‘BSH’ Mixed Media & Shoe Canvas on Masonite
I have over 70 paintings and other works on display now at Minnesota West Community College in Worthington, MN through the month of September.
My reception is Thursday, Sept. 17th, 2-4 PM in the lobby entrance of the performing arts center.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBfstRjA-nU[/youtube]
Do we fix or replace? The Home Rule Charter has been so abused by out of control administrations we must consider its future.
In 12 years the city has dropped down into the sink hole of debt we may never be able to climb out. We are being taxed and levied fees at greater rates than ever before with little to show but larger egos. We have an administration abusing citizen’s rights in an attempt to mold the town into some kind of image we are not part of but have to pay for.
The Charter Revision Commission is appointed to look at the needs and make suggested corrections for voters to approve in 2016. We all know the Charter needs help, so let’s get involved to fix it.
There will be at least 4 more monthly meetings to present ideas. Here are the Charter Revision Commission Members:
– Robert Thimjon – Term Expires – March 2020 – Chair
– Susan Aguilar – Term Expires – March 2019 – Vice Chair
– Jill Entenman – Term Expires – March 2019
– Justin Smith – Term Expires – March 2019
– Pauline Poletes – Term Expires – March 2020
The first meeting was organizational. Each of the next 3 meetings will cover 3 sections of the Charter in order with Public Input allowed on each. It appears there will also be general Public Input at the end of each meeting.
As active participants in the 2014 city election, Greg Neitzert and Bruce Danielson spoke up during Public Input with ideas for the Commission to consider. They have promised to return with more ideas on the Initiative and Referendum process, direct election of City Attorney, appointment process to boards and commissions, Chair of City Council actually runs the meetings with mayor in attendance, clarification of the rule of law, and legal due process must be properly served by city agencies including Code Enforcement (no more drop and run process service or we think we mailed it stuff).
As it is, the Charter is so full of holes from top to bottom we are running out of fingers to plug it. With our “strong” mayor form the leader claims there is no way to stop him or the administration from taking away our rights. We need you to be involved to plug the leaky Charter.
If you have ideas, bring them to the Commission. Two people showing up at a meeting is not going to fix the Charter. Call AND write the members then show up to press your point of view. From all we can tell, there has not been public showing up to these meetings in the past. They need to see people!
This is strictly informational. I noticed that Rapid City approved their 2016 budget the other night, so I decided to crunch a few numbers.
I will admit, I would much rather live in SF then RC, but I have friends that live in RC and they love it. They say there is far more recreational opportunities. I still think quality of life is probably better in SF, but that is a matter of opinion.
Now for the numbers;
Sioux Falls proposed 2016 budget; $471 Million, 170K residents, $2,770 per person.
Rapid City’s implemented 2016 budget; $156 Million, 72K residents, $2,167 per person.
I have no doubt there will be some cutting and shuffling going on with the SF budget, but I doubt it will sway to far from the proposed amount.
Trust me the number of conversations I have had about this over the past week have been ‘too many’. As I have stated before, I was first told about the future of the old Sid’s location on Sunday. The owners of the Bonus Round bar plan to make it their next bar arcade. I heard very little other details about live music or the name of the place. I just automatically assumed with the success of the Bonus Round (and it has been very successful) they would call it the same thing. They have also been searching for another larger location for several months. Now that doesn’t mean they could have a room in the building with a music stage that honors the history of the Pomp Room. Not sure? I do know from the pictures below (taken last night thru the windows) that the space is very large and has lots of possibilities. While making it an arcade will be a matter of electrical rewiring, etc., to build a music stage and make it into that kind of venue takes on a whole other set of permitting and construction. We will probably know a lot more next week (Saxton closes on the property this weekend, as I understand). No matter what Ike and Crickett decide to do with the space, I think it will be fantastic, now if they can just get their future landlord to keep his mouth shut.
I guess the announcement will be sometime this morning. Here is a video featuring Captain Smidt. To be honest with you, when I was told this morning, I didn’t have a clue who he was, and even seeing him on this video, it still doesn’t ring a bell. That’s not always a bad thing.
In related news, I was also informed that the Human Relations Director who had a very short stint with the city was ‘Not terminated’. Don’t know too many other details, or the circumstances (you know the whole game of ‘you can resign’), but if she indeed quit on her ‘own terms’ it seems it didn’t take her long to figure out the games being played by this administration. Heck, it has taken the city council 5 years and they still are falling for the same old parlor tricks.
l3wis