“I’m not going to be negative like that.” (actual quote at the press conference). Who wouldn’t be positive when you are spending other people’s money and hanging out with babes. (Image: KELO-TV screenshot)

Now that BNSF is NOT asking the Feds and SF to build it a switchyard, just to purchase the property – why should we get involved at all?

Seriously. If they want this land for development, then let developers purchase the land for development. Why is my money being used to clean up this property so developers can profit from it? Screw that, didn’t we learn anything from Munson’s mess called Phillips to the Falls? (which we still own because of the contamination).

Nearby, though, the city dealt with high levels of contamination to build Phillips to the Falls, and the city is paying almost $20,000 for a study of Falls Park West to figure out how to go about building there because of previous contamination from when it was used as a landfill.

If BNSF wants to sell the railyard for private development – fantastic! Sell it to private developers and keep my tax dollars out of it.

 

By l3wis

20 thoughts on “Why does the city have to be the middleman on a land deal?”
  1. Its called “corporate welfare.” Or what Republicans and pro-business Democrats call “economic development.”
    It is not socialism as long as the business community likes it … only when the people need something do the “one per centers” call it socialism.

  2. Triple M was getting pissed when Brady Mallery pressed him on this. Too bad he didn’t keep on him.

  3. The pollution needs to be remediated before a developer will ever touch that land. Think about it. If you were a developer, would you pay for the clean up when it is far cheaper and easier to build elsewhere? I don’t think so. The City certainly doesn’t need to be the land broker, but it must ensure the site is pollution free if it wants to see it developed.

  4. That would be ideal. More often than not, the responsible parties are let off the hook though. I’m sure BNSF didn’t hatch this plan so they could lose money.

  5. No, just so we could lose money.

    Also, do you really think that the feds are going to give us 35 million to buy this POS property, clean it up and turn around and sell it and let us put the money in our coffers? Not a chance. And can’t wait to see how the council votes on this if we have to bond to buy this land.

  6. That screenshot is CREEPY.

    Can’t wait to watch this Shut Up & Listen show – hilariously bad TV!

  7. Is that the same babe Pat Powers was hanging out with earlier in the day? Hopefully she understands how big of a blog star she is becoming…

  8. You’re not going to be negative like that? Answer the question already. You sounded like an idiot when that was your response. If you don’t have plan B – fine – say you don’t have plan B yet.

    The one thing I see out of Brady Mallory is he is one of the few that will take a little risk and ask some harder questions. Hopefully – Kelo will allow him some leeway to actually do this even more and do some actual reporting.

    By the way – the Mayor does look creepy in this photo.

  9. Taken from today’s Part II of Jonathan Ellis’s RR investigative report:

    On July 31 and Aug. 1, BNSF representatives met with city, state and federal officials to discuss a new option. The BNSF would sell the railyard to the city and would move its operations elsewhere. But there is a catch: The company still would need to move trains from the Madison line to the Corson line, and that would increase OPERATING COSTS. THE CITY WOULD NEED TO PAY THOSE.

    The BNSF is estimating costs, a process that could take weeks.

    This is the most absurd idea I have heard in the many years I have followed this project.

    Sioux Falls taxpayers would sign-on to subsidize the OPERATING COSTS for Warren Buffet’s railroad…..you have got to be kidding me!!!!!!!!

  10. of course the city will pay the operating costs for the railroad and hand the land over to the developers. that’s how “free enterprise” works, isn’t it?

  11. All aboard!!!! It’s the last train to Clarksville. Who’s monkeying around with YOUR money now? Those clean-up costs need addressing. Doubtful BNSF is doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. All aboard!!!! Is this why Deb Owens was railroaded out of city hall?

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