I left after the public testimony last night for a reason, I knew a majority of the council would get out their rubber stamps and approve the pool and ambulance service. Fortunately Med-Star will have their day in court.
But what get me every time is the continued sour grapes over Drake Springs pool, it’s one thing for the public to be misinformed about the situation at that park, but when the mayor and councilors say stupid crap they know isn’t true, (or maybe they don’t) it really chaps my hide.
Councilor Rolfing jokingly insisted that we budget extra money last night so we could fix the mistake we made at Nelson Park and build an indoor pool there. The crowd laughed and applauded. I laughed to, but not with you, but at you for your ignorance.
As our outside aquatics consultant said in their report to the city, there is groundwater issues at Nelson Park that would prevent us from building an indoor pool there, because of maintenance issues. Councilor Staggers even pointed out they are having maintenance issues already with the outdoor pool there.
So please, enough with Drake Springs already, your own consultant even said it was a bad idea. Thank God Stehly stopped the indoor pool at Nelson Park, just think of the millions we would be on the hook for now fixing it.
A few of the City Councilors and the mayor are in serious need of public relations consultants.
In addition to Rolfing’s ill-advised offhand remark, there are smirks and rude remarks from all corners during the Council Meetings. Karsky also made a folksy trivialization pertaining to the $19.4m Indoor Aquatic Center budget trumpeted by Parks & Rec for months leading up to the April 8 election. Up to that date, the City bowed to ANY aspect of the Counsilman-Hunsaker Master Aquatic Study as absolute expert research and conclusions. Karsky, last evening, in a candle-in-the-wind-whatever-fits-the-moment example of systematic mission creep, characterized the $19.4m budget as numbers put together merely by “a bunch of guys from Missouri or Kansas City or (whatever). . .†– words to that effect. This from the anointed one Council Chairman seated at the right hand of MMM. Good grief.
I also enjoyed Rex’s new segment “Hispanic Culture with Rex”, this week’s guest, Mrs. Reta, explained to the council that in Hispanic culture adults get drunk and dance in front of teenagers all the time, especially at their birthday parties.
FWIW – contrary to the report – I can tell you there are also groundwater issues at Frank Olson – having installed some sewer mains over there many years ago.
That’s what every Quinceannaro I ever attended in LA was like. I attended more than two handfuls – if you get invited to one all the other attendees will start inviting you to their daughter’s too.
Emmett was against the indoor pool if I remember right why didn’t we vote him in, the council needs young blood more than ever. Rolfing sounds like a stooge just kissing butt to huether.
What is with this constant trashing of Drake Springs and outdoor pools?
Obviously, there is only one reason, the voters chose it, they didn’t, and they can’t get over it.
I can tell you as a parent, and as someone who has a lot of friends with children of school age, the last thing kids want to do during the warm months is go inside. We only get so many days for outside recreation, and they love being in the outdoor pools. That’s not to say there isn’t a place for an indoor pool. We have a gym membership and use an indoor pool in the colder months. My point isn’t that one is better than another, my point is that this trashing of outdoor pools as some sort of ‘waste’ or ‘missed opportunity’ is truly mystifying. If you seriously think that way as policy makers, why not close down all of the outdoor pools and not replace them or replace all of them with indoor facilities? They Mayor was quoted in the paper a while back as saying every time he drives by Drake Springs it makes him angry and that it was a ‘waste’ and ‘missed opportunity’. Its ridiculous.
I agree Greg, ‘Mystfying’ I had to laugh today that they closed all the outdoor ice rinks already because of ‘weather’. It’s like 10 below windchill tonight. We constantly say we need indoor facilities because there is nothing to do in the winter, yet we close down the ice rinks in February and shut down Great Bear (right after a 8 inch snow). The conspiracy theorist in me thinks the rinks were shut down to boost business at the new hockey center, I’m just saying.
As I have said before, when I drive past Great Bear and the ice rinks in July, it just makes me angry they are empty. What a waste!
Outdoor pools are great the 70 days per year that they are open.
Time for an INDOOR PUBLIC pool that the PUBLIC can use year round. Including on a cold February day like today!
No surprise the Rolfing rolled in his recent election. Is his opponent in the last election (endorsed by this blog) even living in Sioux Falls anymore?
You are right, the indoor pool at Spellerberg could even be used on hot days in the summer . . . oh wait, they eliminated the outdoor spray park, nevermind.
Yep. They eliminated the outdoor spray park…but cranked up the 50 meter pool stadium seating and therapy pool. This thing is for everyone of all means and the kids…. yeah right.
I don’t swim so I won’t be using any pool, indoor or outdoor, but I do question the building of the pool at Drake Springs, because I think it is a waste of money to include all the slides, etc., that can be used only two and one-half months each year.