December 2019

Sioux Falls Planning Department explains Sioux Steel TIF

Dustin does a nice job of explaining the proposed TIF. While I disagree with ‘editorilizing’ the proposal, at least he does explain it in detail. I believe the TIF will pass 8-0. I don’t think one single councilor has the appetite to vote against it. What I do hope though is they negotiate a better deal for the taxpayers. I would really like to see the parking ramp FREE 24/7 not just at nights and weekends (unless you are using a valet service from the hotel/convention center). I would also like to see a non-compete clause with the CVB when it comes to the kind of conventions they book there. We are really cutting the private developer a ‘blank’ check’ worth well over $30 million (TIF + BID + River Greenway). I also struggle with the $25 million dollar yearly economic impact. Whether the place gets built or not, people still have other places to stay downtown, eat downtown and park downtown. That money is being spent already with or without this project. All they are saying is that money is being re-directed to their site from other competition that already exists in Sioux Falls and Downtown.

City of Sioux Falls ‘Code Enforcement’ attorney wants to be the next Minnehaha County State’s Attorney

To say I laughed a little when I heard this would be an understatement;

Paul is currently an Attorney for the City of Sioux Falls, primarily representing the Public Works Department though he’s held various roles in the City Attorney’s Office working with Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Planning and Zoning, the Health Department and Human Resources.

Paul was the lead attorney trying to convict Cameraman Bruce for a public nuisance charge over his garlic and raspberries in his backyard (they called them weeds). I attended the trial. To say Bengford ‘lost’ the case is an understatement. Judge Cutler ruled in Danielson’s favor. She said something like, “Mr. Danielson enjoys working in his yard, there is no legal barriers on that.” But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Before the trial, Bruce was jailed for several hours on a ‘penny bond’ right before he was to testify at public input at the city council meeting about the whacked events center siding. We don’t need this person as our state’s attorney, we need him out of public service all together.