Dell Rapids council tables public-works pay proposal, approves receptionist raise and multiple infrastructure contracts

The Dell Rapids City Council on April 21 approved updated city job descriptions, raised the city receptionist’s hourly rate and approved multiple construction and engineering contracts, while tabling a proposal to raise the public-works starting wage.

Councilors approved updated job descriptions for several municipal positions after staff said the edits reflect current duties and reorganize overlapping responsibilities. Council also approved increasing the city receptionist’s starting rate to $25 per hour and raising the current receptionist’s rate to $26 per hour; councilors said the receptionist’s duties now include utility-billing work and expanded office responsibilities. Council discussed but did not adopt a proposed increase in the starting wage for public-works hires; instead members voted to table the matter and asked the finance committee to return with detailed cost scenarios.

Why it matters: The decisions affect near-term payroll costs and the city’s ability to recruit and retain operational staff; several infrastructure contracts approved or amended draw on grant and enterprise funds rather than property taxes, officials said.

Key actions and outcomes - Job descriptions: Council approved updated and reformatted job descriptions, with staff to add an explicit code-enforcement bullet under the community and economic development director’s duties. - Receptionist wage: Council approved adjusting the receptionist starting wage to $25 and increasing the incumbent to $26 per hour; the motion passed on a recorded roll call. - Public-works hiring wage: Staff proposed raising the public-works starting wage from about $22 per hour to $25 per hour and increasing existing hourly employees to match (an estimated $39,000 annual budget impact, with $14,000 of that already offset by not filling positions in the first quarter). Council voted to table the proposal and directed the finance committee and staff to return with more detailed scenarios, including timing tied to anniversary dates and merit calculations. - Park Building change order and pay application: Council approved Change Order No. 5 for the Park Building adding three items (switching coil roll-up doors to glass-paneled overhead doors, adding an electric strike to a door, and plywood/paint to an interior vaulted ceiling) totaling $5,214.67, and approved pay application No. 8 to APX for $71,250. The project remains under contract for a May 30 completion target; the contract retains 5% as retainage. City staff said much of the project funding comes from ARPA and a private donation rather than the city’s tax levy. - Norby’s (municipal bar) upgrades: Council awarded the municipal-bar upgrade package (four bid pieces combined) totaling $55,853 and confirmed the work will be paid from the liquor fund (an enterprise fund financed by lease revenue and a share of liquor/gaming receipts). A resident raised questions about competitive fairness; the council and the business operator said the building is city-owned and upgrades remain city property if the operator departs. - Third Street bridge: Council approved a professional-services agreement with Banner Associates for contract administration on the Third Street Bridge project (the agreement estimates about $170,000 for construction administration; construction bids came in well under the original $1.7 million budget). Banner said construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in June or July, with a 100 working‑day contract term. - Water-supply and utilities work: Council approved an amendment to DGR’s Task Order No. 7 to expand the water supply and treatment feasibility study, adding $65,000 and bringing the study total to $105,000. Council also approved Task Order No. 8 (engineering work related to a west-side utilities extension tied to a private development) to advance design; staff said the development and utility construction are expected in the 2026 timeframe and estimated total project costs have been updated from earlier figures (an engineer’s estimate was about $3.96 million, with additional contingencies and fees raising the planning estimate toward $4.8 million). - Other items: Council approved awarding municipal-bar work to the low bidder, approved pay application No. 8 for APX, confirmed dates for free spring rubble-site days, appointed election-board workers for the municipal election, and proclaimed April 25 as Arbor Day.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve updated job descriptions (as amended). Moved by: Cava(gelli) (mover label in minutes). Second: Wendy. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion: Table action on public-works wage proposal and direct finance committee/staff to return with scenarios. Mover: Chuck. Second: Wendy. Roll call (as recorded): Meyer — yes; (Raul) — yes; Nelson — yes; Haack/Hawk — no; Jones — yes; Hanslick — yes; Cava(gelli) — no. Outcome: passed (majority yes). - Motion: Adjust receptionist starting wage to $25 and increase incumbent to $26. Mover: Chuck. Second: Cabagelli. Roll call (as recorded): Meyer — yes; Nelson — no; Haack/Hawk — yes; Jones — yes; Hanslick — no; Cava(gelli) — yes. Outcome: passed. - Motion: Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 946 (appointments language, removing annual appointment requirement and clarifying positions). Mover: Wendy. Second: Kevin Cava(gelli). Roll call: Meyer — yes; Nelson — yes; Haack/Hawk — yes; Jones — yes; Hanslick — yes; Cava(gelli) — yes. Outcome: adopted. - Motion: Approve Change Order No. 5 (APX) — $5,214.67. Mover: Chuck. Second: Gary. Roll call: Meyer — yes; Nelson — yes; Haack/Hawk — yes; Jones — yes; Hanslick — yes; Cava(gelli) — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve pay application No. 8 to APX — $71,250. Mover: Steve (staff). Second: Hanslick. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Retainage: 5%. - Motion: Award Norby’s municipal-bar upgrade bid(s) (total $55,853). Mover: Hawk. Second: Cava(gelli). Outcome: approved (voice vote); public comment heard; council clarified funding is from the liquor enterprise fund. - Motion: Approve agreement with Banner Associates for Third Street Bridge contract administration (approx. $170,000 estimated fee; DOT reimbursement expected for 80%). Mover: Gary. Second: Chuck. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion: Approve Amendment No. 1 to Task Order No. 7 (DGR) — add $65,000 (study total $105,000). Mover: Gary. Second: Bob. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Staff noted an administrative hearing on water-rights matters is scheduled May 7 in Pierre. - Motion: Approve Task Order No. 8 (DGR) — west utilities extension engineering. Mover: Gary. Second: Hanslick. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion: Appoint precinct election boards and set compensation for election workers (appointments for the municipal election). Mover: Gary. Second: Hanslick. Outcome: approved; one councilor indicated an intent to abstain because of a familial relationship with an appointee and staff was directed to resolve staffing prior to the election.

Who spoke (selected) - Tom Early — Mayor, City of Dell Rapids (presided over the meeting). - Steve — city staff (presented multiple items including job descriptions, Park Building updates and contracts). - Claire — Finance officer (handled roll calls, payroll questions and fund explanations). - Sheldon Jensen — Community Development Director (gave departmental updates, building/code staffing). - Trent Bruce — DGR Engineering (summarized the expanded water supply/treatment study). - Lance Mayer — DGR Engineering (discussed western utilities Task Order No. 8 and schedule). - Colin Zosco — Banner Associates (bridge contract-administration overview and schedule). - Danielle Bunkers — Norby’s Bar & Grill (operator; briefed council on upgrades and video-lottery contributions). - Seth (resident) — public commenter (asked about fairness to other businesses). - Council members: Wendy, Chuck, Gary, Meyer, Nelson, Haack/Hawk, Jones, Hanslick, Cava(gelli) (participated in debate and recorded votes).

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting - Proposed public-works starting wage: increase from about $22/hr to $25/hr; staff estimated raising existing hourly employees by $3/hr if the starting wage is increased; initial budget impact ~ $39,000 annually with approximately $14,000 offset from positions not filled in Q1. - Receptionist wages: committee recommended starting $25/hr; incumbent proposed at $26/hr; incumbent’s merit date is May 15. - Park Building Change Order No. 5: total $5,214.67 for three items; pay application No. 8: $71,250; project on target for May 30 completion; 5% retainage held on contract. - Norby’s upgrades: four bid packages combined; total low-bid $55,853; 2025 budget allocation for municipal-bar upgrades was $65,000; liquor fund (enterprise fund) will pay upgrades (revenue sources include lease revenue and a portion of liquor/video‑lottery proceeds). - Third Street Bridge: design/administration agreement ~ $170,000; construction bid came in roughly $1.1 million (well under the $1.7 million budget); Banner estimated a 100 working‑day construction period starting June/July. - DGR Task Order No. 7 amendment: added $65,000 to prior $40,000 (total $105,000); staff noted an administrative water-rights hearing scheduled May 7 in Pierre. Task Order No. 8 (west utilities) planning estimate previously $3.96 million; additional contingencies and engineering fees raise the planning estimate toward $4.8 million; earliest construction bid anticipated in 2026.

Meeting context and next steps Council directed the finance committee and staff to produce detailed fiscal scenarios for the public-works wage proposal, including timing tied to anniversary and merit increases, and to return to council with recommendations. Staff will add the missing code-enforcement bullet to the community and economic development director job description as requested. Construction administrators and engineers will continue weekly site visits and reporting for park and bridge projects. The city will process the municipal election appointments and finalize any last-minute replacements before polling opens.

Ending Council adjourned after routine departmental updates and personnel items.