UPDATE: I did some digging around on what we learned from the 2019 series (which was smaller than what this year will be). During a presentation at Dem Forum after the 2019 season was done, Nancy Halverson, Director of Levitt said it costs $650K a year to function the Levitt and total alcohol sales in 2019 was $41K. According to the contract in 2019 the alcohol provider had to give a percentage of those sales to the Levitt (I can’t find that amount). It is also important to remember that the taxpayers of Sioux Falls pay for a majority of the grounds keeping on the facility. My point is a majority of the local foundation’s funding comes from private donations and the taxpayers.
Basically it comes down to the applicant thinking there would be another regular meeting in June. As I have mentioned, the city council has skipped 3 weeks of regular meetings. I still think that it is the responsibility of city employees, any city employee to be informing applicants when the council decides to skip 3 weeks of regular meetings. While the applicant did take full blame, he did say it was probably the fault of both him and the licensing agent.
While some may think I am making mountains out of mole hills, as I have mentioned before, these things have happened in the past on several occassions.
But I also don’t fully blame the applicant and Palmer. The city clerk, the city attorney, the city council and the mayor’s office should have never let a span of 3 weeks go by without having a meeting. The city council did meet for a informational on Tuesday June 22. They could easily have had a regular/special meeting right after that one to approve this license (the applicant turned in his application on June 17).
I just struggle with pointing all the fingers at the applicant who I guess is expected to know the city council’s meeting calendar by memory. As I said before, this is what you get with Cruise Control government and poor customer service from city employees. I knew councilors in attendance today would find a way to point the finger at anyone but themselves, our city government is really good at, just look at TenHaken when he talks about he Bunker Ramp, he could have stopped it, but instead he blames Bowlcut and Bucktooth.
Now we have Pass the Buck government. Enjoy your $7 white Zin at the concert.