2014

Rabbits, Deer, Potlucks and Dreams

Rabbit-stew-recipe

The mayor has a new picture of himself on the city website, and I just happened to read his BIO;

On May 17, 2010, he was sworn in as Mayor and captured a dream he had since the sixth grade.

So while he was growing up in Yankton, he dreamed of being the Sioux Falls mayor. Interesting. He also has some strange social events he likes to attend;

In his “spare” time, Mayor Mike enjoys running, tennis, working on his yard, is an avid hunter, and attends as many potlucks as he can.

I wonder what he brings to the potlucks? Rabbit Stew?

 

Will we find out about the Spellerberg Quit Claim deed tomorrow?

Scan10001pool

I hope the VA doesn’t take our pool away

At Tuesday’s city council informational meeting, we may finally be finding out about the quit claim deed at Spellerberg. (Item B).

The Parks Department and their legal counsel (Woods Fuller) will be making a presentation on the indoor pool contracts (there is no PDF’s of what the presentation will be yet on the city website, you know, that transparency thing).

It will be curious if they got the quit claim deed resolved, or if they think they can just steam ahead without VA approval. I know the Feds don’t work in the lightning speed our Mayor does, so my guess is that a resolution has yet to be made.

Hopefully at least one of the city councilors will be awake at the meeting and ask about the deed, then let the Mexican Hat dance begin.

I’ll bring the chips, who is bringing the salsa?

City Council plans to rearrange meeting schedule so Karsky can have a conflict of interest

karsky-and-hutch-goats

I want my goat and I want to eat it to.

I guess councilor Dean Karsky still doesn’t see a conflict of interest with serving on the Chamber of Commerce Board and the City Council at the same time. He is going as far as to get the city council to change the meeting schedule in October so he can attend the Chamber’s annual meeting (Item #12).

So let’s rearrange seven of the councilor’s normal schedules so ONE city councilor can attend a meeting that presents a clear conflict of interest. Why not ask the Chamber of Commerce to change their schedule?

The Ethics Commission (Kangaroo Kourt) contends there is NO conflict because Karsky will excuse himself from voting on anything doing with the Chamber. So I guess when any business that is a Chamber Member comes fourth Karsky will be excusing himself, yeah right. What is even more troubling is will Karsky excuse himself from non-chamber members asking for a license or permit that are in direct competition with a chamber member? If Karsky truly keeps his word on excusing himself, he won’t be voting very often, might as well just sit in the front room of Carnegie and watch the council meeting on TV, or better yet, just resign from the Council, the Chamber can have you.

I am wondering when Dean is going to pull some ethics out of his butt and realize this is a very bad idea to be serving on both boards. Of course, he has probably been mentoring Mr. Ethical himself, Mayor Mike.

How will the council vote on banning alcohol in SF parks?

huetherville-lr

The Sioux Falls city council is scheduled to vote on banning alcohol at Van Eps and Tower parks at Tuesday night’s meeting (Item #5).

I couldn’t really tell you how the vote will go. I know some are for it, some are against it. Lately I’ve been swaying to be against the ban. If it is okay for me to drink at Terrace Park during a fundraiser like ‘Jam Against Hunger’ why isn’t okay for people to drink at Van Eps? I guess I started to look at it as discrimination in a way. Besides, the cold weather will take care of the issue here shortly. A ban at this point is already too little, too late.

No matter if you agree with the ban or not, I find it ironic that the mayor has been on the soap box lately supporting the ban. I have said along he had the power to implement this band two months ago, instead he installs more picnic tables and porta-potties, and did nothing but let the county, the PD, the parks board and the city council deal with the situation, very slowly.

Thanks Mike for doing your job, avoiding making the ‘tough’ decisions.