Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Spearfish public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
18 issues in roads
Exit 12 off-ramp congestion
Residents and councilmembers have gotten calls about morning backups on the Exit 12 off-ramp. Police Chief Smith explained the interchange is under state DOT and Highway Patrol control, and DOT may run a traffic study; the city asks residents to call police only if backups reach the I-90 lanes.
Airport Apron Expansion funding and services
The council locked in the state's share of airport apron funding (about $128,000 total across two agreements) on top of a $4 million federal grant, and hired Mead & Hunt for construction-phase services. Construction likely starts in spring.
Downtown Main Street paving completed
The downtown mill and overlay project got done in a week and was open in time for the parade — a shout-out to Public Works.
Winter snow removal contracting
Bids opened September 2 for snow removal and, for the first time annually, snow hauling — costs have climbed enough that the city now needs competitive bids to stay under bid limits and be ready for a heavy snow year.
Rad Route to School grant application
The council authorized applying for a state Transportation Alternatives grant to pave the mowed path from North Canyon Street to Creekside Elementary, making it ADA-compliant. It was the top-rated rec path expansion in the parks master plan and would keep kids out of bus and car drop-off congestion.
TAP grant for Jorgensen Park to Creekside Elementary path
Parks staff are applying for a federal TAP grant by October 1 to pave a rec path from Jorgensen Park to Creekside Elementary — the top rec-path priority in the city's master plan.
Canyon Street rec path grant
The city wants a state Transportation Alternatives grant to extend a safe walking/biking route from the end of North Canyon Street to the elementary school — part of the recreation master plan.
Downtown mill and overlay
Three blocks of downtown close starting roughly September 28 for a mill and overlay — the contractor expects to finish in one week, and downtown businesses were briefed and mostly support the fast full-closure approach.
Sandstone Hills street remediation
Streets in the Sandstone Hills subdivision that failed after earlier work will get full-depth pavement removal and replacement instead of a cheaper mill and overlay. The $271,194.50 bid came in under the $341,576 estimate and sits within the proposed 2027 budget of $520,000.
Colorado Boulevard BUILD Grant
The city is applying for a federal BUILD grant of up to $25 million — no local match required — to rebuild Colorado Boulevard with three lanes, signals and roundabouts, addressing growth east of town. Future council votes would be needed before any money is spent.
Major construction projects funded and awarded
Exit 14 work continues, with public notices coming about traffic impacts, and the Rainbow Road box culvert project will bring a roughly month-long detour starting in early February. Exit 10 traffic calming will be presented February 2.
Four-way stop at Jackson and Jonas Boulevards
Public Works plans to install a four-way stop at Jackson and Jonas, starting with a flashing beacon, based on the safety action plan and crash data. A resident asked for a shield so the beacon doesn't flash into a neighboring bedroom.
ADA sidewalk compliance downtown
The downtown mill and overlay project triggered a federal requirement to bring curb ramps into ADA compliance, adding $27,000 in survey and design work to the DGR contract.
Hillsview Street bridge pathway reopening
Resident Joe Jorgensen asked the board to support reopening the closed path under the Hillsview Street bridge, arguing it doesn't need full ADA compliance to be useful.
Burno Gulch Road maintenance
Burno Gulch Road has no formal road district or maintenance agreement, and the fire inspector and Lawrence County raised concerns about how the fire mitigation plan would be enforced. The plat approval is conditioned on both being resolved before recording.
Sawmill Road and Sawmill Avenue Projects
The council awarded the Sawmill Avenue rebuild to Johner & Sons at $752,271 — far under the $1.5 million budget — and hired DGR Engineering for construction services, all funded through TIF 8.
Three-lane redesign of Main Street and Colorado Boulevard
A proposal to convert downtown Main Street from four lanes to three was shelved after mixed public feedback, but a public process to prioritize Safety Action Plan projects is coming.
Traffic and safety at St. Onge Road and Highway 85
Staff noted the aging traffic study for the area and that St. Onge Road was recently accepted as a city street and may be undersized — but a planned DOT roundabout at Highway 85 could improve safety.