City Shares Important Information And Links Regarding Coronavirus/COVID-19
City and Monument Health officials provided a briefing to media Wednesday with important information on precautionary measures being taken at City facilities and links for the public to stay updated on the Coronavirus through Monument Health.
City Photo/Darrell Shoemaker
Below is important information and links to organizations compiling or sharing important information on COVID-19 as well as lists of cancellations/postponements.
CITY COVID-19 UPDATES:
The City of Rapid City is providing daily COVID-19 Updates on its website at rcgov.org . Click on COVID-19 Updates in the red menu bar on the home page. The page includes daily updates, releases and other helpful information.
MONUMENT HEALTH:
Monument Health is updating its website daily with new information on Coronavirus/COVID-19. Go to this Monument Health link for the 'Coronavirus Q&A: What You Need To Know' with additional embedded information sources for additional information.
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
For updates and to learn more about ways you can protect yourself and the people around you, visit the South Dakota Department of Health site COVID.SD.GOV or call 1-800-997-2880.
CITY CLOSING PARK SYSTEMS PLAYGROUNDS, RESTROOMS
The City's Parks and Recreation Department has closed park system playgrounds and restroom facilities to public use and will stop taking reservations for Park picnic shelters. The actions are being taken to limit spread of COVID-19 by minimizing the size of public gatherings as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.
The actions were effective March 20 and will remain in place until further notice.
The City is making the decision based on Centers for Disease Control recommendations for social distancing, limiting the size of public gatherings and managing the cleaning of the park equipment and facilities. The restroom facilities at Canyon Lake West Park Shelter, Legacy Commons in Memorial Park, Founders Park and Skyline Wilderness Park are year-round facilities and will be closed. Other park restroom facilities were scheduled to open in April but their opening is delayed until further notice.
Parks staff will be surrounding Park playground equipment with caution tape and orange fencing and placing closure signage in the affected areas. City officials indicate the City's 36 parks and bike path remain open for public use.
CITY INCREASES PARKING METER 'FREE TIME':
For the second time in a week, the City is adjusting its free parking feature on downtown parking meters as a way to promote support for downtown businesses.
Effective Monday (March 30), the free button on downtown meters will be expanded to two hours and parking will be free on Saturdays beginning April 4. The 'free button' must be activated by meter users.
Last week, the City adjusted the downtown parking meters 'free button' from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to promote food pickups and other short-term business-to-customer transactions as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on many local businesses.
The change will be in effect until further notice.
RUSHMORE PLAZA CIVIC CENTER:
Go to the following link to the Civic Center's web page for information on the virus, precautions being taken at the Civic Center, and a list of event affected. There is a list for events postponed, events cancelled and events with restrictions.
UTILITY SHUTOFFS SUSPENDED
The City of Rapid City announced Tuesday it will discontinue utility shutoffs of water, sewer and solid waste collection until further notice to allow for proper sanitation during the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Our primary goal with this action is to keep the community and the public healthy," City Public Works Director Dale Tech said in making today's announcement.
City officials remind customers to pay their utility bills on time to avoid late fees and to not impact the City's ability to provide these critical services.
The action is effective immediately.
CITY ENCOURAGES ONLINE PAYMENTS, CALLS TO OFFICES: City officials are encouraging citizens to by use online and phone options to conduct business with City Hall during the Coronavirus/COVID outbreak and to minimize personal visits to City facilities.
The City advises residents to consider automatic payment of their utility bills and to pay parking tickets online as ways to minimize visits to City Hall. In addition, questions regarding building permits and other City policies should be done by phone or e-mail to the individual City department.
City officials provide the following guidance to limit or eliminate visits to City facilities:
**Utility Bills: Residents are encouraged to use online automatic payment of utility bills by visiting https://selfservice.rcgov.org and clicking on Citizen Self Service on the left hand side for utility bills or by using the City's Utility Billing "Sure-Pay" system. Call 394-4125 or visit the Water Division's page on the City's website at rcgov.org . If you visit the self-service portal, you will need to know your account number and customer number to register, both of which can be found on your most recent utility bill.
In addition, residents are encouraged to mail in their payment or use the night drop box on the west side of the building, which is available any time of the day.
**Parking Tickets: Residents are encouraged to pay parking tickets online by visiting the 'How To' section at rcgov.org or https://rapidcity.citationportal.com/
**Shut-off Notices: Residents facing shut-off notices from the City will not have their utility services and solid waste collections suspended, however late fees for non-payment will continue to accrue.
**Permits: If you have questions regarding building permits or air quality permits, contact the City's Community Development Department at 394-4120. Customers can also e-mail questions and plan information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Staff can also work with customers for online submittals of plans.
**Development Applications: If you have questions regarding development applications, contact the City’s Community Development Department at 394-4120. Customers can also e-mail questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Staff can also work with customers for online submittals of preliminary applications.
**General Business: Residents with general questions about City services, should call or e-mail the individual City department rather than making a personal visit to the department office.
Residents are advised and encouraged to visit the City's website at rcgov.org for department and contact information.
211 HELPLINE CENTER:
The Helpline Center is assisting in the response to COVID-19 Pandemic. Currently, they are compiling a list of events/sites with closures, cancellations or restrictions.
- · If your agency/program/office has cancelled or closed some of your services. Submit a cancellation here.
- · If your agency/program/office has implemented restrictions (ie. on visitors). Submit a restriction here.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 211 Helpline Center is providing up to date information, assistance in finding food or other basic essential needs, and connecting volunteers with those who need them. We're also providing a centralized location for organizations and businesses to list available assistance, closures and cancellations, and program restrictions. Learn more, http://ow.ly/Fs9e50yNl49 or call us at 211
CITY CLOSURES/FACILITY OPERATIONS
The Roosevelt Swim Center and Roosevelt Ice Arena are closed, as is the West and South Middle School Community Gyms. These closures are effective until further notice. The Rapid City Downtown Library drive-thru remains open for checking out numerous materials and the digital library is available. Library staff will be able to assist the community by phone, email and text. The public library at General Beadle School is closed to May 1.
RAPID CITY REGIONAL AIRPORT:
- · We’re still seeing multiple cancellations from all commercial carriers on a day by day basis, but flights are still operating.
- · Allegiant has cancelled all flights through next week, no further info available. (And no, they are not pulling out of Rapid – just got a media call on that one! Rumor!)
- · Met with our tenants last week to provide updates and feedback on various COVID matters.
- · TSA has had some folks tested, so far all negative.
- · We’ve created Personal Protective Equipment for our maintenance and operations staff. Attached is a photo and guide we have given to them.
- · Airport will be receiving some federal funding based on the CARES Act. Details to follow on what that will mean for us.
- · Airport continues to wipe high touch areas during day hours with disinfectant. Two times a week after hours, thorough sanitization occurring.
- · Gift shop is closed. Other concessions are adjusting hours based on reduced flight schedule.
- · Next week Airport administrative staff will start rotating working from home. The executive director or a deputy will be on site each day.
RAPID CITY LIBRARY:
The downtown library will provide services from the drive-through window only, through April 10. The library facility will be closed to the public to support community efforts to help impede the spread of COVID-19. The drive-thru will be open Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., and Friday – Sunday, 9:30 a.m. -6:30 p.m. to pick up holds, return materials, or obtain a library card. Limited staff will be available to assist the community by phone, email and text. Please contact the library regarding any concerns about item renewals and fines and we will work with our community during this time.
Access ebooks, audiobooks, video, music, magazines and research tools from home using our digital library. A summary of library resources for all ages that can be accessed from home can be found here: https://www.rcgov.org/departments/library/digital-library/library-from-home-7826.html