Call 605-394-6139 to set up an appointment.
“We are always interested in collecting the important recollections and memories from those who experienced the 1972 flood firsthand, from both survivors and those who helped with rescue efforts and with the rebuilding of the community,” said Senior Librarian Sam Slocum. “Last year, with the 50th commemoration events, there was considerable interest to come in and share the stories. This is an ongoing effort by the Library and we know there are many out there who have experiences and memories to share and we want to preserve those recollections for future generations.”
Slocum says the Library also serves as an important outlet for Rapid City residents and visitors alike to learn about the tragic June 1972 flood event, which remains as the deadliest flash flood event in US history - claiming 238 lives, injuring more than 3,000 people, destroying 1,335 homes and was the most costly flood event at the time, causing more than $165 million in damages (1972 dollars)
**RESIDENTS REMINDED TO REMOVE SUMP PUMPS FROM THE SANITARY SEWER: Heavy spring and summer rains can sometimes result in flooded basements. City officials are again reminding residents it is illegal to discharge water from sump pumps into the City's sanitary sewer system and advise residents to remove sump pump connections to the sanitary sewer.
Such actions are contributing factors to sewer backups in many instances. It’s not only illegal but city officials encourage sewer customers to be good neighbors and remove sump pump connections to the sanitary sewer. This includes sump pumps connected to floor drains or connected in some way to the City’s sanitary sewer system.
Sump pumps, which remove ground water from homes and businesses, should be discharged into yards, streets, or the storm sewer, according to city officials. The sanitary sewer system is designed to convey only water from toilets, sinks, showers, dishwashers, and laundry machines. If residents are found in violation of City ordinances (13.16.200 and 1.12.010), they risk a fine of $500 and/or jail time of up to 30 days.
City officials issued a first reminder to residents early last month at a time when melting spring snows can sometimes lead to flooded basements.
Questions regarding sump pump discharge can be directed to the City Utility Maintenance Division at 605-394-4163.
**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.
**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, 2021 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.
**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.
**CITY HALL KIOSK WELCOMES VISITORS: A kiosk in the lobby of the City Administration Center welcomes visitors. There are four blocks of information, including a block for daily meetings and locations; a block explaining the location of meetings rooms in the building; a 'what am I looking for' block that provides a brief explanation of specific offices and their missions; and a date/time/temperature block.