Dell Rapids swears in new mayor and council members; mayor outlines priorities and makes committee appointments

Marsha Simmons was sworn in as mayor of Dell Rapids and delivered brief remarks outlining priorities of transparency, business advocacy and cooperation as the council organized its officers and committee assignments.

At the ceremonial portion of the meeting the council administered oaths of office to newly elected officials. The transcript records the oath sentences and the office titles as read and repeated during the ceremony: Bill Schmidt (ward 1 alderman), Fran Rousing (ward 2 alderman), Wendy Nelson (ward 2 alderwoman), Chuck Jones (ward 3 alderman), Amanda Hein (ward 4 alderwoman) and others. After the oath, Marsha Simmons addressed the assembly: "I would like to also warmly welcome the newly elected members of city council. I'm looking forward to the work we'll do together... To our residents and business owners, your voice matters and your concerns are my priority."

The newly constituted council elected Alderman Chad Ronshagen as council president and Alderman Chuck Jones as vice president by voice votes. The mayor appointed administrative officers and committee liaisons; the council confirmed motions to appoint Dean Hammer as city attorney and Mason Breitling as deputy city attorney and accepted a slate of committee assignments (Finance & Utilities; Policy & Procedures; Riverside Community; Parks; and others). The council also designated First National Bank of South Dakota and First Interstate Bank as official depositories and named the Dell City Journal as the official newspaper.

Outgoing Mayor Thomas J. Early received a framed certificate recognizing his service; council members and staff recognized several departing members by name during the meeting.