You may open the phonebook wanting to reach a certain department at city hall and after you dial that number, get re-directed. The Rapid City Council wants to eliminate that problem. Tuesday night the council gave the final go-ahead for a new information service to be accessed by dialing 211. Mayor Alan Hanks says the service will provide a centralized number so people can get a direct connection to the city department of their choice. The council has already found the funding for this new service.

The council actually has a contingency fund of about $200,000 every year for things that come up that are unanticipated. So this is a funding source that they can use. The council has appointed Community Resources Director Kevin Thom and Alderman Jordan Mason to give the council recommendations on what company to use to start the program.

Amanda Weber