I remember when Bucktooth and Bowlcut was walking out the door, it seemed the last 100 days of his administration we were reminded of all the ‘S**T’ he got accomplished (not my words, his). But only a little over 2 years later, let’s look at those supposed accomplishments;
Railroad Redevelopment. While this hasn’t totally flopped (there are a few projects and apartments being built in the area, after developer friendly deals were cut at taxpayer expense) The major developments flopped due to issues with engineering and bedrock. I actually don’t see this development ever coming to fruition for at least 20 years. It was touted as his greatest accomplishment but really was just a massive waste of Federal tax money that never solved the rail traffic issues downtown. They continue to store rail cars downtown less than a few blocks away. And to add insult to injury, we are spending millions for an overpass on 26th street so the trains can continue to march through downtown.
Events Center. Besides the possible impending doom if Mr. S gets brought up on criminal charges, the Denty has been nothing but a complete failure only 5 short years after it opened. Not just the major screw job on the cheap siding and many other issues with the building, sponsorships have continued to fall and attendance is at near zilch. And that’s not just because of Covid. Last year several businesses in the area complained that there was little activity at the place. Besides the rusted up tin can looking like a total waste, taxpayers are stuck with propping up this place with around a $10 million dollar a year mortgage payment while a majority of the profits go straight out of town. We didn’t need a new Events Center, and I think citizens will come to that realization within the next few years.
City Administration Building. Besides the fact we didn’t need this place, it has had issues from day one. The HVAC that clearly got screwed up by the CMAR had to be replaced at taxpayer’s expense, with still no word from the city attorney’s office if we will get reimbursed (likely not). When we decided to gift the other city building for the TRIAGE center, it proved that we didn’t really need another city office building. This was just another developer handout because of some backdoor promises MMM made .
Indoor Aquatic Center. I haven’t been in the place since it opened, but what I have been hearing from peeps in the neighborhood, it is turning into a real wasteland. There has been issues with the windows, leaks in the pool and extensive rusting. And that’s just the little things. There has also been multiple complaints about customer service and the horrible locker rooms. Attendance was also down before COVID hit and our subsidies grow every year. Now I wasn’t opposed to an indoor public pool, but I think we should have done it with a partnership with Sanford Sports Complex and built the pool out there. So not a total failure, but wrong place and wrong deal. I suspect it will become VA property within 10 years.
Bunker Ramp. This is the disaster that keeps giving. After MMM & Mini-Mike Darrin Smith screwed up the initial development, they marched forward with the guys that were associated with the Copper Lounge collapse LLC debacle. Even though many in the public and in the developer world told them it was a bad idea to get involved with these folks, a majority of the council pushed forward. Then when Mayor Stoneless rolled in, he also passed on the opportunity to kill it (contrary to what many believe, Paul and the council could have stopped the project and paid a bond funding fine, which could have been around $1 million, but saving us about $25 million). Not only did the past mayor and council fail to stop one of the biggest dupes on the public, the current administration continues to bungle with this project. Recently they decided to sell two flat surface parking lots (I’m guessing to push those parking tenants to the ramps). The worst part is that neither the current mayor or past mayor and councils apologized for this massive f’up. That  building will always be a stark final reminder of MMM’s legacy of a multitude of failures.
He did have one success during his administration. He supported and endorsed Snowgates, even though he could not get it passed through the idiots on the council at the time. It took a petition drive by Stehly to get this service. So in a sense, he failed at snowgates also.
When I hear rumors about a possible run for mayor again in 2022, I look at the above screwups and wonder how he even thinks he has a snowball chance in Hell of ever serving in public office again? If I was MMM, I would just plan on spending more time at my trailer house in Wessington Springs.
Huether versus ThuneHaken? An uncle versus a nephew? Who wins? Like in families, they are a lot a like in some ways. Who will prevail? Will dress shoes and ties be back? Shaving everyday? What’s worse, Huether’s sewer problems, flooding, and an ice storm, or ThuneHaken’s flooding and three tornadoes in one night? What would a ThuneHaken gig on KELO look like? What if Huether loses? Or will Thunehaken not run, because late night trucker hat calls are just not any fun? But like the new Administration building, hopefully the new Chic-fil-A grand opening will at least come before the end of his term, should he lose. #TheLesserOfTwoEvils
What’s astonishing is Huether follies happened without public vote. Strong Mayor Charter put the city $500 billion in debt. Municipal credit was ruined. You forgot to mention the Washington Bazillion and the 6 indoor tennis courts facility built for his wife with public money.
I will not forgive or forget his criticism of HRC, his praise of Trump, or the show he made of reregistering as an Independent. The poorly attended press conference and encouraging the press to follow him to the Auditors office to watch him fill out the card. The cheap nakedly opportunistic glory of it all. https://dakotafreepress.com/2016/12/19/huether-abandons-democratic-party-no-word-on-2018-intentions/
You mean the guy that was to represent the working class and failed to do so.Slick Mike has an ego, and only cares about himself, and the well off.This is a poor excuse for a mayor like the present one.
Why can’t we, just for once, get a decent candidate for mayor.* One who can win AND govern.
Ideally one who can either use the Strong Mayor system as it’s intended to be used (as opposed to the constant expanding of power for the office we’ve seen over the last ) OR preferably one who will try to switch the city’s form of government to a council – manager system.
The last time we had a mayor that I actually kind of respected was Gary Hanson…and that might be purely a form of nostalgia and the faded memory from 20 years ago.
*Kermit may have made a great mayor, but he was a piss poor candidate. He seemed to miss the first rule of running for office, you have to win. He made enough unforced errors before, during, and after elections that he wasn’t going to win.
Every time I see trains blocking traffic flow through downtown I am reminded of the results remaining as residual of the “On The Road” Mayor.
His haphazard execution of that deal didn’t begin to satisfy the original objectives of the grant.
Only part which was satisfied – the only thing for which this City government seems skilled – offering a land bargain bonanza for developers.
The fat pass through payment of $27 million to Warren Buffet’s railroad was an unexpected bonus the result of this “deal” brokered by Huether.