South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

2018

County Commission Minnehaha County

Minnehaha County throws the ‘Code Enforcement’ book at rural resident

l3wis 1Comments

(FF: 6:40) While I will give credit to the CC for giving this person many opportunities to clean up this lot, they put down their foot on Tuesday and now gave him 1 month to finish cleaning it up. They determined it a ‘public nuisance’. If he doesn’t clean it up, they will come in and seize vehicles.

Do I think he is in violation? Yes, but not as a ‘nuisance’. The only laws I feel he is breaking is not licensing abandoned vehicles. But I don’t think this is a ‘nuisance’ or health issue. He lives in a rural area for a reason, so he can collect his junk. I can go to any farm in this county or across the state that have junk tractors and equipment piled up. So what?! It’s a rural area.

I think they view this as a problem because he is on a major rural intersection where people can see it. As the owner points out, this property has been this way since his grandfather owned it in the 1940’s. In fact many neighbors who drive by on a daily basis have defended him and said they don’t have a problem with it. And why would they? They probably have a junk pile on their rural properties.

While I think nuisance laws and junk piles inside a city or town are important where there is small lots and density, I don’t think it is a big deal when it comes to the rural areas, and to be quite honest, I think this is just harassment. I encourage him to fight the county in court, but first license your vehicles or junk them.

Media Sioux Falls Trump

Why is the local media being mysteriously quiet about Trump’s visit?

l3wis 11Comments

I’d Rather see this guy

Let’s face it, we all know the local media has talked to people attending the event (as I have). So why are they not telling us the location and time?

I will tell you that the location is no longer some gigantic secret. Just drive past the convention center and you will see noticeable traffic diversions. But we all kind of figured that.

What about the time? Well usually with a presidential visit, those things are always up in the air anyway, HA! Literally. But attendees were given a time to ‘be there’. As with most presidential visits they will have to stand around for a long time with their fingers up their butt waiting. Let’s just say it’s between 1 PM and 4 PM.

I also have been told (this is from only one source, so don’t wet your pants) that Noem sold 50, $5,000 tickets. This was the supposed limit, with a 100 people requesting). I have NOT heard how many people are showing up for the trailer park rate of $500.

As you know, I could care less about DC politics. It’s broke as F’ck and we all know the most valuable decisions are made locally when it comes to our lives, taxes, etc. A presidential visit to me doesn’t mean much.

But some have to wonder why our local media is being such chicken sh*ts about telling us the details of the President’s visit?

Oh, that’s right, media revenue. And we know Noem has a boatload of money (and even more tomorrow). We wouldn’t want to spoil tomorrow’s circus? Would we?

The Winners always Win, not because they are winners, but because they have more money. And when you hear that loud sucking sound tomorrow afternoon by the Convention Center, it’s not the elite dropping coin to see Trump, it’s our local media.

Oh, and if you want an alternative to the sh*t show, Tim Bjorkman is handing out FREE food at Terrace Park after 5 PM on Friday. Please Tim, no chili or hotdogs (unless it’s chili hot dogs).

Paramedics Plus SF City Council SFFD Sioux Falls

UPDATE: Is Paramedics Plus looking to renew 5 year contract early?

l3wis 6Comments

UPDATE: Please tell me that the TenHaken administration is looking at public ambulances;

It’s unclear if Mayor Paul TenHaken’s administration intends to support REMSA’s recommendation, though T.J. Nelson, deputy chief of staff in the mayor’s office, said TenHaken and the city health department will bring a recommendation of their own next month.

“We’re still formalizing what our recommendation will be,” he said.

Paramedics Plus executives could not be reached for comment.

Ultimately, the decision about extending Paramedics Plus’ contract lies with the City Council, which has members who have been critical of service in Sioux Falls.

I have heard from within the SFFD that many of the higher ups support a public ambulance service, and have for years, but have gotten resistance from the former mayor and chief. Maybe this will create a golden opportunity for TenHaken to achieve that goal. Maybe taxpayers will actually get something back from providing the service instead of just subsidizing a private service.

Rumor has it that the Sioux Falls city council was recently informed by the Health Department that PP was looking to renew their 5 year contract early. It isn’t scheduled to expire for another 2 years(?).

I find it a little suspicious with all the talk about public ambulance service and the SFFD training in ALS (Advanced Life Support) that PP is looking to renew 2 years early.

Could they be concerned the city may change it’s service to another company or better yet public ambulances within 2 years? The city could certainly fast-track and have a public ambulance service available within two years.

It will be interesting to see what the reasoning is behind the early renewal and if the city will allow it.

Mayor TenHaken Sioux Falls

Mayor TenHaken planning a big party for city employees?

l3wis 13Comments

Well, not really a party, but a discussion? I guess he has invited city employees to one of two meetings to have a ‘Rah Rah’ session with them. Not only has he asked city employees to attend, he has promised a ‘gift’ for attendance and has asked city councilors to NOT attend.

I am still waiting for more details, but I find it troubling that the public (at this point) is not asked to attend.

If the mayor has a citywide directive, he can easily put that forward in a employee citywide memo. He can even go a step further and actually take a week to visit each department and shake hands and personally ask city employees their opinions about city business.

Please Paul, tell me it isn’t true.

SF City Council Sioux Falls

City Finance Department gives ‘Half’ the story about outside Counsel

l3wis 1Comments

Once again, we are given the ‘Dog and Pony’ show about what the city spends on outside legal counsel.

As I point out at the end of today’s informational meeting, the city hides what they spend on legal counsel thru budgeting it in ‘consulting’ in the individual departments, or hide it with the Public Assurance Alliance in which we pay premiums to.

It’s time for the city to release what they spend on legal counsel, throughout city departments AND through the PAA.

There has also been rumors that the PAA and the city are negotiating a (secret) settlement for the death at Falls Park.

And how did those lawyers get access to an actual safety report when the city said one does not exist?

I’m starting to think the money we are spending on legal counsel as a city is a gigantic waste of money.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

Uncategorized

It was only a matter of time

Uncategorized

Internal audit has a busy schedule

Uncategorized

Every Single South Dakota Democrat shows up to the convention

Cartoon Miranda Bayse SF City Council Sioux Falls

Beyond Help