Leadership Profile

A ‘BOOTS ON THE GROUND’ BUSINESS OWNER AND CITY LEADER

Chad Ronshaugen

Chad Ronshaugen is a second-term ward alderman and the current president of the Dell Rapids City Council. He represents Dell Rapids on the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance membership advisory board. Ronshaugen is on the technology committee at Dell Rapids Lutheran Church, has been a Boy Scout troop leader, and has coached his sons and daughter in youth sports for 12 years.

“My family and I moved to Dell Rapids in 2013. We toured many regional towns during the move process, but ended our search after falling in love with Dells Rapids,” Ronshaugen said. He is the co-owner of Raztech LLC, a managed information technology company that provides IT services to small and medium businesses in the region. “As an IT engineer of nearly 20 years, I not only am an owner of the business, but am a ‘boots on the ground’ tech as well.” To learn more about the company, see www.raztechsd.com.

WHY ARE YOU ENGAGED IN PUBLIC SERVICE?

Growing up in small town South Dakota was instrumental to my involvement in community service. I was able to see from an early age how people living in small communities lean on each other. I was fortunate to learn from family members, watching them donate time and energy to local city governments, fire departments and community-led programs or groups. I have always felt strongly that all citizens have a duty to make their communities a better place to live. People can affect their community in many ways. For me, it was first through youth programs, then through city council.

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OF DELL RAPIDS?

Dell Rapids is a beautiful community with everything you could want in a South Dakota town. We have a vibrant and historic downtown that offers food, shopping services and entertainment. The Dell Rapids parks and trails are some of the best in the region. In addition, we’re fortunate to have both public and private school systems, a hospital and clinic, a top notch golf course, a fantastic grocery store and a growing industrial park. I’m proud of how our community has successfully grown in recent years. We have upgraded old infrastructure and added new infrastructure to accommodate existing and new residents.

WHAT CHALLENGES ARE FACING DELL RAPIDS?

We are challenged with maintaining a healthy city budget while continuing to improve our community in the areas of infrastructure, quality of life and economic development. We have an infrastructure road map for upgrading the city’s old water, sewer and streets over the next several years. Keeping these projects funded, on schedule, and on budget will be an important (and sometimes challenging) task.

WHAT’S THE ‘NEXT BIG THING’ ON THE HORIZON?

Dell Rapids has a lot happening right now. The city recently purchased the old Wells Fargo Bank building on Main Street with the goal of renovating it for a new city hall. The plans include a community space that will be a new amenity for our city. We also have new residential developments that offer high end single and multiple family building opportunities. On the business front, the city is committed to expanding our corridor west to the interstate. This is an exciting opportunity for more economic development. //