2011

The Argue Endorser enforces their name sake, by ENDORSING a new Events Center

Original image Argus Leader (manipulated by South DaCola)

Trying to find a negative about a new events center, well you have to go to almost the end of the column to find this;

Rush also is skeptical that a new events center can operate at a profit. He said people in Sioux Falls should be prepared to pay an operating subsidy of between $1 million and $2 million a year.

“It’s an expensive investment,” he said. “If everyone is on board with that investment, then it would be great for the area.”

Huether disagrees. Sioux Falls expects to get $1 million to $2 million a year in naming rights. Tyson paid $5 million over 20 years. And unlike Sioux City, Sioux Falls has no plans to subsidize shows, which drives up the operating costs.

I don’t care if the place gets $200 million in naming rights a year, that is a subsidy, not a profit. A profit is when the facility generates enough revenue on it’s own to offset it’s expenses. And what if it does make money? Will that profit be put towards paying down the principal of the bond? And on top of all that, we have yet for a naming rights sponsor to step forward.

 

Get out the 5-Buckle overboots

I noticed if you look at the below Build it Now mailer they show the economic impact of a new Events Center, but if you look at the debt repayment schedule, the city omits the 3 zeros and shows that in the thousands. Of course both are misleading. At least the city gave us a KEY to understand there dropage of the 3 zeros. Build it Now gives us no reference.

Is former city attorney Shawn Tornow’s termination final?

There has been information trickling into me about this matter over the past few weeks, but mostly I have more questions then answers, so I thought I would throw this one out there and see if anything sticks.

What we do know is that Shawn Tornow was terminated as an assistant city attorney by the Huether administration. But what is unclear is if that termination is final. Tornow was considered a civil service employee. Unlike a political appointee such as former city clerk, Debra Owen, when a civil service employee is terminated they are allowed to have a hearing if they so choose to dispute the termination . . . and this is where the questions begin.

• Is Tornow using ‘procedural artifices’ to delay his civil service board hearings?

• What would he gain by delaying this hearing?

• Could he still be receiving a salary and accrued seniority since his termination is not final?

• Could he be purposely delaying the hearing to continue to receive this pay?

• Does anyone know the status of his hearing and if he is still on the payroll?

Concerned citizens want to know – ASAP!

(not an actual video of Tornow)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnofMbHgHfc[/youtube]

Councilor Tex Golfing’s attendance record by the numbers

“Showing up to meetings is all about decorum.”

I will have to give a Hat Tip to Ellis for doing the research on this (since I am too lazy);

City Councilor Rex Rolfing was on hand for Monday’s 7 p.m. council meeting for the first time since Sept. 12. Rolfing missed three of the 7 p.m. meetings. Those are the meetings where the council votes and takes official action. Typically there are three of them a month.

Rolfing missed three in a row – including one in which the council approved next year’s budget. That third absence led to a little legal research here, at City Hall, and elsewhere. The city’s charter lays out several reasons for how councilors can forfeit their offices. One states that a councilor forfeits office for missing three consecutive “regular meetings,” unless excused by the council. The council as a body had not excused Rolfing.

It appeared, on first reading, that Rolfing had missed three regular meetings. And if that were true, then he was off the council.

But upon further research, the council has an ordinance that defines a “regular meeting.” For the record, the council has one “regular meeting” a month — the first Monday. So Rolfing was in the clear.

Council Chairwoman Sue Aguilar said Rolfing informed her he would be gone. His absences were business related.

Rolfing has missed six 7 p.m. meetings so far this year. That’s the most of the eight councilors and one mayor. Jim Entenman is in second with four.

Ellis forgot to mention that Tex also showed up to the 7:30 meeting Tuesday night at the Caille Branch library that councilor Jamison was hosting.