RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Council has extended their restrictions for non-essential businesses.
At their meeting Monday night, the council voted 8 to 1 to extend the restrictions to April 22nd.
The original proposed ending date was April 8th, but council members agreed that with the current situation with COVID-19, it was best to extend the restrictions.
The restrictions put limits on establishments that offer on-site service — such as restaurants, bars and similiar places. The ordinance has also closed establishments such as theaters, casinos, bowling alleys and public swimming pools.
The lone dissenting vote was councilman John Roberts who said he believed the city closed businesses too early though he was happy the extension did not surpass two weeks.
Roberts said “what happens if you lose the tourist season in Rapid City, South Dakota. That’s where most of our income comes in. So I’m just saying that as a warning to the people dais that there’s going to come a point where we are going to have to make a decision on opening businesses back up.”
Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender said he is working with Monument Health on a plan to reopen businesses knowing that keeping them closed until the virus is completely gone is not an option.
Governor Kristi Noem has said the peak infection in South Dakota may not happen until mid-May or early June.
