So I got a tip this week that the Argus was working on a story about TIF’s and how King Huether may be manipulating the application process (or just shredding the applications all together).
Yawn. He manipulates many things, old news.
Apparently, some developers are mad he has been refusing to process their TIF applications.
There’s strong interest in the business community about TIFs, but some developers have been warned that they shouldn’t apply.
And who are these mystery ‘developers’? Not that I am defending the mayor or Darrin Smith, but if these folks are so upset about the process, why not give their name to the Argus and go on record. See, because I know some of the names, as do many councilors and journalists in our community. So please, fess up. Change doesn’t happen behind the wall of secrecy, it requires transparency.
Wait, one came forward;
Last year, Lloyd Cos. shelved its vision for redeveloping seven acres on the Communications Service for the Deaf campus in east Sioux Falls after being discouraged by the city from applying for tax increment financing.
Oh, boy, we must be in panic mode now since the welfare queen of TIF’s got denied. If Lloyd can’t get a TIF, nobody can. I wonder also in the 26 month period if development investor Mrs. Mike (Cindy) Heuther was denied any more TIF’s? Seems Mike likes sleeping on the couch.
Oh, but wait, the state likes to get in on the bitchfest also;
The result of this off-the-books policy means that projects are being turned away by Mayor Mike Huether’s administration without there being a formal application and paper trail. The projects in question include downtown developments as well as multimillion dollar manufacturing facilities that would bring hundreds of new jobs to the city.
Pat Costello, the commissioner of economic development for Gov. Dennis Daugaard, said there are manufacturing businesses that have considered building in Sioux Falls. Those projects are in limbo in part because the city won’t agree to TIFs.
“They have certainly showed their reluctance to do TIFs,†Costello said. “They’ve repeatedly been approached by a number of different entities for a number of different TIFs for a lot of reasons.â€
And those companies are . . .? Oh, right, back to them getting skiddish like a pregnant ewe in the corner of the barn staring down a starving coyote if they share their names.
I wouldn’t doubt it was this company pissing off the mayor at a Minerva’s luncheon.
Like I said above, if you want the mayor to stop acting like a dictator you have to start using your rights of freedom of speech, and you gotta start using your name.