Okay, read Megan ‘Patron’ Luther’s story, it has all kinds of great information on redistricting, but this line towards the end says it all;
With 12 Republicans and three Democrats on the committee, support is expected for the Rausch and Olson (Republican) map.
Why even have Democrats on the committee? IMO there should be 5 indies, 5 Repubs and 5 Dems on the committee to make it fair. The current makeup is completely partisan. Dumb.
I encourage every eligible voter in Sioux Falls to vote on this issue, but please, inform yourself. I myself will be voting ‘NO’ because I think we don’t really need one RIGHT NOW. But I am not endorsing this project one way or another. I’m just grateful that the public finally gets to decide.
Personally I like voting absentee. Just go down to the Minnehaha courthouse, show your ID, and vote away. It’s convenient, and you have no excuse for not having time to vote. You have 30 days. Go do it.
Here is a link to the sample ballot.
Some of the language is debatable. This paragraph concerns me;
There will be no new taxes, no increase in property taxes, and no increase in sales tax rates authorized by the current City Council to pay for the Project.
Notice the word current. There is nothing stopping future council’s for voting to increase your taxes and rates to help pay for this project.
This election will advise the City Council as to whether the public supports proceeding with the Project. The City Council has selected the Sioux Falls Convention Center site as the site to build the Project. The Council has also adopted a resolution stating that it will not proceed with the Project if the proposal is not approved by a majority of those voting in this election.
This is an advisory vote. In other words the city council can do whatever. What will be considered a majority for instance? What if it is a close vote? 49.9% to 50.1%? What if it is a blowout either way? We all know that only two councilors are against building the EC, and they are not even that strongly against it. Six votes would be very easy to get. Very easy. Consider this when voting.
Debt service reserves and other reserves are also not included in the Project costs. Project costs also do not include additional capital improvements that may be incurred in future years.
This should also include operating costs. I’m sorry, I just struggle with the fact this facility will make money and not need subsidies. The city has a track record of not having public facilities being self-sufficient.
Like I have said, I encourage absentee voting, but I also encourage you inform yourself before voting. You can look at the city’s presentation here.
I will have some of my fun finds in this show
The SF Roller Dollz have an amazing opportunity;
The Sioux Falls Roller Dollz are heading across the pond in November to compete for the first time internationally.
The roller derby group plans to take on three United Kingdom teams in London in mid-November: the Lincolnshire Bombers Rollergirls, the London Rollergirls and the Central City Rollergirls.
This is pretty cool considering the grassroots foundation of the team and league. You can help contribute to their travel fund by attending the ZombieWalk this year.
“I need to work on my DECEPTION acumen a little more.” (Screenshot, KELO-TV video).
I think I.L. Wiederman said it best at this Listening and Learning session with the mayor;
“Why did they say they did fire her? It’s cloaked in secrecy,” I.L. Wiederman said.
Huether did admit he made a mistake, when it came to the process, that is;
“I wish that I would have engaged them more to try to help them understand what we were trying to accomplish in terms of providing dignity, professionalism and safety to the process. But I didn’t do that. That was a mistake; that was a mistake,” Huether said.
But no mention of making a mistake by firing Owen.
UPDATE: Ellis from the Argue Endorser had a good column about the firing today.
The former clerk, Debra Owen, sent councilors an amortization schedule, a forecast showing what the city would pay each year for the next 22 years to pay off the bonds. It showed that in six years, the annual payments would jump to $10 million.
As we all expected, this has to do with the Events Center, but are councilors Erpenbach and Aguliar the ones up in arms about this? Or are they the scapegoats?
You’d think this would be valuable information, right? After all, we’re talking about the biggest single investment the city ever has made. But for her efforts, Owen received at least one phone call from a city councilor who was furious that she had sent out the information.
Unlike the AL, I will tell you who that person (probably) was; Jim Entenman. I’m about 99.5% sure. Just like the mayor, he wants this EC to pass. He has been made the fool on many task forces not getting this done, and I’m sure he flipped a lid when Debra was out spreading the truth before a public vote.
The mayor and councilors say they can’t talk about it because it’s a personnel issue. I have managed to piece it all together, off the record, from several sources. I hope it all becomes public. Let’s put it this way: The people who say they can’t talk because it’s a personnel issue aren’t protecting Owen. They are protecting themselves.
I still haven’t pieced it all together myself, but I think it is unfortunate that the AL wouldn’t just print what Ellis’ educated opinion is on the matter, especially if the proceedings were improper. If it is all true, how could Ellis and the AL be sued for slander?
l3wis