BOX ELDER — The Box Elder City Council certified the results of the municipal election during its meeting Wednesday night, officially declaring Kirk Beauchamp, Patrick W. Schubert Sr. and Steven Bixel elected to represent Wards 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The candidates ran unopposed for the seats.
Justin Scott of SRF Consulting in Minneapolis, presented findings from a study examining the potential relocation of the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern (RCP&E) railyard and rail lines from the Campbell Street Bridge area in Rapid City. Scott said the aging bridge will eventually require either a $30 million replacement project or removal, which sparked a study for relocation opportunity.
The goal of the study was to identify a long-term solution that balances regional rail operations, operational efficiency and community needs, Scott said. According to Scott, Box Elder is one of the top three candidates for a railyard relocation site.
City Administrator Doug Curry asked whether a timeline had been established for the relocation project. Scott said a timeline is unknown but noted the study has positioned stakeholders to move forward as quickly as needed, with the primary factor driving the project being the future of the Campbell Street Bridge.
Scott said there is no expectation that the City of Box Elder would be liable for costs if the relocation were to occur within city limits. However, he added that the city could potentially benefit from additional tax revenue and incentives associated with the project.
Scott’s presentation was informational only, and no action was taken by the council.
Mark O’Loughlen requested approval of a commercial sponsorship agreement for the South Dakota Ellsworth Air Force Base Picnic, scheduled for Friday, June 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dakotas. All DOD cardholders with base access are welcome to attend. O’Loughlen said the event, now in its second year, serves as a way to show appreciation for service members and their families while strengthening community ties.
In his mayor’s report, Mayor Larry Larson noted that on May 20 he attended a luncheon at Raider Café with other community leaders, as well as a meeting of the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Larson also attended a Memorial Day celebration hosted by the Black Hills War Monument Association in Rapid City.
On May 26, Larson attended a Chamber Mixer at Hult Homes. He said the event drew more than 80 attendees and celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary. Larson also noted he participated in a city blood drive May 27.
Larson further reported attending a joint meeting involving Box Elder, Rapid City and Pennington County officials May 28. He thanked city staff for their efforts during the annual Cleaning Up the Box event held May 29 and 30, saying residents recognize and appreciate the work city employees do for the community.
The next Box Elder City Council meeting will be held June 16 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
