Box Elder

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!

The Streets Department has begun to come out of their seasonal snow removal operations and is shifting gears into their preventive maintenance schedules. They have completed evaluating all the gravel roads within city limits and are moving forward in repairing those in need of repair. Additionally, signage throughout the city is being evaluated and repaired while others on the team are identifying newly acquired city lots in need of debris removal and cleanups.

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 Parks Department has been busy working on the Bandit Ball Little League fields at the Community Park. All signage has been inspected and those in need of repair have been replaced making it easier to identify the ball fields. New gravel pads were added to increase the stability of the bleachers that were completely rebuilt throughout the winter. The bleachers now meet the height requirements established by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission). The team has also corrected multiple safety issues within the dugouts and along the fence lines of each field. Finally, the team reconstructed a dugout that was destroyed during this past January windstorm.

The Public Works Wastewater Department is utilizing the new sewer jetter to clean sewer mains throughout town. As we clean the mains we are identifying sources of infiltration and repairing what can be fixed with the shop. These efforts have been recognized by the wastewater treatment plant by significantly decreasing the amounts of water flows to their facility. The repairs we identify as unable to complete ourselves are being documented and prioritized for repair by contractors.

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.

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!  

Welcome to the team!

We would like to welcome to our team 2 new members of the Public Works Parks Department:

Nick Larson and Jared Karsky

The Public Works Water Department has been focusing on preventative maintenance and identifying faulty components to be repaired. Some citizens may have noticed cloudy water as we flush and test fire hydrants. This cloudiness occurs when large volumes of water flow through the pipes stirring up sediment that has settled through the years. As we continue to conduct these critical maintenance actions citizens should notice fewer service interruptions.

-Office of the Mayor of Box Elder, SD

The Planning Department is developing a Master Park and Trail plan and needs your help! Filling out the survey below will help us ensure that the plan meets the needs of the community. 

Take the Survey

The BEPD invites you and your family to attend the first Annual Hop With A Cop Easter Egg Dash event Saturday, March 27th from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Bandit Ball Fields in Box Elder!

Event Begins: 11:00 am but invited to arrive at 10:30 for meet n greet with BEPD/ BEFD. There will be grand prizes for each age group, music and a HOP-IN visit from Mr. Easter Bunny himself!

0-3 Field #3 Line Up: 11:20am/ Dash: 11:30am

4-6 Field# 1 Line Up: 11:55am/ Dash: 12:00pm

7-9 Field# 4 Line Up: 12:15pm/ Dash: 12:30pm

10-13 Field# 2 Line Up: 12:45pm/ Dash: 1:00pm

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 City Clerk Department has been working on the 2021 property tax assessment appeals and has recently submitted the Local Board of Equalization's recommendations to Pennington and Meade counties.  We've also been assisting the other departments in preparing for the City's annual audit and began working on preparations and tasks for the upcoming municipal election on June 8, 2021.

The East Mall Drive (EMD) Extension project is part of a public/private partnership in which the City of Box Elder is constructing the base project to which a privately funded project (Seger Drive extension) is planned to connect.  The EMD extension includes approximately:

1. ~5,000 feet of new 3-lane street section from Elk Vale Road to west of Bennett Road;
2. connections to Elk Vale Road, America’s Way, a new cul-de-sac (south access), and Seger Drive (future), and the I-90 Service Road (temporary);
3. ~5,000 feet of new water main;
4. ~6,000 feet of new sewer main; and
5. major drainage improvements along the new EMD alignment.

The EMD project is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2020.  This project is planned to eventually connect to Bennett Road and be integrated into a new I-90 Exit 63 interchange over the next several years.

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.

The BEPD invites you and your family to attend the first Annual Hop With A Cop Easter Egg Dash event Saturday, March 27th from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Bandit Ball Fields in Box Elder!

Event Begins: 11:00 am but invited to arrive at 10:30 for meet n greet with BEPD/ BEFD. There will be grand prizes for each age group, music and a HOP-IN visit from Mr. Easter Bunny himself!

0-3 Field #3 Line Up: 11:20am/ Dash: 11:30am

4-6 Field# 1 Line Up: 11:55am/ Dash: 12:00pm

7-9 Field# 4 Line Up: 12:15pm/ Dash: 12:30pm

10-13 Field# 2 Line Up: 12:45pm/ Dash: 1:00pm

The Box Elder Engineering Division in cooperation with the Pennington County is re-applying for a planning grant thru the BUILD 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 BUILD 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. 

Citizens may have noticed the heavy equipment doing earthwork on the vacant land at the southeast corner of the LIberty / Ellsworth intersection.  This is the site for the Liberty Plaza development which will be the home for a new City / Ellsworth Air Force Base recreational facility, mutliple commercial development lots, and a large residential housing area.

For 2022 planning, another TA Sidewalk Grant application will be submitted to the SD DOT and numerous applications for water and sewer grants for improvements will be submitted to the SD DENR.

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!

The 2021 City of Box Elder Municipal Election will be on June 8, 2021.  There will be one vacancy for each of the 3 wards and for Mayor.  Anyone interested in running in this year's elections may pick up a candidate nomination packet from the Finance Office in City Hall beginning March 1, 2021.  The deadline to return the nomination forms to the Finance Officer is March 30, 2021, or mailed by registered mail no later than March 30, 2021.  *Note* You must be a resident in the ward that you intend to run for.  To run for Mayor, you must be a resident within the City of Box Elder.