Rapid City voters headed to the polls Tuesday morning and afternoon not in droves but a trickle, living up to election officials' predictions of low turnout.

At the Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department on Highway 44, no more than a dozen voters had cast ballots by 9 a.m.

Across town at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, traditionally one of the city's busiest polling places, about 50 Ward 3 residents voted over the lunch hour. By 1 p.m., 190 voters had cast votes.

Polls are open until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

On the mind of many voters was the city's proposed annexation of the South Valley Drive neighborhood.

At the fire department, where the annexation area's 400 residents could vote, the consensus was pretty clear: Let us stay part of the county.

Curtis Simonson has lived on South Valley Drive for 20 years. He doesn't want to have to pay higher city taxes.

"I'm getting all the services I need now," Simonson said. "I don't need the city to get in there and raise my taxes. I'm paying enough taxes as it is."

Cody Champion, a resident of Garden Lane, agreed that the county's services cannot be beat.

"My side street will be plowed and sanded before the city trucks even leave the yard," Champion said. "We like it the way it is."

At Blessed Sacrament, Ward 3 voters fell all over the spectrum, but most thought South Valley Drive should become part of Rapid City.

Peter Ragnone thought it was important for the residents to have a say in the city that surrounds them.

"It just seems important that the people that live in the 'doughnut hole' have a voice in the city government," Ragnone said. "Even though they live outside this community, they're very much a part of this community."

Peggy Nielsen said it's important for Rapid City to continue to grow.

"It's important that any city grows. We have enough ghost towns out here, we don't need anymore," Nielsen said. "They need to look at the city as a whole, as a community, instead of personally, as themselves."

Contact Emilie Rusch at 394-8453 or emilie.rusch@rapidcityjournal.com.