(City Photo)
Air Quality Index
Check out this link regarding the current air quality conditions in Rapid City.
Public reminded to submit online feedback on data centers ordinance amendment
Rapid City’s Community Development Department continues to seek input from the public regarding a proposed ordinance amendment regarding data centers in the community. Earlier this month, the City of Rapid City hosted a public open house on data centers and is seeking comments through an online survey through November 2.
The survey and additional information can be accessed on the City’s homepage at www.rcgov.org in the featured news section. The news item includes a link to the data centers survey, along with links to the PowerPoint presentation, handout and other information shared at the October 14 open house, hosted by Rapid City’s Community Development staff.
People are also reading…
General public comment can also be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The proposed ordinance amendment would add provisions to an ordinance adopted by the Rapid City Common Council in December 2024 which defined data centers and identified data centers as a permitted use in light industrial and heavy industrial districts. The proposed provisions include distance to residential, extent of power, water and sewer usage, and noise and vibration standards to mitigate the impacts of data centers.
At its September 10 meeting, the Rapid City Planning Commission continued review of the item until its November 5 meeting to provide work on the proposed ordinance, which includes opportunities for public review and feedback.
Community events highlight annual Red Ribbon Week observance
Red Ribbon Week is being observed in Rapid City this week. Numerous school and community events are scheduled for the observance, beginning today. Red Ribbon Week is the largest annual drug awareness and prevention campaign in the United States, supported locally by the Rapid City Optimist Club and local schools and community organizations.
The 2026 Red Ribbon Week theme is ‘Make a Difference, Be a Hero, Stay Drug Free’.
Here are some of the featured events:
- Youth from several local schools will gather for the Red Ribbon Week Kick-Off at 4 p.m. today (Monday) at Minneluzahan Senior Center. Mayor Jason Salamun will provide a brief message and share the 2026 Red Ribbon Week Proclamation. Members of the Rapid City Council are also invited to the event.
- Deano in Red! The big dinosaur at Dinosaur Park will be displayed in red lights through Red Ribbon Week beginning today (Monday).
- Mayor Salamun will speak at Pinedale Elementary School Thursday from 8:30-9 a.m. at the school’s Ribbon Week assembly.
- ‘Spooky Skate’: Rapid City’s Red Ribbon Week observance concludes with ‘Spooky Skate’, a free skating event on Halloween from 1-3:15 p.m. at the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena. ‘Spooky Skate’ includes free admission, free skate rentals, free pizza, fun and games and a costume contest. ‘Spooky Skate’ is hosted by the Rapid City Optimist Club, Roosevelt Park Ice Arena and Thrivent. There will be prizes for games and contests including punch passes for ice skating.
Red Ribbon Week was initiated nationwide in 1985 and has been observed locally for decades.
Public donates to Halloween costume and candy drive
Thousands of candy pieces and dozens of colorful costumes were donated by the community as part of the annual Halloween Candy and Costume Collection Drive.
For a fourth consecutive year, Journey On and the Rapid City Police Department’s Community Engagement Team sought donations of candy and costumes to support youth in need and to support safe trick or treat events hosted throughout Rapid City later this month.
The public could donate candy and costumes to collection boxes set up in the City Hall lobby in Rapid City, Journey On Offices and the Rapid City Police Department Substation at the Uptown Mall.
Journey On will be hosting Halloween Costume Boo-tiques for youth living in the Knollwood Townhomes, Star Village and Sagebrush Flats neighborhoods. Youth will have a chance to pick out a costume or create one of their own to ensure they are able to participate in school-sponsored Halloween activities and in the safe Halloween events hosted throughout the community.
Rapid City’s water judged best in South Dakota
Rapid City has again 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 Water and Wastewater Association (SDWWA) in Aberdeen. Rapid City’s water will now represent South Dakota in the ‘Best of the Best’ competition at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2027 Annual Conference and Exposition in San Diego, CA 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 been awarded and recognized as having the best water in the state of South Dakota again,” said City Water Superintendent Eric Boyda. “The City has been working on several water treatment improvement projects, so it is great to see this award return to Rapid City again after winning previously in 2024.
“It’s great recognition and an honor our staff appreciates and the community can take great pride in.”
Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun said the honor is due in large part to the dedicated work of the City's Water Division team.
“Once again, Rapid City has earned the recognition for the best water quality in the state," Mayor Salamun said. "We are proud of our Water Division team and their continued standard of excellence. Good work!"
The City Water Division’s primary mission is delivery of clean potable water in ample supply that meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water regulations for the customers on the Rapid City water system. For the past 23 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.
Few days remain to donate clothing items to RSVP for Cornerstone veterans
Wednesday (October 28) is the deadline to donate winter apparel items for veterans at the Cornerstone Mission, part of the West River Retired Senior Volunteer Program’s annual Make A Difference Day observance.
The Mission is seeking socks, underwear, hats, gloves and coats. Donation deadline is Wednesday with both the Rapid City and Spearfish RSVP offices serving as collection locations. The West River RSVP+ office is located at 333 Sixth Street and the public is advised to call 605-394-2507 to ensure someone is at the office to accept the donations.
A total of 1,060 items were collected as part of last year’s drive.
Among the items requested by the Mission for this year’s collection drive:
- New socks
- New underwear with men’s boxers, sizes large to xx-large recommended
- New women’s underwear, sizes medium and large recommended
- Coats for both men and women, sizes large and extra-large recommended
- New hats and gloves
Make A Difference Day is officially recognized the fourth Saturday of October each year and is recognized nationally as a day of community service encouraging individuals, families, schools and organizations to support their communities through acts of service. For several years, West River RSVP+ has encouraged donations of clothing items for veterans at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission.
For more information about the donation drive or RSVP+, contact Ann 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.. Hines said pickups of items can also be arranged.
Officials announce changes in winter water releases from Pactola Reservoir
Effective Thursday (October 1), the Bureau of Reclamation is reducing the water release flows at Pactola Reservoir from 30 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 15 cfs for the upcoming winter season.
Thursday’s adjustment is timed to coincide with the end to irrigation season and is intended to maximize capacity and storage levels during another winter season with forecasted below-level moisture levels and decreased snow-pack in the watershed above Pactola Reservoir.
Rapid City and Bureau of Reclamation officials hosted a press briefing Wednesday to outline Thursday’s pending action and assure community and area residents the storage level of Pactola Reservoir remains high.
As of Monday, Pactola Reservoir was at 70 percent capacity with storage levels exceeding 39,000 acre feet.
Thursday’s planned action is the latest response to continued impacts from summer drought conditions and lack of winter moisture. In March, the City of Rapid City initiated annual water conservation measures two months ahead of schedule. In August, the conservation measures were extended past September 30 to year-long restrictions. It is the second consecutive summer Rapid City has lengthened the period for water conservation measures.
The Bureau of Reclamation and the City of Rapid City has coordinated the water release adjustments with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials in order to minimize impacts to fish populations and spawning trout.
Rapid City officials indicate the timing of the action is meant to coincide with the conclusion of the formal irrigation season, when downstream irrigators call for adjustments in release flows for crops and livestock use as determined by existing water agreements.
City officials are also assuring the public that the lower releases from Pactola Reservoir are more than sufficient to provide adequate water supplies for residents.
Record 96,000 admissions tallied at city pools this summer season
The public sought relief from consistently hot temperatures this summer in Rapid City, flocking to Rapid City’s pools in record numbers.
In data released from the City’s Parks and Recreation Department this week, more than 96,000 people were admitted to City pools this summer with all three outdoor pool facilities and the Roosevelt Swim Center reflecting increases over the 2025 summer season.
Overall, 96,201 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 week longer with the Sioux Park pool open until September 6 and the 50-meter pool at the Roosevelt Swim Center staying open until September 26.
The total is considerably higher than the 88,270 admissions recorded last summer and more than 23,000 admissions over the 73,097 admissions recorded during the 2023 summer season when chilly temperatures and rain impacted attendance. This summer’s numbers were more than 34,000 admissions higher than the summer of 2019.
“With the stretch of record-breaking hot temperatures this summer, the public relied on our City pools for some cool relief,” said City Recreation Director Matt Brandhagen. “We had a number of special events as well that drew great crowds and the facilities were packed on many of the hot days.”
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.
Polling location will be accessible amidst lengthy South Street project
Effective September 28, crews with Halme, Inc. will be installing a new water main and storm sewer with roadway reconstruction on a section of South Street in Rapid City.
South Street will be closed from 12th Street to West Boulevard with completion date scheduled for November 20. This closure period includes Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. City public works staff have been working with the contractor to ensure ADA accessibility and parking on Fulton Street at the voting location.
For more information, contact Halme, Inc. at 605-785-2323.
September transit report shows solid increases in overall and youth ridership
A total of 26,737 passenger trips were recorded by Rapid Transit System (RTS) in September, a five percent increase over the ridership numbers from the same month a year ago. The overall ridership number includes nearly 8,000 youth passenger trips recorded as part of the ‘Youth Ride Free’ program.
The youth ridership numbers are a seven percent jump from September 2025.
There were exactly 9,000 more passenger trips recorded on Rapid Transit System buses last month compared to the same month just five years ago in 2021 (17,737), a 51 percent increase. Youth ridership in September (7,981), the first full month school has been in session in Rapid City, is an 89 percent increase over the youth passenger totals tallied in September 2021 (4,216).
“September was a very solid month and the school year is off to a great start,” said RTS Manager Megan Gould. “We are seeing some impressive numbers over just five years ago.
Rapid Transit System has been providing local residents and visitors with public transportation services in Rapid City since 1992. The ‘Youth Ride Free’ program was initiated at the start of the 2016-17 school year. For more information about RTS, contact 605-394-6631 or visit www.rapidtransitsystem.org.
Most park restrooms set to close for season first week of October
Effective next Monday (October 5), most restroom facilities in the Rapid City parks system are set to close for the winter season. Meanwhile, adjustments in hours of operation will be made at three City park restroom facilities during the month of October.
- The Sioux Park restroom facility near the playground and the lower Robbinsdale Park restroom facility will be open through October depending on weather conditions and will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, the Sioux Park Tennis Courts restroom facility will remain open during park hours depending on weather conditions.
- On November 1, year-round facilities at Skyline Wilderness Park, Founders Park and Canyon Lake-West restroom facilities will adjust to winter hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be closed for inclement weather.
- The Memorial Park bandshell facility will also be winterized and closed for the winter season in October.
- The remainder of restroom facilities in City's parks will close after Sunday, October 4 for the winter season until May 1.
Portable restroom facilities are available throughout the year at Braeburn Park, Jackson Park Disc Golf Course, West Fulton Trailhead, Robbinsdale Park Walking Path and at Lacroix Disc Golf. Seasonal portable facilities will be available beginning October 5 at Canyon Lake Park Pumphouse Playground, Canyon Lake Park Shelter #3, Vickie Powers Park, Wilson Park and beginning October 30 at the Sioux Park Playground and Robbinsdale Park Lower Playground.
City's 2025 Water Quality Report available online and from City Hall
Rapid City has issued its Drinking Water Quality Report for the 2025 reporting year.
The report is available online at www.rcgov.org and visiting the Water Division page. It is also available in hard copy from the City’s Cashier/Finance Office, Public Works counter on second floor of City Hall and by contacting the City’s Water Division. Customers received a web link to the report in their June utility bills.
The Water Quality Report is an annual update provided by the Rapid City Water Division, detailing important updates and information on timely topics involving the department and community. This year’s annual report provides the latest test results on various regulated substances in the City’s drinking water system, the status on the lead service line inventory project, factoids about the City’s water system, reminders on water conservation measures, helpful hints on water conservation lawn care and recognition of the City of Rapid City for a 23rd consecutive year by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources with the Secretary’s Award for Drinking Water Excellence.
“The annual report provides a good summary of the work and efforts of the Rapid City Water Division from 2025,” said City Water Superintendent Eric Boyda. “There is also important test result information along with updates and helpful information.”
The annual report also includes important health information and a profile of substances and materials found in source water. The report also contains the photographic submissions of the 2025 Drinking Water Week Photo Contest winners.
The annual drinking water quality reports dating back to 2017 are also available on the City’s Water Division page.
Rapid City issues reminder concerning uncovered truck loads within air quality zone
City Environmental Planner Morgan Twombly is reminding the public 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 requirement applies to those passing through Rapid City on the interstate as well as those hauling material outside the City but within the Air Quality Control Zone,” said Twombly. “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. 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.
Public reminded to check online feature for updates on local construction projects
With warmer temperatures, various construction projects are or will be getting underway in the city. Rapid City Public Works officials remind residents they can keep updated on local projects by checking out public service announcements on 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 project.
“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 of year when 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.
Rapid City designated as Cardiac Ready Community
Rapid City has been designated as a ‘Cardiac Ready Community’ by the South Dakota Department of Health. Rapid City is one of 21 South Dakota communities with the designation, bestowed on communities that have ‘best practices in place’ for cardiac care throughout the community.
For the past 18 months, a working group has been coordinating efforts with local entities including the Rapid City Police Department, Rapid City Fire Department, Pennington County Dispatch, Monument Health, Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board and the Rapid City School District to streamline community efforts and boost awareness of cardiac care options and emergency equipment availability in areas such as city government offices, schools and community gyms.
Rapid City is the largest South Dakota community to receive the ‘Cardiac Ready Community’ designation. Other South Dakota communities with the designation include Sturgis, Philip, Lemmon, Mitchell and Vermillion. Local officials were notified of the designation last week.
“Cardio-vascular disease is the leading cause of death with one person dying every 30 seconds in the United States” said Sean Hollearn of the Rapid City Police Department. Hollearn has guided the 18-month effort, organizing local entities to collaborate on community awareness and education through hosting hands-on trainings, having staff and equipment more readily available in public spaces and utilizing message outlets and platforms.
“As a Cardiac Ready Community, Rapid City is putting its best foot forward in educating residents on what to do when they encounter someone experiencing a cardiac event,” said Hollearn. “We want to educate our community and make training available to show residents what to do to save a life.”
Hollearn said the ‘Cardiac Ready Community’ designation is getting its first opportunity with the public at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. Volunteers are hosting a vendor booth in the eastern concourse of The Monument’s Ice Arena during the Stock Show through February 7. Staff at the booth will be promoting the new designation, providing Cardiac Emergency Response plans, displaying hands-only CPR, AED usage and how organizations and citizens can help fight cardio-vascular disease. Appearances by Hearty the Heart are also anticipated.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586709968677.
Rapid Transit launches new interactive map service for riders
Rapid Transit System (RTS) has launched a new public app service assisting Rapid City residents with their public transportation experience.
The new service offers an interactive map providing RapidRide passengers with important route information such as individual bus stop locations, stop times and estimated times for next bus arrivals. The information is laid atop a map of Rapid City where site users can view all six color-coded routes, or focus in on individual routes in the system.
The interactive map will also provide notices to riders including holiday closures, deviation times and photos of the stops.
RTS customers can view the new site at Rapid Ride - Public App. The service was launched earlier this week.
“We’ve added some new features in recent months to allow our riders access to important route information in a quicker, easier-to-use format,” said RTS Manager Megan Gould. “All of the important information a rider may need is presented on the interactive map.
“We are seeing consistent increases in usage of the city’s public transit system and offering services such as the interactive map allows us to place our information at the fingertips of the rider, so they can access our services in the most efficient manner possible.”
For the past few months, RTS officials have worked with staff at the City’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to develop the new app. The City’s GIS Division provides mapping services, data and technical support to the staffs of the City of Rapid City, Pennington County and the public.
For more information, contact Rapid Transit System at 605-394-6631.
Rapid Transit now offers Google Maps to check out routes
Officials with Rapid Transit System (RTS) announce RapidRide routes went live on Google Maps recently. Residents can now utilize Google Maps to determine which route works best for their trips.
“This is a great feature to allow RTS users to check out the most convenient routes if they are wishing to go to specific locations in the community,” said RTS Manager Megan Gould. “It’s another tool for our public transit users to check out when planning a one-stop visit or perhaps a daily trip to get to work or school.”
In addition to Google Maps, Gould said residents can check out system maps by visiting www.rapidtransitsystem.org, which also provides RapidRide hours of operation, fares, helpful information, arrival and departure times as well as descriptions and stops for the six fixed route loops.
For more information, contact Rapid Transit System at 605-394-6631.
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 to lend their expertise and to serve their community on issues of importance.
Throughout the year, many of the committees have vacancies, either to fill 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..
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 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.
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, an 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'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 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 includes access to City and County voting precincts, the City's air quality zone, downtown parking map and the City's major street plan. RapidMap services offer 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.
