As suspected, this is ONE of the changes;
- Reimbursed or paid expenses from a third party to the
city may be accepted if ALL of the following
requirements are met: - 1. The event is related to the official duties of the
officer or city’s legislative or policy making role
(Consistent with City Council Travel Policy) - 2. The event organizer is not a person, entity, or
business who seeks or does business with the city
or conducts activities regulated by the city or is a
political party (nonprofits and other governmental units
are NOT prohibited sources) - 3. All expenses are paid for or reimbursed by the
event organizer (not a sponsor of the event) - 4. The event is a widely attended gathering and the
agenda and any paid or reimbursed expenses are a
matter of public record
I Still think it is dangerous territory to allow partisan groups to fund trips.
I was alerted to this recently but my foot soldier couldn’t tell me what the proposed changes were;
Ethics Ordinance Update by Greg Neitzert, Council Member
Like I said, I have no idea what he is proposing, but with his impeachment over a paid for partisan trip to Texas with Mayor TenHaken and his then Deputy COS, TJ Nelson, one has to wonder if they are re-writing the ordinance to make the sins of the past go away, which would allow partisan political groups to pay for trips of local elected officials.
If this is the proposal, I think it is dangerous territory. While I maintain that not only was Councilor Neitzert guilty of ethics violations, so was the mayor and Nelson. Partisan groups, left, right or center, should not be able to buy influence.
And while the recreation trail ordinances have languished for 5 years, this apparently is top priority . . . saving their own asses!
Perhaps, they plan to use the SCOTUS as their role model.
Thomas and Alito are known to be quite the “tourists”. Thomas even likes to camp at Walmarts. Someone should tell him the 85th one isn’t available, however, thanks to our city council. #TaupevilleSpecialInterest #Hari-bourgeios-NordNonNon
Authoritarian ethics ‘Bag of Tricks’ for backsliding away from democracy?
It’s time for AIG (Artificial Intelligence Government). Computers don’t need vacations. No more half million dollar elections. No elections. No more diverting budget to insider cronies. Computers are less obvious about taking away constitutional rights. It’s happening but we don’t want to know. No more ‘Bag of Tricks’! No more Uh and Um speeches. Full time separation of Church and State. No more Jesus Plows!
AIG is already here. I believe it’s run by our “UAP Awareness Program”:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12247879/Senator-Rubio-worries-classified-UFO-program-run-military-complex-accountable-no-one.html
“If you drink too many IPAs will you begin to see UAPs or just UFOs?”…. “And what if you are with your BFF, will they see them too, or IDK?”…. (… “Wait a minute, I thought AIG was an insurance company?”… 🙁 FWIW”….)
(….. “Wait another minute, I wonder if DUA likes IPAs and if she had her own beer it could be called LIPA’s IPAs”… )
Knowing Greg, I am sure he is simply presenting the plan of which the Ethics Committee has come with to amend City Ordinance, while the plan is most likely a positive step forward in clearifying some of the issues that were exposed a few years ago. I highly doubt he is doing anything more, or less than that. Greg takes the time to research, educate himself, and ‘assess’ the situation, before making proposals to the Council. He has a pretty good track record of anaylizing things through, before he makes a decision, and I would put my faith in Greg, that he has given this some very strong thought. he uses his experiences in order to help draft new ordinances, or amending ordinances. Relax.
Computers are no acronyms or English. ‘Code’ only. Persecution and number Tat on forehead from Director of Operations robot when one speaks instead of keyboard. However, no more unenforceable fines and fantasy litigation. Expect lots of CTL ALT DEL.
For AI, all SD government could be computer room in 80×100 Hall of Records behind faces on Rushmore. Must station Patriot Missile battery in case Noem launches missiles at mountain.
Mike, I know a lot of people come on here and make fun of you, but I have to say your statement is very naive. I will hold my judgement until I hear what he is proposing, but I am pretty sure what is going on. There seems to be an effort to make it ethically doable to accept money from partisan groups. Heck the council voted to not convict him, so they must seem it is okay to do this. Not only was it a clear violation of the ethics cannon, it takes a lot of audacity to change something you never were convicted of.
Greg is definitely a policy wonk, but so was Bill Clinton… Oh, and I’m not suggesting anything else with that similarity statement either.
I also like the Hall of Records idea with Patriot missiles. But did you know the U.N. was suppose to be located where Reptile Gardens is now? Yep, but instead we just got a “Swamp”. Don’t tell Trump, nor Noem, however, they are friends.
Knowing Greg is prophetic statement. We’ve all learned the hard way how he is a sellout to the highest bidder. Like Thomas he will likely park his camper at a Walmart so he can find his ethics hero. Greg, we expect nothing less from you.
A Patriots Missile battery at the Hall of Records (Mt. Rushmore), Noem would then finally get her fireworks at the Shrine of Democracy.
“Not only was I vindicated of those scurrilous charges by a jury of my peers, but that is not even a thing anymore under modern City ordinance and statute. The biggest of Nothing Burgers. Next question.”
Seems like a lot of set up work for the payout, but a pretty good Mayoral campaign one-liner to have available.
Just sayin’
Mike,
I might have thought that either Councilors Soehl, Selberg or Jensen, given their first-hand view of this “injustice in our ordinances” (by virtue of their votes to exonerate Councilor Neitzert) would be the Champions of Change for this ordinance?
Funny. No one else seems eager to revisit that vote … except Neitzert. He has obviously never heard the phrase, “don’t buy it back” (colloquial reference to a salesperson who won’t stop talking, even after the sale has been made).
If you’re really not quilty, then you don’t keep taking about it.
Scott,
Thank You for Your Response, done i a respectful manner. However, I am not naive, I understand that millions of campaign funds float through the community to influence our congressmen, legislators, city councilors. But…I do understand the governing process as it relates to those ‘we’ put in place to speak on our defense in front of that City Beaucracy of Public Officials, Officers, Employees.
“WE” should encourage our City Councilors to seek education, information, that help shape our future policy, and for any trips they take to do that, they should have the right to get compensated for their time away from home, or work place.
But then again, what do we pay them $21,000 a year for, that compensation is, and was intended to provide them an income where they are to take time away from their main job, let alone family. So I do agree, some of their “Salaries” should be used to help pay for these types of political trips.
IF they wish to generate revenues to pay for the cost of Hotel, Food, Fuel to go to and from the ‘event’ from a individual, organization, or business, I believe those funds must also be from the within the “District” itself.
Meaning, if Greg Neitzert is representing the Northwest District, then any such resident, business owner, land owner, property holder, should have the right to help pay for such expenses as – Hotel, Food, Fuel, Vehicle Rental, etc.
The “Reimursement of Qualified Expenses” should be paid directly to the City Council Office, not the “Councilor”.
Same for the Mayoral’s reimbursed Expenses, as a member of the City Council he should be able to pull be part of that same “Education and Informative Cash Pool.
If ALL CHECKS paid to the City Council Bank Account for this exact purpose, then the City Council has record of payment, and all cash receipts, and transcripts from the “Event”.
If this is the goal, then “WE” all active residents should be allowed to contribute to this “Fund” directed to “our” district rep.
Court cases are continuously appealed and lost until the final opinion is you were guilty and are more guilty than ever. There’s a future of wasted council time if the same ethics matter takes away from city business. Neitzert and the Mayor must accept they unethically accepted a vacation from doesn’t matter who.
Only US Supreme Court justices can accept paid vacations. Only US presidents can keep Top Secret documents. Neitzert doesn’t qualify.
Here’s 2 council votes. They’ll vote for their wish and pressure the rest to vote their way. Even if it fails, the Mayor (per Charter) can overrule and impose. It’s UNETHICAL to vote yourself clean from an ethics violation. Likely, it’s also criminal.
The city council should have ONLY one special interest group they need to worry about; the people of this community who pay taxes and fees. And while that also includes small and big business owners, it doesn’t mean they get a better seat at the table. While I agree with a lot of the smaller changes, they really should just ban travel being paid for by a third party and only travel when paid for by the city.