Canadian city is debt free w/a $700 M surplus due to it’s 88 year old mayor who has served 11 terms
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY79KbCptTo[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY79KbCptTo[/youtube]
Hey, Vernon, rotary phones went out in the 80’s.
The city wants to make it easier to turn in your neighbors. Are we changing the city’s motto to, “The city of neighborly hate”? or “If you have a neighbor, he’s probably a criminal”
Sioux Falls officials, reacting to City Council criticisms, say they are making it easier for residents to file code enforcement complaints against other residents or businesses.
Because before code enforcement started 6 years ago, our city was in shambles! Shambles I say! Shambles!
In response, the city is marketing its general information phone number – 367-8000 – as the number to address code violations. The city has contracted with the HelpLine Center to answer those calls, and operators there will be trained to get complaints to the appropriate departments for investigation.
Because no one that works for the city is qualified to answer a phone and talk to citizens? And we wonder why we may be spending $34 million next year for “Professional Services”.
At some point, the system might even be set up to handle calls 24 hours a day, seven day a week. Officials hope to have a new Web site up in May, which will provide examples of violations of city code and access to file an electronic complaint.
Because we won’t be happy until we turn our city into a police state! This is a crock of shit. Now we are training residents on code enforcement? This is getting out of control. Who the F’ck is on a power trip here? This crap has got to end.
Councilor Vernon Brown, a longtime critic of the city’s handling of code enforcement complaints, told Director of Health Judy Buseman that private companies would go out of business if they treated people as the city does.
Can we fire all of you? Point me in the right direction. Let’s get this party started!
Rather than use a seven-digit phone number for complaints, Brown said he thinks the city should use a 311 phone number. It would be easier for people to remember, but cost $250,000.
Vernon thinks spending $8,000 to experiment with snowgates is a “Waste of Money” because “They don’t work.” But spending a cool 1/4 million on a phone number is well worth it. Go figure. Isn’t it ironic that a guy who works for a telecommunications company wants to spend that much money on a specialized number? Gee, I wonder what company in Sioux Falls is qualifed to handle that kind of contract? (Cough, Cough, SDN communications, Cough, Cough, Time Killers, Cough). I guess it’s time to pay back your Telecommunications PAC money you received during your last campaign, huh Vernon? Talk about conflict of interest!
And Al didn’t even have to scrub voter lists from Texas to pull it off . . .
Congrats to Al Franken! Now we just need Governor Pawlenty to sign the paperwork. Will He?
Al Franken really did win the election for U.S. Senate in Minnesota last November. That’s the decision of the three judges who heard former Sen. Norm Coleman’s lawsuit challenging Franken’s recount victory.
“Franken is entitled to receive the certificate of election,†states the order signed by Judges Denise Reilly, Elizabeth Hayden and Kurt Marben.
The school baord decides to make budgetary cuts during a recession. Jinkies, what a concept!
Much of the $585,000 in spending cuts for next year will come from combining or cutting bus routes.
Get on your bikes rugrats and pedal your way to school, like I had to, uphill both ways in a blizzard.
Homan said she believes in the stability bus, as well as other programs not being funded next year, but “I can’t find something else to trade it out for.”
As you know, I’m not a big fan of Pam ‘No Buck’ Homan, but will admit she did what she was supposed to do in this situation. When money is tight, you pick something you can do without, just like the rest of us have to. When is the city council gonna figure that out?
Board president Darin Daby said the decision to stop funding the bus “came down to a prioritization which is not any fun at all.”
Yeah, no fun at all, because we would rather be making decisions on how to raise taxes or what TV station to watch during a council meeting.
Citizens are beginning to wakeup to the city hall shananigans;
Thank you Sioux Falls Councilor Kermit Staggers for asking for an audit of outside services. Several years ago when I tried to get some answers, I was told those reports were sealed.
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I find it interesting that Sioux Falls residents are asked to shop locally, but yet city government goes elsewhere to shop.
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Your audit opens up some good questions, but it also starts a dialogue about morality and the bottom line.
I am afraid Mayor Dave Munson has forgotten that concept. It does not take a genius to realize that Sioux Falls is not getting back in taxes, mortgages, etc., any of that $25 million paid to out-of-state services.
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And what happened to the morality issue of taking care of your own?
Remember the City of Sioux Falls motto under the current council and mayor;
“Special Interests First – Citizens Second”