City staff told the Dell Rapids City Council the newly constructed park building is not yet ready for public use and that the council must decide how to balance public access with security, staffing and maintenance.

At the meeting staff said gutters and some exterior work remain unfinished and that the building is not ready for turnover to the public. "The building is not ready for public use yet," a staff member said, and indicated some outstanding change orders and structural items will be discussed in a future, more detailed session.

Why it matters: The council must set an operating model that protects a city-owned facility while providing public access. Council members and residents weighed options that include leaving the building open 24/7 with cameras and motion-sensor lighting, restricting hours to staff availability, or using electronic access controls tied to reservations.

Key points from the discussion: Staff outlined three practical options: 1) leave the building accessible at all hours and rely on cameras and motion sensors for deterrence; 2) open the building only during staffed hours and for prearranged rentals; or 3) install an electronic access-control system so staff can program schedules and provide temporary codes to renters.

Councilors and residents raised concerns about vandalism, overnight use and wildlife. A resident who lives beside the park warned, "If we leave that building open, it will be vandalized." Staff and councilors also noted wasp and hornet nests as a potential maintenance concern.

Operational and budget details: Staff said security cameras have been installed but the building currently lacks Internet connectivity needed to support remote access-control systems. Councilors were told that staffing an on-call person to open the building on weekends could cost in the tens of thousands of dollars annually (staff cited a rough $30,000 estimate for full on-call coverage). Rental pricing was also discussed; staff said earlier conversations about rental fees suggested modest charges (participants said no one wanted to charge more than about $50 for a rental in initial discussions), and councilors debated reservation-block length (several favored four-hour blocks).

Direction: Council asked staff to return with options and cost estimates, including a bid or budget estimate for electronic access controls that could schedule doors and issue temporary entry codes, tie into the installed cameras, and reduce the need for daily staff lock/unlock duties. Council also asked staff to consider a near-term, seasonal approach (keeping the building more accessible during peak park months) while the city tests operations.

Next steps and closing: Staff will provide a recommendation and cost estimates for access controls, security integration and a rental policy for council consideration; several council members said they prefer keeping the interior simple if the building is to remain broadly accessible to avoid repeated theft or vandalism.