Dear Business Group Members:

Last week, June 28th, we had our regular monthly meeting, mainly discussing the next steps as Mt Rushmore Road was not initially placed on the SDDOT’s construction schedule.  Here are some of the main points discussed at the meeting:

• We need to continue public awareness and support for placing Mt. Rushmore Road on the DOT’s construction schedule.  Attached to this email is a letter which may be used as a base that can be mailed to the DOT on behalf of a community group.
• Businesses along Mt. Rushmore Road may also send a letter of support; in fact, a business sending a letter is encouraged so the SDDOT will know there is support along the road.  In these letters the businesses could discuss individual needs – creating a better street to help with business, design ideas, concern with the current situations, input on a construction schedule, etc.
• The DOT has a public input meeting July 19th @ 7pm located in the Civic Center.  It may be good to send a couple of people to make our case in placing the street on the construction calendar.  I do plan to attend this meeting, so if any one would like to come with me I am open to any volunteers, please let me know.
• Todd Seaman mentioned an exciting point in that it seems the SDDOT has recognized our group and wants to work with us on future concepts for the road.  The SDDOT moves through a scoping process prior to road design and construction, in this phase our group could be very influential.
• We are also starting a web page that individuals can access information about our group, click on this link to access the page: mountrushmoreroad . If you have any questions about the operation of the site please contact: Daniel Stanton at daniel@stantonassociates.com.  I think the operation of this web page will become more and more valuable as the meetings progress, please let me or Daniel know of any suggestions or such that may be added to the page. 
• Again, the meeting discussed many possibilities and design concepts that would be very practical and unique solutions to the future of Mt. Rushmore Road. 
• The next meeting is set for July 26th from 3-4 at Black Hills Bagels.  There is also talk of inviting Mayor Shaw and some council members to explain our ideas/concerns and get them on board, so attend if you can and bring a friend if you are able. 

Please let me know if you have questions or ideas to incorporate into any support letters. The letters of support may be sent to:

Leon Schochenmaier

Division Manager Planning & Engineering SDDOT

700 East Broadway Ave

Pierre, SD; 57501

Thanks,

Mike

Michael Stanley, Associate ASLA

CLARB Certified Landscape Architect

Real Belle Fourche, South Dakota

http://www.realbellefourche.com

Real Brookings, South Dakota

http://www.realbrookings.com

Real Chamberlain, South Dakota

http://www.realchamberlain.com

Real Custer, South Dakota

http://www.realcuster.com

Real Deadwood, South Dakota

http://www.realdeadwood.com

Real Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

http://www.realellsworth.com

Real Hermosa, South Dakota

http://www.realhermosa.com

Real Hill City, South Dakota

http://www.realhillcity.com

Real Keystone, South Dakota

http://www.realkeystone.com

Real Mitchell, South Dakota

http://www.realmitchell.com

Real Pierre, South Dakota

http://www.realpierre.com

Real Rapid City, South Dakota

http://www.realrapidcity.com

Real Sioux Falls, South Dakota

http://www.realsiouxfalls.com

Real Spearfish, South Dakota

http://www.realspearfish.com

Real Sturgis, South Dakota

http://www.realsturgis.com

Real Vermillion, South Dakota

http://www.realvermillion.com

Real Yankton, South Dakota

http://www.realyankton.com