Development News for Box Elder, South Dakota

City Council Approves Annexation of Shilly Subdivision Property

The council considered and approved Resolution 26-30, which pertains to the annexation of Lot 1R of the Shilly subdivision (formerly Lot R of the Shealy subdivision). This property is located in the northwest quarter of the southwest corner of Section 9, Township 2 North, Range 9 East, Mead County, South Dakota. The annexation was requested in conjunction with a preliminary plat application for subdividing land previously approved by the City Council on April 21st and recorded on May 5th. The property owner requires city water for development and thus sought annexation to ensure contiguity with existing municipal boundaries. The proposed lots are intended to maintain a rural residential character with minimum lot sizes of three acres due to the absence of municipal sanitary sewer service. The property owner will be required to connect to the municipal sewer system if a main is installed within 400 feet of the property, as per city code. All stipulations for approval have been met.

Douglas School District Fee Waiver Approved for Community Center Use

The council approved a sponsorship donation application from Douglas School District for the waiver of fees related to their use of the Community Center on May 27th, 2026, for their year-end Department of Education Training. The application was submitted after the event due to timing issues. Typically, fees are waived for nonprofits or other governmental entities, and staff recommended approval.

Mayor Reports on Community Engagements and Successful City Cleanup

The Mayor provided a report on recent community engagements and events. These included a community leader luncheon with Colonel Keller providing an update on Ellsworth Air Force Base, a chamber board meeting discussing an upcoming mixer, attending a Memorial Day celebration at the Black Hills War Monument Association, and a large chamber mixer sponsored by Halt Holmes to celebrate their 50th year in business. The Mayor also participated in a city-sponsored blood drive, attended a Box Elder Rapid City Pennington County meeting discussing various local government topics (primary election, TIF by Walmart, alternative energy ordinance, dead-end roads, library services), and noted the success of the Box Elder cleanup event.

Study Recommends Box Elder Site for Rail Yard Relocation; Pressler Junction Connection Proposed

A presentation on the Rapid City Rail Yard Relocation and Railway Configuration Study was given by Justin Scott from SRF Consulting Group. The study, commissioned by the Metro Planning Organization, builds upon a previous Campbell Street study and aims to relocate the RCPE rail yard from underneath the deteriorating Campbell Street bridge. The current rail yard location causes significant issues due to vehicular traffic, train operations, and frequent delays, impacting emergency response times and regional traffic. The study's goal is to find a long-term solution balancing rail operations with community needs like safety, mobility, and access. A preferred site in Box Elder was recommended. Other recommendations include constructing a rail connection at Pressler Junction and conducting a downtown rail crossing corridor safety study. The cost of moving the rail yard is estimated to be around $30 million, comparable to replacing the bridge.