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 SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR CITIZEN COMMITTEES AS PART OF RAPID CITY AMERICA 250 EFFORT: Rapid City’s America 250 Steering Committee is seeking citizens to serve on several citizen committees for the community’s observance of America’s 250th anniversary.
Numerous plans are underway to organize several events next year to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, with a focus on activities from July 1-5. Activities include a community parade, downtown festival, arts and culture celebrations, contests and competitions, fireworks and drone shows.
Interested citizens are advised to complete an online Citizen Interest Application or send a letter of interest to the Rapid City Mayor’s Office at 300 Sixth Street. Deadline to apply is Monday, October 27. The citizen committees will convene as part of November’s steering committee meeting and volunteers are expected to be recruited over the next few months to support events associated with the Rapid City America 250 effort.
Mayor Jason Salamun will make final determinations on committee selections. To learn more about Rapid City America 250 click realamericarc.com or contact the Mayor’s Office at 605-394-4110.
Committees that will include citizens involvement include the following:
- Arts & Culture Committee: Develop and organize events to include re-enactors, live performances and other arts and culture-related events;
- Contests & Competitions Committee: Identify and plan contests and competitions to celebrate America’s 250 celebration;
- Year-round Events Committee: Identify and potentially plan activities during 2026 to compliment the core activities taking place July 1-5, including coordination with organizations on events and activities as Rapid City America 250 events;
- Downtown Festival Committee: Plan 3-4 day downtown festival to include major public events and activities including a chuckwagon cookoff and festival;
- Volunteer Committee: Recruit and organize volunteers to work various Rapid City America 250 events;
- Fundraising and Sponsorship Committee: Develop fundraising plan and work with corporate and private entities on sponsorships for events.
“In partnership with Visit Rapid City, we have been working on a general scope of activities for next year’s big celebration,” said Leah Braun of the Rapid City Mayor’s Office. “We are establishing a few citizen committees that will be charged with the planning of key events and working on important details as the year unfolds. Citizen involvement on these committees will be extremely important and helpful as we move forward with the planning of the events.”
For more information about the committees, contact the Rapid City Mayor’s Office at 605-394-4110.
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**RAPID TRANSIT HOSTING ART CONTEST FOR NEW BUS DISPLAY: Rapid Transit System (RTS) is hosting an art contest during the month of October to select an art piece for display on one of their new buses.
The theme of the art contest is simply ‘Public Transportation’ and is open to participants of all ages The contest will run through the entire month of October. No illegal content will be considered. The winning selection will be displayed on the outside of a new Gillig bus, which will be in service later this year at RTS. Second and third place selections from the contest will be displayed on the inside of the new bus.
Additional information can be obtained at the RTS website and Facebook page. Entry forms can be downloaded at https://GoDrive.RCGov.org/link/6dd3404a-e8c2-44cf-8af7-660e67b970ed . To enter art work, scan the submission to https://form.jotform.com/251914287051153 .
“We’re excited for our new bus to arrive and look forward to adding it to our fleet,” said Rapid Transit System Manager Megan Gould. “The art contest is a great way to get Rapid City residents involved. We are seeing more local residents using our RTS buses and this is a way for them to participate and share their talents and help get our bus ready for public display.”
For more information about the art contest or about RTS services, contact Gould at 605-394-6631.
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**PUBLIC CAN SHARE INPUT ON RAILYARD RELOCATION PLAN AT SATURDAY'S TRICK-OR-TREAT EVENT: As part of the Railyard Relocation and Railway Configuration Study, the Rapid City Metropolitan Planning Organization is continuing to seek public feedback on the feasibility of relocating the current Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern (RCP&E) Railroad railyard from the current Campbell Street Overpass site to an alternate location.
As part of the public input process, staff will have a booth set up at Saturday’s Downtown Trick-or-Treat event at Main Street Square from noon to 2 p.m. Attendees can view a study area map board, receive handouts and there will be activities for kids including coloring pages, treats with QR code stickers and candy. The Trick-or-Treat event is presented by Downtown Rapid City and is free and open to the public.
The RCP&E uses the railyard under the Cambell Street Overpass to provide maintenance to railcars, store railcars and equipment, and load and unload cargo. The railyard and infrastructure are owned and operated by RCP&E with permission and cooperation from the South Dakota Department of Transportation and the City of Rapid City.
“This study will investigate the potential to relocate the adjacent railyard and review potential impacts on future construction in the area,” said Rapid City Long-Range Planner Kip Harrington. “The current railyard location in southeastern Rapid City is not ideal for the railroad due to vehicular traffic, train operations and the frequent train backups onto nearby at-grade crossings.”
For more information about the study visit www.rcrailyardstudy.com/ or contact Harrington at 605-394-4120.
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**MORE THAN 88,000 ADMISSIONS RECORDED AT CITY POOLS THIS SUMMER SEASON: Data released from the City’s Parks and Recreation Department this week reflects the public flocked in record numbers to the City’s pools this summer, seeking relief from consistently hot temperatures.
A total of 88,270 admissions were recorded at the Sioux Park, Parkview, Horace Mann and Roosevelt Park Swim Center pools during the summer period when pools were open to the public. This year, two outdoor pools remained open a few weeks longer with the Sioux Park pool open until August 30 and the 50-meter pool at the Roosevelt Swim Center staying open until September 20.
The total is considerably higher than the 81,025 admissions recorded last summer and more than 15,000 admissions more than the 73,097 admissions recorded during the 2023 summer season when chilly temperatures and rain impacted attendance.
“It was another busy summer,” said City Aquatics Program Specialist Teaghan Slagle. “We had a number of hot days with the pools packed with people seeking relief. Many of our lifeguards left for college but we were able to utilize those we had and adjusted our hours to keep an outdoor pool option available for a few weeks longer.”
City Recreation officials encourage the public to utilize the Roosevelt Swim Center as a great option for swimming during the fall, winter and spring months. Anyone wishing to serve as a lifeguard for the 2026 summer season can contact the City’s Recreation Division at 605-394-4175 for more information.
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**CITY SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR AIR QUALITY BOARD: The City is seeking to fill one vacancy on the Air Quality Board.
The Air Quality Board has one vacancy for the Business Representative position. Criteria for the Business representative in RCMC Chapter 8.34 specifies that the member shall be associated with a business in the area regulated by this chapter or Pennington County Ordinance No. 12 (see above). This individual may not be associated with a business which is regulated by either of the aforementioned ordinances.
Interested citizens are encouraged to apply by submitting a Citizen Interest Application online. Application deadline is November 3 at 5:00 p.m.
The Air Quality Board meets quarterly with a goal of maintaining compliance status with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, to prevent adverse health and environmental effects that result from fugitive dust emissions and smoke from wood burning and open burning. This is a three-year term.
Appointments are recommended by the Mayor and confirmed by the Rapid City Council. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Please contact the Mayor’s Office with questions at 605-394-4110. More information on the Board can be found on the Air Quality page on the City’s web site at www.rcgov.org.
**SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE SEEKING YOUTH TO SERVE AS COMMITTEE AMBASSADORS: Rapid City’s Sustainability Committee is accepting applications for two committee positions available for high school students. The students will serve one-year terms as voting members and ambassadors to the citizen committee.
Applicants must be a high school student in Rapid City. Application deadline is November 7. Apply online at Https://forms.rcgov.org/CitizenInterestApplication and select “Mayor’s Sustainability Committee”.
Rapid City’s Sustainability Committee encourages education, stewardship and policy leadership to make the community a leader in economic, social and environmental sustainability. The committee strives to educate citizens about sustainability through hosting events, social media messages and working directly with City employees and community organizations. The Committee recognizes sustainable efforts in the community through its awards program and serves as a resource on sustainability issues for City departments including Public Works, Community Development, and Parks and Recreation.
For more information about the Sustainability Committee, visit the Boards, Committees and Commissions page under the Government tab on the City’s website as www.rcgov.org . For more information about the committee youth vacancies, contact Dave Holland, committee chair, at 605-431-8721.
**NEW PROJECT WEBSITE UPDATES PUBLIC ON CITY'S LARGEST INFRASTUCTURE FACILITY: Officials remind the public to check out a new project website providing updates and important information on the City’s largest infrastructure project, the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) upgrade.
Launched in August, the website, located at https://wrf.rcgov.org/, offers a guided tour of the facility, details on project costs, construction progress videos, a construction timeline, and regular project updates.
The WRF is currently undergoing major upgrades, with an estimated completion in the winter of 2028. The $207.3 million project is fully funded through an SRF loan, the City’s enterprise fund, and $52.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding. The project's goals are to upgrade the WRF's equipment and infrastructure to meet future wastewater treatment needs for the next 20-plus years and to comply with regulatory requirements. The project will also protect Rapid Creek by implementing reliable and efficient water treatment processes that safeguard downstream habitats.
“This project website is a great learning tool for the public and an opportunity to stay updated on the progress of this important project,” said City Operations Engineering Manager Eduardo Lopez.
The original water reclamation facility began operations in 1967. Over the decades, it has undergone various updates, improvements, and new building constructions. The new website also provides visitors with the opportunity to submit comments or questions to City officials.
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**CITY'S WATER SUPERINTENDENT TALKS STATUS OF COMMUNITY'S WATER SUPPLY: A recent US Geological Survey study on Black Hills water has resulted in increased public discussion and questions regarding water availability in the Black Hills The City of Rapid City’s Water Superintendent Eric Boyda is responding to the study’s findings, assuring the community’s residents of both the City’s quantity and quality of water supplies.
Boyda provides the following facts about Rapid City’s water supply:
- On average, Rapid City’s water mix includes 83% of surface/stored water (Pactola/Rapid Creek) and 17% groundwater.
- The USGS study detailed concerns with groundwater supply, noting entities with senior and junior subsurface rights. Boyda indicates if all entities with senior rights, utilized their allocated rates, junior rights would be reduced. Rapid City’s rights are senior and therefore others with junior rights would be reduced or cutoff prior to Rapid City.
- Rapid City’s total water rights portfolio currently has sufficient capacity to meet our projected growth through 2115
- Future projects are necessary to aid in the treatment of surface water, wells and conveyance. Most of these projects are funded through the City of Rapid City’s existing rate structure. The projects are necessary to obtain, treat, and convey the water that the City already has rights to use.
Boyda shares the following comments regarding the USGS study/findings:
The City of Rapid City maintains a diverse and resilient water rights portfolio composed of groundwater, surface water, and stored surface water sources. Approximately 17% of the City’s total water rights are sourced from groundwater, specifically the Minnelusa and Madison Aquifers, while the remaining 83% are attributed to surface water and storage rights in the Pactola and Deerfield Reservoirs. This balanced mix provides the City with the flexibility to continue delivering reliable water service, even during periods of severe drought, when paired with responsible water use and watering restrictions.
As part of the recent Water Utility System Master Plan Update, the City evaluated projected population growth and service area expansion through the year 2115. The analysis concluded that our existing water rights portfolio will be sufficient to meet future demand.
A recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study raised concerns about potential over-appropriation of groundwater from the Minnelusa and Madison Aquifers in the Rapid City region. While this may pose challenges for some nearby systems, the City’s groundwater rights are generally senior to more recent applications, offering greater protection under current water law. In addition, the City's diversified mix of water sources provides flexibility in meeting community needs.
To strengthen long-term resilience, the City continues to actively pursue the acquisition of senior surface water rights. Looking further ahead, a potential project to bring water from the Missouri River would allow the City to access its 28,880 acre-feet of future-use water rights, providing another layer of reliability for the system.
The Water Division has some aged facilities that are in need of replacement, so while we have the source water rights, we do have some generational facility type projects that need to move forward. These projects are supported by the current rate structure.
The City of Rapid City remains committed to proactive planning and sustainable water management to ensure long-term water security for our growing community.
**MOST PARK RESTROOMS CLOSING FOR SEASON FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER: It’s a sure sign the area is heading towards winter with the closure of most restroom facilities in Rapid City’s parks system while a few other facilities are adjusted to winter hours.
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. The restrooms at the Sioux Park playground will remain open through October 31 and the Sioux Park Stadium facilities will be available during scheduled activities in October.
The remainder of restroom facilities in City's parks will close the first week of October. October 1 is the last day the park shelter restrooms at Canyon Lake Park and Old Storybook Island will be open. Next Monday (October 6) is the last day for the rest of the park restrooms facilities to be open.
The Memorial Park bandshell facility will be secured and closed for the winter season beginning in mid-October with the stage opened only for scheduled events.
Restroom facilities will be closed throughout the winter season until May 1.
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.
**BUILDING PERMITS VALUED AT $65 MILLION ISSUED FOR JULY: The City issued 286 building permits in July with a combined valuation of more than $65.1 million. The valuation total was the second-highest valuation total ever recorded for Rapid City in the month of July. The 286 permits issued were the most permits issued in the month of July since 2021.
For the year, the City has issued 1,439 building permits for a combined total valuation of more than $226.6 million. The valuation total through the first seven months compares to $185.1 million in combined building permit valuation issued during the January through July period of 2024.
In July, the City issued 29 permits for construction of single family homes, a four-year high for permits issued in the classification for a single month. For the year, the City has issued 120 permits for single family home construction, exceeding the number issued in all of 2024 (119).
A total of 23 permits were issued in July, each with a valuation total of more than $1 million. The top permit for the month was valued at $6 million and was issued to Yasmeen Dream LLC with McGough Construction Company LLC as contractor for construction of the new Caterpillar facility at 1941 E. Anamosa Street. A permit valued at more than $3.7 million was issued to the City of Rapid City with Complete Contracting Solutions as contractor for the Southwest Booster Station as 3008 Spring Brook Road. A permit valued at more than $2.87 million was issued to Monument Health with Scull Construction Service, Inc. as contractor for alterations to the inpatient pharmacy at 353 Fairmont Boulevard.
A permit valued at nearly $2.5 million was issued to MFP Properties LLC with SECO Construction as contractor for the new 9,900 square foot Vesely Building at 617 E. Omaha Street.
A total of 18 permits were issued to Presbyterian Retirement Village with Scull Construction Service, Inc. as contractor for duplexes on Shaker Court and Terrace Hills Trail, valued between $1.65 and $1.68 million each. A permit valued at $1.2 million was issued to Hunter Homes LLC with Hunter Homes LLC as contractor for Milton Plaza, a new three unit, 9,700 square foot commercial building at 2627 Eglin Street.
**CITIZENS ENCOURAGED TO SERVE ON CITY COMMITTEES AND BOARDS: With the 2025-26 term of the Rapid City Common Council officially underway, city officials are encouraging residents to consider serving their community.
The City of Rapid City has more than 30 boards, committees and commissions which advise the mayor, city council and departments on a variety of issues. The boards offer a great opportunity for citizens lend their expertise and to serve their community on issues of importance.
Throughout the year, many of the committees have vacancies, either to fil out expiring terms or to fill vacancies that can sometimes remain unfilled for several months.
The list of committees include numerous areas of interest, from sustainability, parks and recreation, urban forestry, urban wildlife, beautification, disability awareness and accessibility, historic sign review, historic preservation, air quality, retired senior volunteer program, trenching board and boards overseeing The Monument, Rapid City Regional Airport and the Rapid City Public Library, among others. Some boards require professional certification or expertise in specific areas with various terms of service available.
“The people who serve on the City’s boards, committees and commissions provide tremendous contributions in the overall success of our community,” said City Public Information Officer Darrell Shoemaker. “The committees provide important oversight, feedback and insights on critical issues and provide great assistance to the mayor, city council and city departments.
“We often have vacancies on the committees and we encourage citizens to check out our committee listings and consider applying to serve. When we have a vacancy on a particular committee, those applications are reviewed and considered.”
In most cases, appointments are recommended by the mayor and confirmed by the Rapid City Common Council.
Citizens are invited to complete a citizen interest application found on the Citizen Boards and Commissions page under the Government tab on the home page at www.rcgov.org. Committees with a current vacancy are listed with an asterisk. The links on the page provide a brief background, terms of service and mission statement for each committee. Some boards require members with specific skill sets, experience in particular areas or to live in a certain area of the community.
Most committees meet once or twice monthly or quarterly.
Please contact or email the mayor’s office at 605-394-4110 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
**PARKS & RECREATION TO HOST SENSORY-FRIENDLY SWIM SERIES: The City of Rapid City’s Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a new Sensory-Friendly Swim Series, four events designed for kids, teenagers and adults with sensory or adaptive needs to swim in the Roosevelt Park Swim Center’s leisure pool.
The series includes two Saturdays and two Sundays scheduled between July and October. The first event was held July 12 and also held August 10 and September 14. The fourth and final in the series will be held Saturday, October 11 from 6:30-8 p.m.
“It’s an opportunity to enjoy, float and relax in a peaceful, fun-filled setting,” said City Parks and Recreation Special Events Specialist Lindsey Myers. “The goal of the events is to provide a quieter swim space reserved exclusively for individuals with sensory or adaptive needs.”
Myers said there will be no music or spray features and the slides will not be available for use during the events. Sensory-friendly toys are encouraged and lifeguards will only use whistles in emergencies.
For more information about the ‘Sensory Friendly Swimming’ events, contact Myers at 605-394-4175.
**PUBLIC REMINDED TO USE ONLINE FEATURE TO REPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES: City of Rapid City public works officials remind the public to utilize an online feature to report public infrastructure issues such as potholes, non-working street lights, damaged traffic signs and other issues.
In 2023, the City’s Public Works Department launched the ‘Report a Problem’ link to the City’s website, https://bit.ly/RapidCityLightsAndPotholes , to report non-emergency issues. The public can utilize the online feature to alert the City if they see issues such as non-functioning street lights, dim or flashing lights or lights remaining on past sunrise. The ‘Report a Problem’ feature can be used to report potholes, traffic signs that need attention or other issues related to roads or streets.
When visiting the site, users are prompted to list the issue, provide a brief description of the concern, location of the issue and when the problem was noticed. Users can also provide a contact phone number or e-mail should staff need additional information.
City Public Works Administration Operations Manager Shannon Truax said the public provides important assistance to the department in getting issues addressed. Truax says the City consistently averages 15-20 requests per week from the public.
In addition, for several years the City’s pothole hotline has provided a way for citizens to report a pothole location for quick attention by crews from the City’s Streets Division. The City’s Pothole Hotline is 605-394-4152.
“We appreciate the public’s response and assistance with the City on reporting issues with street lights, potholes and traffic signs,” said Truax. “Our crews can’t be everywhere at all times so the public serves an important mission, as a collective second set of eyes to help us in keeping our streets and neighborhoods lit, reporting pothole locations and issues with traffic signs and signals.”
Callers should provide a close or exact location of the street light, pothole or traffic sign issue. Regarding issues with street lights, Truax said 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. Once a call is received from the public, a crew member is sent to the affected area before dawn the following day to locate the pole and begin the process of replacement or repair.
The public can also call the Traffic Operations Division at 605-394-4118 to report concerns with lights and signs.
**CITY'S POPULATION SPIKES TO NEARLY 85,000: Rapid City’s population is now estimated at 84,930, a solid 3.05 percent increase from the previous year. City officials estimate Rapid City’s population has increased by more than 10,000 people since 2020.
Each year, the City’s Long Range Planning Division prepares a population estimate for Rapid City, utilizing data including approved building permits, housing demolitions, the 2020 Census occupancy rate and the 2020 Census persons per household rate for Rapid City and Pennington County. The methodology is approved by the United States Census Bureau.
Based on the data, City officials estimate Rapid City’s population at the end of 2024 at 84,930, an increase over the estimate of 82,418 for the City’s population at the end of 2023. Using the population estimates, Rapid City has increased by more than 10,200 people since 2020 when the US Census Bureau estimated the community’s population at 74,703.
The 3.05 percent increase is the second-largest percentage increase in population for Rapid City since 2000, surpassed only by the 3.14 percent increase in the 2022 estimate over 2021.
“The data reflects a huge spike in population for our community,” said City Long Range Planner Kelly Brennan. “These projections are based on the available data and the estimates are important as the information assists City leaders and department staff as we make plans for the future. The information is helpful in determining projected growth as it relates to infrastructure, community planning, transportation, housing and other areas in terms of policies, guidelines and planning.”
The population estimate report was shared Wednesday at the City’s Legal and Finance Committee meeting.
**CITY'S ONLINE FEATURE ALLOWS PUBLIC TO KEEP UPDATE ON LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: With warmer temperatures and with spring officially upon us, various construction projects are or will be getting underway in the city. City Public Works officials remind residents they can keep updated on construction public service announcements by visiting the City’s website at www.rcgov.org .
For several years, the City’s home page contains a ‘Featured Content’ section which includes road construction updates. Staff with the City’s Public Works Department update the content whenever new projects are scheduled or current projects are updated. The site includes a road construction map, details on specific projects that include start and anticipated completion dates for each project, locations of the project, traffic impacts, specific maps to each project, contractor information and details to the construction.
“Every construction season is busy and the road construction updates feature on the City’s website is a great way for the public to stay informed and updated on the various projects going on in the community,” said Shannon Truax, City Administration Operations Manager. “This is the time many projects will be getting started or resuming after taking the winter season off.
“We want to make sure the public has a quick and easy way to check on the status and details of the projects.”
Truax said the website feature is a great resource for the public. The City also issues public service announcements on individual construction projects which are issued to media outlets and posted on the City’s social media platform.
Each construction project detailed in the road construction updates also includes telephone contact information if there are questions about the project.
**WINDY DAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK OUT AIR QUALITY INDEX AND AIR CONDITIONS IN RAPID CITY: With numerous windy days in Rapid City, City officials remind the public of a City website feature that monitors daily and hourly air quality conditions in Rapid City and everywhere in the nation.
The ‘Air Quality Index’ link has been on the City’s website since 2021 and can be found at two locations on the City’s home page at www.rcgov.org - in the Community Bookmark and ‘What’s News In The City’ sections. The City will often refer the public to the Air Quality Index when air quality alerts are issued for pollution, dust particulates and smoke. During alerts, the City advises businesses and the public to take necessary precautions to minimize dust emissions and for those with health conditions, especially the elderly, young and anyone with respiratory problems, to reduce exposure by limiting outdoor activity or choosing less strenuous activities. Operations which generate fugitive dust are advised to take extra measures to mitigate emissions during this time.
The Air Quality Index displays a color-coded scale from 0-500, ranging from good to hazardous designations. A ‘green’ rating of 0-50 designates good air quality for the specific area, a ‘yellow’ rating of 51-100 designates moderate air conditions, a orange rating of 101-150 as unhealthy for sensitive groups, a red rating of 151-200 as unhealthy, a purple rating of 201-300 as very unhealthy and a cranberry-colored rating of 301 or more as hazardous.
“The Air Quality Index is a convenient online feature, providing 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 dust, smoke or specific allergens.”
Visitors 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. The scale is used to communicate the air quality for anywhere in the country by listing the city or zip code.
Other features of the page include a color-coded map matching the color scale to show the air quality of the region. The Air Quality Index displays the current air quality and is updated hourly. It also includes any pollutants that may be impacting the air quality index and a recommendation or advisory on outdoor activities given the current air quality.
**CITY ISSUES REMINDER REGARDING UNCOVERED TRUCK LOADS WITHIN AIR QUALITY CONTROL ZONE: City Environmental Planner Morgan Twombly reminds the public that all truck loads must be covered for drivers passing through the City’s Air Quality Control Zone.
It is a violation of Rapid City Municipal Code to transport materials that have the potential to emit fugitive dust without a covering. All vehicles used for transporting such materials must be equipped with a tarp.
“This includes those passing through Rapid City on the interstate as well as those hauling material outside the City but within the Air Quality Control Zone. The zone is a 10x10 mile area around all of Rapid City, excluding the portion which is located within the city limits of Box Elder,” said Twombly. “Truck loads, no matter how small, must be covered, and large material is not exempt.”
Twombly said the issue greatly impacts Rapid City’s air quality.
“This is an issue that has persisted for quite some time and directly contributes to Rapid City’s air quality,” Twombly said. “Contractors, in particular, are well aware of the requirement.”
Contractors are advised covering truck loads is a stipulation of approval for air quality permits, and failure to cover loads will result in fines up to $500 per day of violation or 30 days in jail.
For more information, contact the City’s Air Quality Office at 605-394-4120.
**CITY'S SOLID WASTE DIVISION PROVIDES ANSWERS TO 'WHAT GOES WHERE?': Wonder what to do with those alkaline and lithium batteries? What about tires, paint, cardboard and boxes, electronics, medical waste, hazardous items and more?
Among the many helpful items on the City’s Solid Waste Division page is a convenient ‘What Goes Where?’ section. A simple click or two and the visitor can find out details and options on what to do with numerous household items – can the item be recycled, should it be placed in the regular trash container, should it be taken to a community resource for a disposal cost?
Solid Waste Division officials encourage the public to visit www.rapidcityrecycles.org and click on ‘What Goes Where?’ in the menu bar and check out various drop-down options such as ‘What is Not Accepted’, ‘Batteries’, ‘Paint/Paint Cans’, ‘Automotive’, ‘Cardboard/Boxes’, ‘Contaminated Soil/Asbestos’, ‘Electronics’, ‘Hazardous Chemicals’ and ‘Medical Waste’. The public can also visit https://www.rapidcityrecycles.org/what-goes-where-search-bar.html and list any item for direction on proper disposal.
“It’s easily accessible and a convenient way to find out what we accept or what the options are for disposing of particular items,” said Solid Waste Outreach Coordinator Ria Hannon. “It’s important to check out the site as circumstances can change with particular items from time to time.”
One such example are batteries. Until recently, the public could recycle alkaline batteries free of charge and drop them off at various locations, including City Hall and the Rapid City Public Library. However, in recent months the vendor is no longer accepting free recycling for batteries. The Solid Waste’s has now added updated online recommendations and options in its ‘What Goes Where’ section for disposal of alkaline, lithium and acid batteries, along with helpful hints on numerous other household items.
“The online site is a great resource for options of disposing of many items,” said Hannon. “It’s also a great way to keep up on landfill rates, recycling tips, the holiday collection calendar, what to do on collection day, etc.
For more information, contact the Solid Waste Division at 605-355-3496 or visit www.rapidcityrecycles.org .
**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.
**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 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.