South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

2011

Pam Homan SF School District Sioux Falls

It only took the MSM in StormLand a month to look into this and get a non-answer

l3wis 17Comments

Betsy Homan is not the daughter of SF Super Pam Homan when she is punched in at her job at STI.

As South DaCola reported (due to a tip from a reader) there seems to be some questionable nepotism going on in the SF School District. Well, Stormland to the rescue;

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Superintendent Pam Homan is facing new questions about whether she’s following district policy after her daughter was hired to work at Southeast Technical Institute.

According to the Nepotism policy, no one can be hired that would be supervised by an immediate family member. Further, no member of the Superintendent’s immediate family can be hired in any continuing capacity by the district.

Seems pretty cut and dry to me. Nepotism.

Alberty says it is not a violation of policy because while Southeast Tech is governed by the Sioux Falls School Board, which approves hires, he says it operates essentially as a separate entity and has a separate nepotism policy, which gives Southeast Tech’s president employee authority.

According to the organizational chart for Southeast Tech, Holcomb reports to Homan, who reports to the school board.

Once again. Pretty cut and dry. Nepotism.

When we asked Homan to comment for this story, we received an email from a staffer saying in this matter, policy speaks for itself.

It sure does. It is nepotism. But will the school board do anything about it? Probably not, that would require them to cut their apron strings from Homan and the district’s attorneys. And once again, Pammy gets away with bending the rules to her benefit.

LINK TO NEPO POLICY

Sioux Falls Walfart

SF Citizen asks for property tax reduction from city council after being duped by Walmart

l3wis 6Comments

I hope Mr. Ekholm never sells his land, especially to Walmart. Scenes like this hurt my eyes.

I watch all the city council meetings, even if there isn’t any important items on the agenda, because usually something interesting comes up. Last night was no different (Click on Item #39 to FF – 44:32 minutes). Property owner James Ekholm was looking to get his property taxes reduced after a land sale deal fell through with Walmart. Basically Walfart told Mr. Ekholm they wanted to buy his farmland to build a new Walmart. Mr. Ekholm got the land annexed for commercial development (which raised his property taxes) and Walmart then turned around and said they were not interested. A part of me feels bad for Mr. Ekholm, but at his age, he should know by now how Walmart and other corporate critters do business, they shit on you every chance they get. Mr. Ekholm was thinking his ship finally came in and was going to get the big Walfart money, and found out the hard way, it doesn’t always work that way. Either way, Mr. Ekholm still stands to make some money from the land, it is still annexed and he could sell it to anyone for commercial development. So his problem? His tax bill went up about $4,000 a year from what he was previously paying. Of course it did, he annexed it for commercial development. I’ll hand it to the city council, all eight councilors voted NO to the property tax reduction. And for good reason. Imagine if they would have given Mr. Ekholm the reduction? You would have seen a bevy of developers asking for reductions on land they have not developed yet.

Suck it up Mr. Ekholm. Your ship will come in eventually. Meanwhile if you are looking to save money may I suggest this fine discount store . . .

SF School District Sioux Falls

Even after budget cuts, the SF School District has money for a non-event

l3wis 17Comments

I received this email last night. They questioned whether the event was a worthy expenditure after the budget squeeze this past year;

The school district “mandates” that all district employees use “property taxpayer” time (they are paid for their time) to drive to the Arena for a “General Session – For All District Staff, Wednesday, August 17, Sioux Falls Arena, 7:30-7:55 am – Refreshments and Open Seating, 7:55-9:30 am Program”

The program is usually Pam Homan giving staff the same annual pep rally and bringing in a pep rally national speaker.

Refreshments are muffins and juice, staff will also get their annual district t-shirts (which they can wear on Fridays throughout the school year)

All I can think of is all those pay cuts from last Spring.

Refreshments: $_________

Salary time lost attending a pep rally not working: $_____

T-shirts: $_____

Cost to rent Arena: $______

Cost of out of district “speaker”: $_________

Misc. district costs to prepare this questionable event that most staff dislikes :$___________

I’m wondering if anyone else has knowledge or comments on this event?

 

Michele Bachmann

S & P Downgrades Iowa’s IQ (H/T – Helga)

l3wis 6Comments

AMES, IOWA (The Borowitz Report) – Calling the results of today’s Iowa straw poll “alarming,” Standard and Poor’s took the unprecedented action of downgrading Iowa’s IQ.

While the effects of such an extraordinary measure are hard to predict, experts say the IQ downgrade could result in Iowans having difficulty completing sentences or operating a television remote.

“This downgrade would be very upsetting to Republicans in Iowa,” said an S & P spokesman.  “Fortunately, there’s no way they’ll understand it.”

The winner in the straw poll, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn), gave a rousing victory speech that was simulcast in English across the state.

But there may be tough sledding ahead for Rep. Bachmann, as a new poll shows her losing support to Texas Governor Rick Perry among voters who describe themselves as morons.

Gov. Perry kicked off his presidential campaign today in South Carolina, unveiling a new stump speech in which he promised to repeal the twentieth century.

Republicans South Dakotans

State GOP out of touch? Sure, for almost 30 years.

l3wis 12Comments

Just look at this screenshot from a story posted on the Wuss College.

When you have a crackpot like Tornow (above) running your booth, it should be of no surprise it is NOT inviting. This is a guy who ran roughshot over the US Constitution while supposedly practicing law as an assistant city attorney, and sticking it to anyone who questioned his authority (Staggers and Dan Daily come to mind). If I would ever thank Mayor Huether for his accomplishments so far as mayor, firing Tornow sits about #1 on my list. Even his fellow Repugs don’t seem to get it (comment under the article);

August 14, 2011 at 11:52 pm | Permalink

Thank you Bill & MC, I am honored.

I would be remiss if I did not point out the super star in the photo. It was my great joy & honor to serve with Rep. Sean Tornow (pictured).
The man has a good morale compass and is fearless.

Tornow either threw away, sat on or ate his moral compass years ago, which brings us to Ellis’ Sunday column;

But (Noem) holding a fundraiser at the Ha has an “elitist” appearance, said my dinner guest. Better to have a public forum at the VFW and a fundraiser later.

Yeah, maybe Noem should have a chili feed on the reservation instead? What SD congressperson doesn’t need a good Lakota Star Quilt to hang on their office wall?

The South Dakota Republican Party has seemed rudderless the past few months.

The past few months?! The only reason these clowns keep getting elected is because of the ‘R’ behind their names. Just ask Bob Litz how it works. He was a nobody as a Democrat, his life changed after becoming a Republican. Trust me, the Democrats are missing a paddle too, because even though they are bound to lose 80% of state elections, they refuse to fight. Throw a couple of punches once in awhile, you might just connect.

Maybe it’s time to focus on policy. Stuff that creates economic benefit.

You mean anti-choice legislation and gun rights don’t create economic benefits? Who knew? I think this clip from Cool Hand Luke says it all:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fuDDqU6n4o[/youtube]

 

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

Art Sioux Falls

The City of Sioux Falls lacks transparency? Get out!

Mayor TenHaken SF City Council Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

UPDATE: Mayor ‘Kick the Can’ does it again

Uncategorized

Why do some British people not like Donald Trump? By Nate White

Lincoln County Planning Commission SF City Council Sioux Falls

Lincoln County Commissioner Joel Arends schools the Sioux Falls City Council on growth plans