UPDATE II: The frosting could not be put on any thicker;
For Cherapa Place, that’s especially key. Developer Jeff Scherschligt said he’s finalizing a retail deal and timing of the roadwork is “very critical” to tenants.
“We could not have that situation asking them to build out a retail space, and a year or two later the construction project closes down Sixth Street,” he said. “It would be a nightmare. We understand how difficult this was for the council. And yet why the city of Sioux Falls is successful is because city councilors can see through some of that haze and do the right thing for the community and the commitments the city has made. I really do want to thank those councilors, all of them.”
Yes, let’s thank the council for doing the ‘right thing’. They actually made the decision based on false and misleading information and when having the opportunity to fix it they roll over to the developers. Not sure they showed a lot of courage.
And what do we have here tacked onto the price tag of the project but a bunch of diagonal street parking;
The ‘extras’ in this project is what is going to make it expensive and since it is being ramrodded so fast so some condo users are not inconvenienced by having to drive an extra 2 blocks around the construction the change orders ought to be interesting.
What the council doesn’t realize is how tarnished their reputation has become after approving this project. I don’t talk to one single person (even those who think our city government runs great) that don’t think the council really missed an opportunity to flex their muscle butt instead scurried like rats.
UPDATE: NO city councilor brought forth a reconsideration vote during the meeting tonight. I know, shocker. Guess who had a change of heart;
But Cole did not make the motion to reconsider. She said in an interview following Monday’s meeting that she has since met with a developer and others affected by the project.
“Development in that area depends on that bridge being completed,” she said. “While the timing is frustrating, the development needs to move forward.”
There was also a practical reality.
“The votes weren’t there,” she said.
As I have said, it would probably be cheaper and better to wait a year, but the developer always wins at City Hall and Carnegie because they own it.
The meetings are on Monday this week due to it being municipal day on Tuesday in Pierre. I guess the council needs to kiss the ring.
• Compensation & Benefits Study by Bill O’Toole, Director of Human Resources; and, Mike Verdoorn, Principal Consultant from Gallagher (there were NO attached documents. It will be interesting if the study includes director and management pay, something that has been excluded for a long time. You don’t need a study to figure out what to pay the underlings. You offer better benefits and union employment the private sector does not, and you bump it up a notch. Not rocket science.)
What you won’t see is the reconsideration on the 6th street Bunker Bridge because that would be under the last item ‘New Business’. As of yesterday I was told that Councilor Dr. Sarah Cole still intends to bring a reconsideration motion. If she does and it is seconded by ANY city councilor, the discussion should be intriguing.
I still think they don’t have the votes to overturn the bridge quote, but you never know.
“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson