“These snowgaters are crampin’ my frickin’ style. What a bunch of crap!”
I will give Mike credit on one front, he supports the use of snowgates. He also supports testing them again this winter;
That’s why Huether wants to test the snow gates for a third straight season. And while he’s well aware of a petition going around town, he cautions those who are eager to see the gates become permanent.
“You want to do it because people are excited, but you want to do it in a prudent way, in a responsible way, and you want to do it right,” Huether said. “And that’s ultimately what we’ll do.”
Why? We get to see a third year of testing before we vote on it. They have been proven across the region and country that they work. What’s the hold up? Oh, that’s right, the Mayor’s ego . . .
After this third test run, Huether says he could make a recommendation to the city as early as March.
While the mayor’s recommendation and endorsement is appreciated (and I’m not even being snarky) this is probably going to a public vote, so his hands in the issue really don’t matter. The citizens will ultimately be making the decision on snowgates, not the mayor, or the city council. Councilors Jamison, Staggers and Anderson have already figured this out and accepted it, maybe it is time for the mayor to do the same.
why doesn’t Huether just admit that snowgates are really expensive and we can’t afford while he’s building indoor tennis courts, indoor hockey arena, an indoor pool, a $125 million events center and all his other pet sporting projects?
I would love to respond, but I have to skedaddle off to my pickleball tournament, and after that my Sunday night pinachle marathon. I heard Marge is bringing rhubarb crisps and pickle rolls.
Oh, and the petition drive has hit the 4,000 mark. In only about 6 weeks. We need 4,800 verified, but want to turn in 5,500 to be safe. After submitting the petitions, and they are verified, the fun part begins. EDUCATION. We have been compiling our own data, research, etc. Snowgates are wildly popular, and communities NEVER regret them. The best part about them is that they provide a service for our taxdollars to almost 100% of the community.
There’s your problem, DL. Don’t you know that all of the money spent in this town is only supposed to benefit a few? You’re talking socialism when you mention 100%. 🙂
Didn’t get to sign a petition yet. Would love to. I will be working my neighborhood to educate on No on 16 … Perhaps I should carry a petition form with me.
The Mayor deserves credit for fulfilling his campaign promise to try snow gates. He encountered tremendous resistance from the Council in 2010 for this decision. (esp. from Councilor Erpenbach)
AND, certainly, studying the use of snow gates is a prudent approach.
HOWEVER, the petition language (which will ultimately become the ballot language), dictates how the snow gates will be used……
NOT the Mayor, NOR Public Works and their resistant snow plow drivers (both city employees and private contractors)……….
The following is taken directly from the petition:
The proposed ordinance in proper form is as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA TO MANDATE THE USE OF SNOW GATES FOR REMOVING SNOW FROM PUBLIC STREETS:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA:
The City of Sioux Falls shall use snow gates or other devices to prevent snow, in an amount that prevents usual access, from being plowed or placed into driveways or their openings to public streets from and after November 1, 2013. This section shall cover City employees and contract employees. Snow gates are discretionary upon the declaration of a snow emergency on routes that have been declared snow emergency routes.
********************************************
Given the speed with which registered voters have been signing the petition, it is almost guaranteed this will go to a public vote in April 2013.
IF snow gates are approved by the voters, the Mayor and Public Works will have less than seven months to implement their plans……..
No “phasing in” as Mike has suggested……
No exclusion of certain streets for various reasons…….
Instead,
ALL DRIVEWAYS WILL BE INCLUDED BY
NOVEMBER 1st 2013.
I think Mike and his team know that on this issue…………
the train has already the station!!
“You want to do it because people are excited, but you want to do it in a prudent way, in a responsible way, and you want to do it right,†Huether said.
Funny, he never said that about the event center.
The only reason people voted for the EC is because they were ‘excited’.
If this gets on the ballot, I will be asking people who tell me they are voting against it if they voted for the EC.
This is the only public initiative pushed by average citizens to be of benefit to the people in a very long time. Much of the excitement for snowgates is the Joe and Jane Citizen feeling like they can stick it to the unresponsive city hall and street staff.
Even if SubPrime Mike authorizes snowgates in March, the issue will pass over any of his weak rules.