In the agenda review, we will be covering the explosive growth in Meth and Heroin seizures last year and that the Pavilion apparently negotiating a contract with the city to run (I assume) the Orpheum.
Also, there was a behind the scenes announcement at city hall that Matt Tobias was named as the Assistant Director of the Planning Department. Matt was the head of code enforcement before his promotion.
Council Informational Meeting, 4 PM
The presentation on crime stats show that there has been an enormous growth in Meth and Heroin seizures from 2017-18. We can point a lot of fingers, but let me make it very clear, the number one problem is criminals, gangs and drug traffickers. As you can see, Meth labs are no longer an issue in Sioux Falls that is because it is cheaper to buy the drugs then to make them locally. As I said, it’s hard to point fingers, but our law enforcement needs to get serious, not on addicts but on DEALERS! Our last mayor was in complete denial of the meth problem, so was the former police chief. It’s time the city takes this seriously.
There are also presentations on equalization in Lincoln County (which has been on a steamroller trend to raise property taxes). And another presentation on recycling education.
Council Land Use Committee Meeting, 4:30 PM (Following informational)
Future Land Use and Growth Tier Map Updates
Regular Council Meeting, 7 PM
Item #6, Approval of Contracts, Pavilion legal counsel for agreements;
City Hall says they are exploring a contract with the Pavilion to run the Orpheum, even though SMG has already said their contract ends in July and the Events Center Campus study Book Club said they were looking at it, yet the council is being asked to approve an outside counsel contract negotiator. So which is it Paul? Head City Attorney, Kooistra said Tuesday at the city council meeting that the attorney’s office is short staffed and that they were looking to hire a contract attorney. I wonder why they let their civil rights/ADA attorney go if they were so short staffed? I also wonder if the city should be allowing the Pavilion to run another public facility when they are participating in CENSORSHIP – More to come on that one.
Item #18, 2nd Reading, naming rights for hospitality deck at Levitt. So while the public owns the land and the Levitt, the Levitt will be taking in sponsorship money for a private hospitality deck. While this is probably needed to raise money for the organization, last Tuesday at the council meeting, there was no real good excuse to NOT allow BYOB. Their first argument is that the Levitt is part of Falls Park. Not quite. While there is a sidewalk connecting Levitt to Falls Park, it is NOT Falls Park. Was the Pitts salvage yard part of Falls Park when it sat there? No. They say they cannot allow people to bring their own beer because it is a part of Falls Park which doesn’t allow alcohol. Yet, if they have a special one-day license (which the Levitt will do) they can allow them to sell the alcohol. While they were making the argument, you could tell they knew is was BS. Mayor TenHaken tried to shut down the conversation.
Items #20-30, 1st Readings, International Building Code updates.
Item #32, Resolution. The council finally gets to vote on the Falls Overlook Cafe contract, now that it is pre-packaged for them with a nice bow on top. Read the contract, it’s one heck of a deal for the contractor, the city, not so much. But hey, we will have ice cream at Falls Park!
Item #33, Resolution, demolition approval of the Raven building on 6th and Phillips. Yeah! More parking lots 🙁
Item #34, Resolution to Appoint Citizen Board members. For the 3rd mayor in a row I have been denied to serve on the Visual Arts Commission. This doesn’t surprise me. Radical change and ideas scare the hell out of people. I will commend current board members for arguing my case, who will remain nameless. Thank you.
MORE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS TO COME.
Before the 2014 Spellerberg Pool vote was held, there was an effort to turn the Arena into an indoor rec center with a competition pool. As the effort gained speed, Huether found and signed a five year partner to use the Arena. Well it appears the first of the Arena / EC partners is moving on.
The story is out, Huether’s 5 year contract with Augie is now over. Augie is moving their basketball efforts to the Sanford Pentagon.
This is just like most of the things Huether built his image on and bragged. Another failure for anything good for the people, only himself.
Drugs are rampant. The American Legion required a drug test for employees. 7 out of 10 were terminated. Opioids are more controlled but meth has become a major factor.
Why is it that the city attorney office can’t draw up contracts for the city without contracting out privately? They went to over 20 employees from 3 when Huether took office.
Marijuana is prevalent. Have seizures gone down because law enforcement looks the other way so they can focus on meth? Why is it that the city population has increased a third while the jail population has doubled?
Where is the sex crimes vandalism gangs property damage disorderly assaults etc.
Matt Tobias is now the Assistant Planning Director? Wasn’t he in Environmental or something prior to going into code enforcement? Does he have a planning degree or any other planning/zoning experience besides being the head code enforcement officer or whatever it was?
Due to cronyism, thousands of tax dollars were spent to accommodate Augustana at the Sioux Falls Arena.
Five years ago when Augustana moved from the Elmen Center to the Arena, Rob Oliver was President of that institution. He was also personal friends with Mike Huether and had co-chaired both of Huether’s campaigns for mayor.
I wonder how much that whole deal cost us, the taxpayers?
Matt Tobias as the new Assistant Director of Planning?
I’ve heard this guy speak at City Council meetings. He doesn’t even come close in qualifications to a Mike Cooper or a Jeffrey Schmitt.
How do you make the leap from code enforcement to one of the most important jobs in city government, Assistant Director of Planning?
Oh wait, he’s a TenHaken appointee, that explains it!
Puppet Government. As I have predicted, I don’t think they will ever have a true director of Planning. I think they will only have an assistant that is instructed by COS Beck.
Looks like the khat crisis is under control. Great work everybody.
LOL. Ever seen that movie about the guy who went to interview the Somali pirates? He had to bring Khat to them as a peace offering?