Minnehaha County Commission/City of Dell Rapids Meeting - June 16th, 2026

The joint meeting of the Minnehaha County Commission and the City of Dell Rapids Council on June 16, 2026, focused primarily on two zoning-related agenda items: a text amendment to update building permit regulations and a rezoning request for approximately 20 acres of land from rural residential (RR5) to commercial (C) zoning. The rezoning request was made by Dell Rapids Area Health Center (DOC) and Avera to facilitate the potential development of a new healthcare facility west of Dell Rapids city limits. The meeting included extensive public testimony both in support of and opposition to the rezoning, with proponents emphasizing the need for modern healthcare infrastructure and strategic community growth, while opponents raised concerns about the location, lack of completed traffic and environmental studies, and impacts on existing residential areas. The commissions discussed the procedural steps ahead, including the conditional use permit process where detailed studies and neighbor input would be addressed. Both governing bodies voted to approve the zoning text amendment and the rezoning request, allowing the healthcare project to proceed to subsequent planning stages. Additionally, a public comment highlighted concerns about groundwater protection and environmental stewardship related to regional development.