August 2016

Minnehaha County suing state for $2.5 million

I guess the state decided to bail on giving Minnehaha County transportation monies for a bridge, so the commission voted today to sue the state over it;

Consider Motion to Authorize Appointment of Johnson, Janklow, Reiter & Parsons to Represent Minnehaha County in Civ 16-1275, the Appeal of the Denial of a Bridge Improvement Grant by the State of SD Transportation Commission – Robert Wilson

I guess the commission budgeted for the money and the state pulled it without notice. It’s funny because Minnehaha County and Sioux Falls are the cash cows for the state, and then they turn around and stick it to us.

UPDATE II: Is someone using the Midco Aquatic Center as their own private pool?

Update: As you can see from the photo, there appears to be two people in the 50 meter pool area in swimsuits (this occurred last night, Sunday). According to the picture taker they saw the truck pull up in front, and once they realized they were being watched, they pulled the vehicle to the rear of the building. The picture taker then went to the rear and saw a young couple get out, the male was wearing his swim trunks already and the female had a swimsuit in hand. Then they easily unlocked the door and went in, where they later shot a picture of them going into the 50 meter pool area.

Update II: I guess Sioux Falls construction told the police that they were doing a ‘security check’ of the facility. I guess construction companies now do those inspections in swimsuits instead of hard hats.

pool-part

Apparently last night someone (person living in Spellerberg neighborhood) took photos of people swimming in the Aquatic Center, once the people realized they were being watched, they split before police arrived (they were contacted).

If this really occurred, I find it a bit ironic that the city has not set an opening date for the center yet, but ‘someone’ is already using the facility.

Remember what I was told at the public tour about not being able to use video equipment because Sioux Falls Construction has ‘possession’ of the building until they turn the keys over to the city (even though they have received well over $16 million from the city’s taxpayers).

There is also a question of safety. What if one of these people would have drowned while using the pool, and they had either an association with the city or the construction company? Who would be sued for wrongful death?

I’m hoping this is all just a rumor, but if it did happen, the clowns need to knock it off before we are all on the hook for a lot more then just an unneeded special interest indoor pool built on Federal property.

Sioux Falls City Councilor Erpenbach oblivious to the concept of a democracy

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Not only did Michelle throw away her populist hat, she spit on, stomped on it, then burned it;

Councilor Michelle Erpenbach, who along with colleagues Rex Rolfing and Rick Kiley has been steadfast in her support for the new administration building, said Monday she wouldn’t do anything to help Stop the Funding force a special election — whether it’s being the sixth councilor needed to endorse the special meetings or to override another potential veto of the mayor if the council votes to delay or repeal the project funding again.

“I’m not changing my stance – I want the bonds sold in October,” she said. “Your lack of preparedness doesn’t create an emergency on my part. I’m not going to approve a special meeting.”

I guess we won’t have to worry about saying Mayor Erpenbach in 2018.

With thousands of signatures gathered in a matter of days, Danielson said there’s no denying a significant chunk of the city either doesn’t want the new building or at least wants a vote on it. To deny the public that opportunity would be a disservice to the democratic process that could have effects beyond the administration building project, he said.

“It’s going to be their problem if any of them want to run for office in Sioux Falls again because there is so much anger in the community right now about this whole process,” he said. “They’re totally ignoring our concerns. They’re absolutely tone deaf to the citizens.”

Well when you never answer your phone, you don’t have to worry about losing your hearing from yelling constituents. I think the rest of the council should suspend Michelle’s phone stipend, she doesn’t use it anyway.

I guess we now know what the development foundation is doing with our taxdollars

Blowing it on a hired hand;

The Sioux Falls Development Foundation just hired Lon Clemensen as the new Vice President of Workforce Development. With 30 years of experience in Human Resource management, Clemensen feels he can help fill that worker shortage.

“My plan is to work with education groups, government groups, social services, non-profits and business leaders to talk about those challenges,” Clemensen said.

Great! That’s all we need is another hired gun to tell us what we are doing wrong. And the advice he gives?

Clemensen says Sioux Falls has competitive wages, but the city’s quality of life is the biggest selling point.

LOL. Sure they are competitive, if you are trying to decide whether you want to work at Taco Johns or McDonalds.

“I believe if we get them into the city, show them around and show them all the attributes that we have in the city that’s a major factor,” Clemensen said. “Probably even larger than wages.”

Yeah, try to hide our dirty little secret, low wages. I’m no economist, but it seems people who make a living wage tend have a better quality of life (because they can actually buy things which contributes to our economy).

South Dakota ranks 48 (out of 51) for average salary ($29,420) and when adjusted for cost of living we rank 43 ($33,356). But hey, we don’t have a ‘wage problem’ (this information appears to be from 2014).

Maybe he should hold his ‘family day’ idea in the parking lot of Feeding South Dakota. If it rains there is plenty of room to hold the festivities inside the building, they will just have to rearrange the 40 thousand pounds of mac and cheese.