‘Some’ elected officials won’t touch snowgates with a 10 Foot pole . . .
l3wis Maybe because they are ‘Chickens’
2012
Snowgate Petition Drive Meeting 7 PM Thursday Night
The meeting will be at the Main DT Library in meeting room A. Organizer Theresa Stehly will be talking about the drive and asking for volunteers to help with it.
The Petition was filed today so they will need to garner enough signatures by February. She thinks she needs 4,800 VALID signatures so she will try to get at least 5,500.
I plan to post updates about the drive here on DaCola, and if you have any questions feel free to comment here or email me for more information.
Here is a copy of the initiative language;
MUNICIPAL INITIATIVE PETITION
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SIOUX FALLSWE, THE UNDERSIGNED qualified voters of the municipality of Sioux Falls, the state of South Dakota, petition that the following ordinance be submitted to the voters of that municipality for their approval or rejection pursuant to law.
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.
The Debate over the District 6 debate
I got CC’d in an email from Ernie Otten to Michael Larson (debate coordinator). It seems Otten is blaming Democrats for not wanting to get back to Larson about the dates available and not wanting to combine debates;
Michael, we thank you for taking the initiative to schedule this debate in Lennox.My Republican House candidates and I believe that setting a different precedent for this debate is neither fair nor even-handed to the constituents of Lennox.  Debates are already set up in Harrisburg and Tea that include all the District 6 House and Senate candidates for 90 minutes (and include the County Commissioners).
District 6 contains many busy families with young children. In deference to them, and communicated in earlier emails, we’d agreed to one combined debate, for 90-minutes (formal or informal) in Lennox. Busy, but interested families shouldn’t have to set aside two different school nights for separate debates when one 90-min format works well in Harrisburg and Tea.
Please work with the candidates on the Democratic ticket to choose one date for a combined House and Senate 90-min debate (either Sept 24th or Oct 2nd) as soon as possible. This gives District 6 constituents a choice of three dates to fit their schedules.
Regards,
Ernie
And as you can see he CC’d me and Cory Madville;
To:Â Michael.Larson@k12.sd.us
Cc: hermanottendist6@iw.net, isaac@latterellconsulting.com,MJPoppens@gmail.com, “Joel Arends\”\” <joel@arendslaw.com>, rschriever@hotmail.com, joe306@iw.net, \”Cory Allen Heidelberger\” <coralhei@lakeherman.org>, \”Scott Ehrisman” <fb.art@sio.midco.net>
What is interesting about this is that Schriever’s and Weis’ email addresses, while listed, were not CC’d, just listed, not sure why? Would it be to bring the appearance that they were being contacted? Not sure?
Michael did respond to Otten;
Mr. Ernie Otten,
While I do not understand the refusal to allow for a debate format that would allow candidates to directly debate opponents, I believe that having something is better than having nothing. Â The Democrats have stated that they would be willing to debate any format and to just let them know the date. Â I am sure that they will be willing to accommodate to the schedule and format. Â I will devise a new format that would incorporate up to six candidates on stage. Â (Although, no one has heard from Michael Jauron, so I am under the assumption that he will not be attending.) Â The only date that will work for a combined event is September 24.
I would appreciate if all candidates could send a quick e-mail notice to me to confirm that they will or will not be attending. Â I have received no communications from either Michael Jauron or Isaac Latterell. Â This will help me greatly in the planning process.
I would also like to personally invite the county commissioner candidates to the event. Â I would like to introduce them to the crowd and allow for people to talk with them after the debates.
Sincerely, Michael Larson
Lennox High School
BREAKING: Snowgates press conference
A press conference will be held Wednesday (tomorrow) at 1 PM at Sioux Falls Main DT Library in meeting room A to discuss a petition drive that will be taking place to put a snowgates initiative on the Spring ballot.
What is really going on with the pool at Spellerberg (ANON guest post)
Argus Leader:Â Indoor Pool Issue Is Top Budget Topic
City Councilor Kermit Staggers plans to propose an amendment to next year’s city budget that would ensure an indoor pool is not built at Spellerberg Park.
It was obvious at the work session, Kermit is not going to get this amendment approved. I doubt he will even receive a second, so it can be discussed by the entire Council.
But Parks and Rec Director, Don Kearney, said the Council is not being asked to approve construction of an indoor aquatic center. Rather, officials are hoping to take the next step by using funds to create preliminary design and schematic drawings to share with the public.
This is misleading. Why would Parks and Rec be asking for $160,000 for design of an INDOOR pool, if they did not intend to ask for approval of construction in 2014?
Councilor Greg Jamison is working on an amendment to use the remaining aquatic facilities development funds to create a long-term master plan for indoor and outdoor pools. If approved, the plan would go through the land use committee.
This is a good idea and should have been done long ago. This is the amendment, I believe will be approved by the Council.
Councilors also questioned whether the preliminary design study could work for an alternate site. Kearney said it would determine how an indoor pool would fit on the Spellerberg site and also provide information about operating costs and other amenities.
Sean Ervin, principal with TSP Architecture, said about two-thirds or three-fourths of the preliminary design could be applicable to another site; the rest would be Spellerberg-specific.
Why would the City be willing to spend $40,000-53,000 of the $160,000 specifically to see how an indoor pool would fit on the Spellerberg site if they were NOT still seriously considering that location?
“There have been a lot of questions, perception that we’re building an indoor aquatic center at Spellerberg, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth,†Councilor Dean Karksy said.
This statement clearly demonstrates Councilor Karsky’s lack of understanding of the indoor pool issue. AND, how he continually panders to both sides on most city issues. He obviously did not hear Don say at the work session that two public input meetings have been held, and participants gave a 70% approval rating of the Spellerberg site for an indoor pool!
Kearney said preliminary design work for an indoor aquatic center is key to moving forward because people need to see what the facility would look like and how it would fit on the site.
Another one of Don’s misleading statements. The newly formed, SF Aquatics Association, and representatives from the swim teams met with TSP, the architect, several months ago to view preliminary plans for the indoor pool at Spellerberg.
Don’s entire demeanor at the Council’s work session demonstrated to me, “a desperate attempt to sidetrack any organized effort to stop the indoor pool at Spellerberg.”
They DO NOT want a repeat of the Drake Springs petition drive and public vote.