Don’t mess with the ‘Wizard’ of Sioux Falls (reader submission)

After knocking a few cans over, I finally got the torrid details of the pissing match that is going on between the mayor and the governor’s economic development office.

I must remind you that these events are ‘rumored‘ to have occurred, by an anonymous, reliable source. I have had two other people verify the events as I am laying them out.

It all started with a lunch meeting the governor’s economic development office was having with a company interested in moving to Sioux Falls. Now this isn’t your normal, run of the mill, strip mall retail center, this is a research facility that wants to spend about $60-$80 Million building a facility in Sioux Falls. Also in attendance at the lunch was an ED rep from the city, and MMM.

Huether seemed to be confused as to why there wasn’t an ‘executive’ from the company at the lunch. The governor’s ED office informed Mike, during the meeting, that the Governor has already had ‘several meetings’ with the company in the past few months.

Mike was not happy (a temper tantrum ensued), and Mike left the meeting.

Mike then instructed his ED office to stop working with the Governor’s ED office representatives, and went as far to tell the governor’s ED office to ‘reassign’ certain reps.

Would have loved to hear the laughter in the Governor’s office after that request.

As I understand it, the Governor’s ED office reps are very good at their jobs, they also dot their ‘I’s and cross their ‘T’s. They probably also don’t care who gets credit for this, though preferably, they would prefer their boss to get the credit, since it seems the governor’s office seems to be the one doing all the legwork on this project.

It seems MMM is a little bent out of shape, because the governor’s office is stealing his thunder on this project. What is unfortunate is that Mike could screw this whole thing up because of his ‘ego’ problem.

The company is close to making a decision. They also admitted that 60% of the jobs they already provide are already from this region (I believe they are an Iowa company that is in the region) But have vowed to of course fill the remainder of the jobs from this region also. The main reason they want to move to Sioux Falls is they plan expansion, and they know they can only do it in Sioux Falls. They will also provide good wages, remember, as I understand it, this is a research facility, not a Walmart.

*As I noted, this comes from a very reliable source, but this is all second-hand accounts of the events.

By l3wis

23 thoughts on “Did Mayor Mike try to ‘Huether’ the Governor’s Economic Development (ED) office?”
  1. The ego continues to swell. I’m waiting for that moment his head explodes. Hopefully, he’ll be “Huethering” at that moment.

  2. His capASScity for doltish behavior just amazes me – what an embarrassment for the city. Mike, do us all a favor and just bow out of the 2014 race…

  3. Re: Anominous – When you mentioned Ooma-Loompas, I was reminded of Veronica Salt’s song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Sounded like Huether, eh?

    Gooses, geeses
    I want my geese to lay gold eggs for easter
    At least a hundred a day
    And by the way

    I want a feast
    I want a bean feast
    Cream buns and doughnuts
    And fruitcake with no nuts
    So good you could go nuts

    No, now

    I want a ball
    I want a party
    Pink macaroons
    And a million balloons
    And performing baboons and
    Give it to me now

    I want the world
    I want the whole world
    I want to lock it
    All up in my pocket
    It’s my bar of chocolate
    Give it to me now

    I want today
    I want tomorrow
    I want to wear ’em
    Like braids in my hair and
    I don’t want to share ’em

    I want a party with roomfuls of laughter
    Ten thousand tons of ice cream
    And if I don’t get the things I am after
    I’m going to scream

    I want the works
    I want the whole works
    Presents and prizes
    And sweets and surprises
    Of all shapes and sizes

    And now

    Don’t care how, I want it now
    Don’t care how, I want it now

  4. Love that pic! Keep ’em coming!

    We’re blessed to have such a shallow, er, narcissistic, er, deceitful leader. Once again, MMM was simply making the most of a day that God gave him. But inquiring minds want to know what his mother will have to say about this juvenile behavior???

    GOED, eh? Does our little Napolean fear that his one-time rival, Pat Costello, will deservingly steal MMM’s thunder?

  5. 3-M looks like the Wizard of Oz. Lot’s of special effects but just a little man with nothing but ego behind the curtain.

  6. Imagine the cowardly parking director running through city hall and diving out a window. Send in Todo to part the curtain and expose 3-M. Careful, Urpbucket attracts falling houses and has flying monkeys.

  7. If I may volunteer to do some free word association- the words “research facility” and “Iowa” naturally make me think of the words “air quality” and “effluent”. However I could be wrong. The last governor’s big secret project was an oil refinery, and the early word on the street was that it was going to be a toyota factory.

    So if this thing doesn’t have a rainbows and lollipops and a river of chocolate coming out of it, I won’t be surprised. I would bet it’s either a slaughterhouse for horseys and butterflies, or a else a lab for tweaking pink slime recipes, or else a little ol’ plutonium refinery.

    Anyway, I’m blaming dacola and all your cynical commenting for it not happening, low SD wages and non union workforces, be damned.

  8. SD can’t get the right formula for letal injection. How can we qualify for animal testing?

  9. Well, that’s good to hear, Lewis. I feel better already.

    This calls for a new mural somewhere, “Y’all have reached the End of the Trail…” 🙁

    x x

    //

  10. There is a certain animal research company who has wanted to expand to SD for years. The must be growing to the point to finally make it happen.

  11. The state economic development office is a notorious resting place for Republican political hacks. I am sure they were not trying to do Mayor Mike any favors by meeting a number of times with the Company’s officers before letting the city (our city) in on the deal. What are they doing messing around with a Company wanting to locate in Sioux Falls anyway? Trying to redirect it to Pierre? I don’t blame the Mayor for being upset. They should have involved the city at the first mention of the company’s desire to locate here.

  12. Judy, first off, they did include him. Just not at the get go. Secondly, I think it is the State’s job first to promote economic growth and jobs. What if they approached Mike first? Would the state have a hissy about it? Doubtful. You have to realize, state law and statutes trump city ordinance. If I was looking to relocate to Sioux Falls and I was from, say, Iowa, I would contact the governor’s office FIRST to make sure state law would allow such a business. Remember, they have to registered with the SOS office. I feel the proper procedure was taken here. Do I think the state ED office should have informed the mayor these discussions were going on in advance? Definately. But like I said, the mayor was hardly ‘left out of the loop.’ It comes down to Mike wanting to take credit for it. He did the same to the city council over the Walmart press conference. Who cares who takes credit, this is GOOD for the people of SF and the state, Mike should take some pride in that instead pouting like a baby.

  13. I think what Judy meant to say was….IT ALWAYS A REPUBLICANS FAULT—ALWAYS—ALWAYS —ALWAYS… How dare they make Mikey feel so small.
    Damn South Dakotan republicans. DAMN THEM ALL.

  14. LJL is totally correct…..IT ALWAYS A REPUBLICANS FAULT—ALWAYS—ALWAYS —ALWAYS

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