If you don’t give us taxpayer money, we are packing our bags (where have we heard that one before?)
The public becomes suspect when in one breath government tells us we must subsidize private industry for our benefit then turns around in another breath tells us that industry must remain secret;
They won’t name the employer but think they can secure state and federal money to help pay for a new roadway to accelerate improvements in the area.
“It’s a major organization we want to keep in Sioux Falls,” said Darrin Smith, city director of community development.
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“The company wants to keep its identity confidential, and we’ll honor that,” Barr said. “There’s no commitment on their part or our part, but anytime a company opens the door to relocate, you want to make sure you have a competitive option for them.”
If they are asking for public money, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever that they remain confidential. If you want our money, fine, fess up. Secondly, I find it very hard to believe this company would be packing bags if we don’t build this road for them. I do think this road is needed in that part of town, but to make it sound like we are going to lose jobs and businesses if we don’t build this road is a stretch.
I have no idea who this business is, but if I had to guess, here is a pretty good clue;
Much discussion now is about another city business that has outgrown its location and might be looking at the park for a new plant.
I’m guessing it is the metal recycling plant that wanted to move in the old stockyards, and the city has been jumping through hoops for them so they WON’T locate in that location. If anybody else has the facts and wants to confirm that, please comment.
I don’t think that’s it. They need rail access. The rail out there is on the other side of the river.
Hmmm. You think JM’s is looking to move there?
whatever happened to heuther’s vow of transparency?
Oooh! Another Darrin Smith Mystery novelette! Great work, Darrin!
I thinking more and more it is John Morrells.
They also need rail access. It as to be something NOT heavy industry. Light industry tract. Raven?
Sioux Steel (although they would PREFER rail access – don’t have it now) another possibility. Except, they already own sufficient land in Lennox WITH rail access.
http://www.siouxfallsdevelopment.com/DevParks/SEDP_8.pdf
It is zoned LIGHT Industrial.
Hmm. I can’t quite remember, who owns the land out there again?
Off the subject, but you’ll love this. City Link is changing their programming and we now have a segment entitled “Tennis in Sioux Falls.” Now, I actually enjoy tennis, but this is wrong in so many ways it is ridiculous. Are we going to do a segment for every sport, or just the one that the Mayor’s wife happens to be the head of? Have fun with that one. It was/is segmented 2 times today with the it airing at 6:30 tonight.
Why does citylink even exist???
rufsx – sioux steel doesn’t own land with rail access in lennox. they also don’t own sufficient land to move their sioux falls operation to lennox.
The whole secrecy thing has to go, no matter what branch of government is involved and no matter if it is business related, or involving personnel.
It can be rezoned AND JM’s doesn’t use trains anymore that much. All trucks.
Ruf – There is a big space in the middle of Development Park 8 south of 60th street. That land isn’t part of the light industrial park and it has a large enough area for a big operation like Morrell.
Would love to see JM’s move out there, and then they can build the Events Center on the current JM site. Win/Win in my eyes, and I’m not even a BID fan.
tdb – stop being so logical.
Sky – Sioux Steel absolutely does have sufficient land WITH rail access in Lennox. They own Koyker Manufacturing (as a asubsidiary) and the land associated with with it long the RR tracks in the NW corner of Lennox. It’s about 100 acres there that’s currently empty.
Lewis – but that is not the area thyat’s being talked about in the article. Park 8 IS what’s being described/discussed.
Excuse me – it’s not 100 acres – it’s about 50. I have the plat map right here in front of me. 6 blocks long by 4 blocks wide.
Lewis – that “big area” in the middle of Park 8 is a QUARRY (big deep hole in the ground). There’s another section in the South part of it that is TOO STEEP to develop as well.
KELO (today) says there’s a new major employer coming in near Canton. I’m wondering if the city didn’t blow another opportunity.
Not new – expansion.
The thing smacks of more corporate welfare, more corporate socialism.
Before SF falls for this it ought to make the company socialize its profits.
Maybe all we private citizens should just incorporate to reap the benefits our government affords such entities.
Tom – Great Idea 🙂
Ruf is right, Sioux Steel wants to move there entire operation to Lennox. The only reason I know this is because I interviewed there and they brought this up to me during the interview.