I will be the first to say I think this project is wonderful, and I don’t give a flying monkey who gets credit. It will be a shot in the arm for jobs in Sioux Falls and the region, and a perfect location for the project.
But while this project was in the works for 3 years, why so many secrets?
“I can’t believe they didn’t tell us.” Homeowner Angie Mulder sighed, exasperatedly.
So while land sale deals were being done, state, city and development organizations were wheeling and dealing, no one thought it would have been a good idea to clue people in?
So while the officials involved took their sweet ass time working on this (I heard it was closer to five years) they now are expecting the Sioux Falls City Council to make a decision on annexation as soon as June 9, a decision that would ultimately cost us millions in infrastructure costs for years to come.
What’s the rush?
I highly suggest and recommend the city council studies the annexation proposal thoroughly before making a decision.
Lest we forget, with Home Rule charter, the council is but an advisor. Strong mayor considers their vote but acts aside whether for or against. His premise is that he breaks a tie. In fact, he acts on his own. A recent example is free summer bus rides for teen students. The council unanimously voted for it but the mayor refused to adopt it.
Sioux Falls government is a dictatorship. Plain & simple. It’s time for democracy of, by, and for the people. Democracy that’s constitutionally guarranteed.
Foundation Park will happen and become annexed. City budget will be redirected. City debt will be half a billion before the next election.
Happened across the good mayors “me me me” voice yesterday while dial surfing in my vehicle. Did not catch all of it, but enough to know this guy cannot get enough of himself.
http://kelo.com/podcasts/greg-belfrage-show/935/mayor-mike-joins-greg-to-discuss-the-latest-big-news/
About this industrial park? Too many unanswered questions. If anyone thinks greg belfrage is going to ask anything probing would be a huge mistake. He is right next to whitney when it comes to lobbing softball questions at this mayor.
Like….why do you think this industrial park is the magic pill that is going to fix a city that is famous for low paying jobs? Just south of this new magical park, on the south west section of I90-I29 is another industrial park. Hundreds of acres are still available in that location, and have been for years. Yet, no development. Same for the 270 acres of developed industrial lots on the southeast corner of I 90-I 229. This industrial park has been years in the making, an excellent location, yet to this day, sits empty. How much in infrastructure costs have we dumped into these bridges to nowhere? Come on belfrage, whitney, grow a pair.
Shouldn’t Karksy need to recuse himself from this vote, since he sits on the Chamber board?
So, what’s yooze guys’s plan? Organic helter skelter? You should come up to Western ND, where’ I’m working now – if you want to see what wild West shotgun style “we don’t need no gaddumned gubmit” development does to a town.
Poly43 makes a point. Why promote another industrial park when there are flops yet to happen? The big successes are developments in Brandon and 2 exits north on I-29 from I-90. Why are they successful? Because they’re outside Sioux Falls city limits. There’s to many zoning restrictions and to many pay offs required to build in Sioux Falls.
Have to amend my last post just a little. I said there was no development in the park on the southeast corner of I90-I229. There is a little. About 6 businesses or about a tenth of what the development can handle. The park that the north Walmart is in. About 25% occupied. Another area to add to the discussion. The land both and east of the Flyin J. Zoned light industrial and commercial for the last 20 years. 20 years later, a Flyin j, a small hotel, a truck wash, and now a Burger King. These business occupy again about 10% of the land open for development. My point? The mayor and smith act like all we ever had to do was have available sites and these 10,000 jobs would trip over each trying to be the first in line to get here. It’s always been here, just get anyone to bite. Also, that’s one hell of a lot of infrastructure, (roads, sewer, water, electrical) not to mention, bridges to nowhere, that sit on idle land doing nothing.
I’m thinking the next mayor should be business oriented, budget conscious, and citizen friendly. My Man Mike promised this but became an evil tyrant. If Home Rule charter is repealed, the city can return to democracy. The new comissioners (not councilors) would be given power that provides checks and balances so one man cannot install himself as absolute dictator.
The mayor had ‘very little’ to do with making this project happen. As someone who was included on the negotiations said yesterday to me, “This project was done IN SPITE of the Mayor.” I guess his involvement actually made it more difficult to come around. I am getting the feeling more and more everyday, the only business skills this man has is how to sell something, planning isn’t really his forte.
Me personally. I think what was presented by huether and smith on the radio the other day was a lot of hat and no cattle. Potential for 10,000 jobs? If SF is indeed an economic generator, all the other industrial parks on the north end of town would have filled up causing a demand for this new one. Such is not the case. The bridge on 60th street over I229 is still a bridge to nowhere. The other north end parks recently developed all have weed filled drainage lines on the developed roads with no tenants. It’s classic listening, when this guy charms a neocon like belfrage into believing that lemon he is holding is lemonade.
Mike takes credit for someone else’s concept without recognizing they. If it fails, then he was never involved and takes no responsibility. The one thing he’ll never achieve is respect. He wouldn’t last one day in the military. It’s no surprise he was good at tennis and on the cheerleader squad.
I would be leery of the first big tenant. do a google on logistics buddy, and they don’t even have a website.