Valley Springs to invest in text alert program
Valley Springs residents may soon be in the know when water mains will be flushed and snow will be plowed in the city.
At the July 13 city commission meeting, outgoing City Finance Officer Linda Hunnel encouraged the commission to implement a text alert notification program for its residents. Hunnel explained the system would cost the city $50 per month and 4 cents per text the city sends out. Commissioners were receptive to the idea and Mayor Carl Moss said only city-related notifications would be allowed.
Once the text alert system is established, residents will learn more about registering for these notifications, which will come on their cell phones.
Owners of the forthcoming On The Rocks Valley Springs, Jon and Rob Pralguske, were approved for both retail liquor and package liquor licenses, both at a pro-rated fee for the remainder of 2021.
On The Rocks, which formerly operated as Broadway Gas and Grill, will be opening in stages, Jon Pralguske said. He said the convenience store is about a week shy of being ready to be open for business and the gas pumps should be operable in the next few coming weeks.
The father and son partnership have targeted their grand opening celebration for mid-August, and are planning to stage an Aug. 13 fireworks show.
The Pralguskes hope to hire 10 to 15 employees to operate the business that will be open from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. Additional plans for the combined C store, restaurant and bar include a patio, volleyball court, burn-out pit, live bands and comedians.
“We want it to be a fun atmosphere outside with a big-ass bar, bigger than we’re used to,” Jon Pralguske said. “We want to bring the ‘wow’ factor back to Valley Springs.”
On The Rocks previously operated as Broadway Gas and Grill. The building, which is owned by Sioux Falls developer Rick Gourley, was operated by Megan Hudelson and Caleb Huettl. Hudelson closed the doors in August 2020.
In other business:
• City engineer Gabe Laber reported that more than half of the city water mains and 60 percent of the sewer lines have been installed in connection to the mass infrastructure project that’s currently underway.
• Agreed to allow homeowner Jennifer Kielman additional time to address the issue with her fence and the drainage easement on which it was constructed. Last month, the Commission told Kielman she would have to move the fence out of the easement.
Kielman suggested to cut six inches off of the bottom of the fence, which would allow water to flow to through proper channels.
Laber advised the six-inch opening should be sufficient, but said, it’s “really the comfort of the council.”
“The theory of raising the fence is you can get water through unless there’s a lot of leaves (clogging it),” he said.
“I’m not trying to make waves,” Kielman said. “I just wanted to have a fence and I was given permission … so I’m asking for a compromise because I can’t swing it; it’s expensive.”
Kielman said the title company she used did not inform her of the easement. Hunnel, however, said the plat of the property shows the drainage easement.
The commission asked Kielman to contact the title company and report her findings to them at their August meeting,
• Hunnel reported that 29 pet licenses were issued during the city’s annual pet vaccination clinic. In all total, the city has 35 registered pet licenses on file. In South Dakota, Hunnel said 46.4 percent of homes have one pet on average. If Valley Springs follows the average, Hunnel said Valley Springs would have a minimum of 152 pets within the city limits.
• Hunnel also informed the commission that more than 70 city utility customers have signed up for ACH utility billing.
“My goal was 100,” she said. “It’s so much better to have this and saves so much time in labor.”
• Adjourned until 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10.
