I am still trying to get details on this event. But it is going to take place Wednesday night at The Holiday Inn City Centre in the Starlite Room. They will focus on economic questions. I have also heard that two of the mayoral candidates have turned down the invitation.
The two that turned down their invitation to this farce will get a second look from me.
I think it was Peterson and Huether, but I am not sure.
Good for them. Going to this event makes them more crazy than the people running the event! I hope Kermit declines the invite.
They told me they would focus on the economic questions, and I believe them. If they start talking about gun rights, abortion, birth certificates, healthcare reform, etc, etc, I don’t blame them for not showing up. I even submitted some questions;
DEBT REDUCTION
• As mayor, do you have any long term goals to reduce city debt?
• For those of you that already serve on the city council, what is our current city debt and what are we paying in debt service on that debt per year (principal and interest).
EVENTS CENTER FUNDING
• Instead of bonding or raising taxes to build a new Events Center what would be your alternative plan to build an Events center? Saving for it? Corporate sponsorship, (for example)?
IOWA CASINO
• With the possibility of a new casino being built in Iowa next to Sioux Falls, it could have a positive or negative effect on our city. Positively it could increase sales tax receipts, job growth and tourism to Sioux Falls, on the negative it could make Video Lottery revenue go down. What are your thoughts on the possible Iowa Casino?
LEWIS AND CLARK
• The city took out a $70 million dollar bond to ‘PRE-PAY’ on the Lewis & Clark pipeline, do you think that was wise?
• Why are we paying up front for something that we may or may not get in 2 – 4 years? Why not pay as we go?
• Is it fair to raise taxes and fees for current residents to pay for something that only future residents will benefit from?
SIOUX RIVER LEVEES
• Do you think Sioux Falls tax payers should subsidize the Feds by building levees that is clearly the responsibility of the CORP of Engineers? Do you think it was wise to bow to Washington on this?
Flooding is federal authority.
If the city raises levees, water would still come in from outside city limits on both sides. Flood control requires large scale state and federal planning not city keystone cops.
Next idea, dredge the river and use material to raise levees. Disturb agricultural sediment triggering a federal toxic cleanup. Then, relocate citizens to Mitchell where there is constitutional democracy.
If you go, it’s hard to find 1770’s costumes.
Hopefully none of the candidates show up.
L3wis:
“Instead of bonding or raising taxes to build a new Events Center what would be your alternative plan to build an Events center? Saving for it? Corporate sponsorship, (for example)?”
Horrible way to word the question, but I suppose that will expose the naivete’ and/or pandering abilities of the candidate(s) if they follow you down that road.
Saving for it or hoping a corporate donor pays the whole tab is okay if you are talking about a 6 or 7 figure project. No way that would cover even 25% of the cost of what we actually need.
The bulk of the EC’s costs will need to be bonded and the best way to pay the P&I is the way Omaha & Lincoln are with B&B & Entertainment taxes.
It will be surprising to see who shows up.
I doubt there will be an events center once the new mayor sees the disaster marxist Munson left behind. He raided city finances with bid rigging for worthless projects. He’s made himself, several on the council, and 1 developer wealthy with middle man takes. The convention center subject is merely a political maneuver to keep people from noticing while they finish emptying city accounts. This deserves an FBI roundup and investigation something like the Illinois governor case.
PG- Don’t be fooled. Munson didn’t do anything. He just put on a blindfold and let it happen.