Box Elder

Our Streets Department has continued to remain busy responding to what we hope is the last of the winter storms for the 2020-21 snow season. When the weather did cooperate, some of the team was able to begin repairing some critical storm drainage while others began cleaning up some city properties. Finally, some damaged street signs were identified for repair and replacement throughout the city.

Box Elder will be working hard on cracking down on Nuisance issues 2020-2021

The Box Elder Code Enforcement Division in cooperation with the Public Works department will be cracking down on nuisance issues as the City works towards the goals of their City beautification plans.

Community and Economic Development works to make the City of Box Elder a vibrant community that attracts families, business, and industry to a growing City that is innovative and progressive.  We are looking to provide opportunities for all community members to live, work and play.

The investigations division is excited to welcome Sergeant Joshua Campbell as the new leader. He replaces Sergeant Duane Peyrot who is retiring after 29 years in law enforcement. Congratulations to both of you on these new chapters in your lives!

It’s that time of year in which water breaks occur most often in our community. Every spring and fall as the ground freezes and thaws our water mains are under additional stresses such as physical movement which is a primary cause for our water breaks. During the past month, our team quickly responded to two critical water main breaks and two additional service line breaks. Unfortunately, these breaks can never be scheduled in advance and often occur at the most inopportune times.

-Office of the Mayor of Box Elder, SD

The 2021 City of Box Elder Municipal Election will be on June 8, 2021 at the Event Center at City Hall.  There will only be one election this year, and that will be for Mayor.  The two candidates for Mayor are Scott Allen and Larry Larson.  The 3 City Council candidates are all unopposed.  We will be preparing the sample ballot and absentee ballots soon.  Don't forget to register to vote if you have not done so already!

The Parks Department has continued to work with the Bandit Ball Little League organization in improving the fields in preparation for the upcoming 2021 season. They also were key to helping our Facility Maintenance section by operating a high lift assisting with repairs at the Public Works building, City Hall, and Veteran’s Memorial Park.

On Wednesday, April 14, 2021- Box Elder Police Department teamed up with Taco Bell on Endeavour Blvd. to reward Douglas High School students for seatbelt safety!

Officers were posted at the exists of the High School parking lot and issued FREE Taco Bell Taco cards to every driver who had their seatbelt buckled. Taco Bell issued the BEPD 80 cards of which, 72 were distributed.

Great job DHS students and, thank you! We appreciate all of you who- TACO- time to buckle!  

The City Clerks Department has been working on updating documents on our new website and working the preparations for the upcoming municipal election on June 8, 2021.  We have also been working on adding previous City Council Meeting videos and minutes to the webpage.  We want thank you for your patience while we continue this process.

The Box Elder Police Department would like to welcome Sergeant Justin Taylor to the team. Justin has spent his adult life in service to others working as a dispatcher, police officer, and with search and rescue. Most recently he worked as a police officer in leadership at the Summerset Police Department and we are excited to see what he can do as a leader in the Patrol Division!  

The Finance Department is in the final stages of the city’s 2020 audit review.  We are excited to wrap up another year and we have jumped right into 2021.   Even though we have been exercising shortened lobby hours due to COVID-19, we are excited that the lobby is back to normal!  Stop by to make your payment with our finance team between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  We have missed you!  If you prefer to pay electronically over the phone or the web, those services are still available.  If you are interested in setting up an auto draft for the 15^th of the month, please contact our office at 605-923-1404 for more information.

Finance is also busy working with the Marketing and Police Department to prepare for the City’s upcoming spring events.  We can’t wait to see you outside for Hop with a Cop, the Spring Market, and our First Movie Night in the Box!

Excellent job, Finance Team!

On Wednesday, April 14, 2021- Box Elder Police Department teamed up with Taco Bell on Endeavour Blvd. to reward Douglas High School students for seatbelt safety!

Officers were posted at the exists of the High School parking lot and issued FREE Taco Bell Taco cards to every driver who had their seatbelt buckled. Taco Bell issued the BEPD 80 cards of which, 72 were distributed.

Great job DHS students and, thank you! We appreciate all of you who- TACO- time to buckle!  

Box Elder preparing for B-21 with new subdivision

Ellsworth and the surrounding region will be undertaking big changes and growth in the next decade, with the coming arrival of the B-21 bomber. Box Elder is getting ahead of the growth with what’s being called “a city within a city.”

Alpha Land Company has big plans for the 1,400 acres in the southwest corner of Box Elder. The Alpha and Omega Subdivision is located between the west side of Radar Hill Road to the Northern Lights development on the Rapid City Border. The company’s plans would allow for the population of Box Elder to double in the coming years.

The company’s plans would allow for the population of Box Elder to double in the coming years.

Box Elder GIS creating maps to document years of undocumented Public Works infrastructure

GIS staff provides mapping services, data, and technical support to all City Department and to the public.  GIS is developing databases for the streets, water and sewer systems, parks, and other public features.  GIS staff works with both Meade and Pennington Counties GIS department to provide accurate data and mapping.

The Planning Department has been working with the Liberty Plaza team to finalize the details of the new Liberty Plaza neighborhood and community recreation center. The project will be a vibrant, walkable neighborhood with opportunities to live, work, shop, and play all within a short walk. 

The Dirt work for the new Liberty Center/Plaza is in full swing. This 110-acre parcel located at the intersection of N Ellsworth and Liberty Blvd will soon be transformed into the crown jewel of Box Elder. This area will house a state-of-the-art Fitness center, housing, and commercial property. Phase one (1) of the Fitness center is scheduled to begin construction mid May 2021 with a completion date this fall. The Liberty Center will consist of indoor basketball courts, a running track, work out rooms and other areas for cardio fitness. The Center will accessibly place for use by both our base population as well as those not active-duty military.    

The Box Elder Engineering Division in cooperation with the Pennington County is re-applying for a planning grant thru the RAISE grant program.  Last years application made it to the Secretary of Transportations desk for final review before it fell out.  We feel we have a very viable project that should get strong consideration this year.  If awarded the planning grant it will move the City one step closer to applying for the RAISE construction grant which would allow reconstruction of Radar Hill Road and the 14/16 HWY.

A project that has already under contract for this year is a water main replacement project on Radar Hill Road.  Projects that will be let for bids for 2021 include a project funded thru the SD DOT for sidewalk from the schools, the corner of Briggs and Patriot, to Ellsworth and south on Ellsworth to the Cimmarron Mall, a new water well along 150th north of 225th, and normal street maintenance projects of cracksealing, chip sealing, striping, and pot hole patching.  Several developments are preparing plans for their next phases.