Not sure, but I will lay this out for you. Around a year ago or so MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization of Sioux Falls) had a zoom meeting. At the meeting were several city administrators I believe from Tea, Canton and Mayor TenHaken. The city manager of Harrisburg could NOT attend so he designated a private contractor who was the city’s acting (part-time) planning director at the time (they just recently pulled back after hiring Watertown’s Planning person). The ‘fill-in’ at the meeting said the discussion quickly turned to the dividing line between SF and Harrisburg and Poops adamant distinction of HWY 101 being that line. The ‘fill-in’, a former city of Sioux Falls engineer, disagreed with the mayor and said that is not ‘definitive’ and never has been. Then the mayor proceeded to accuse this person of lying about what he ‘knows’ and what he believes (I am still waiting for the minutes from the meeting). Besides the meeting itself being a little rough and contentious it was what Poops did after the meeting that was really petty. He instructed that MPO changes it’s meeting rules only to include city employees as fill-ins and not private contractors. While I agree, seemed it a little odd you would send your private contractor to this meeting, BUT, they were discussing planning and development and he was the acting planning director for Harrisburg, so it made sense at the time. I just find it incredibly insecure and petty to make a rule change because you didn’t like a private citizen telling you what was up in an a official meeting so you change the rules. You got a lot of issues man.
1st Amendment
Canton
Downtown Sioux Falls
Harrisburg School District
Mayor TenHaken
Open Government
Open Meetings
Sioux Falls
Tea
Is this proof that Mayor TenHaken is actively pursuing closed government?
By
l3wis
The city charter is not democracy. It gives the mayor absolute power. TenHaken can change the rules because he is an authoritarian ruler similar to a king. Unless and until SD Supreme Court revokes the charter, we (the people) are subjects deprived of rights afforded others everywhere outside city limits. Surrounding municipalities must protect themselves from annexation. Any cooperation with the city of Sioux Falls is unpatriotic demeanor.
The City of Sioux Falls since its organization, has had 4 charters. One was a business charter given to a group of businessmen, politicians from St. Paul forming Sioux Falls City, but this group became known for cheating in Minnesota elections, creating fake voters and precincts, but left a lasting mark in the area, establishing our economic system. Next, we had a group of people from Dubuque, Iowa, having received a organizational charter from the State of Iowa, to establish a community called Village of Sioux Falls, thus laying down the foundation to how our government works today, while thirdly, our third charter was rewarded to this group of people in 1884 by the Dakota Territorial Legislature, effectively establishing the City of Sioux Falls. And last, the current charter adopted by the people in 1994 effectively creating the current government we have today. All are bi-products of the previous charters. Leaving the only time was no charter was between 1889 to 1993 when the people of our township acted under the “administrative-form” of government under the State Government. Under the charter system, the landowners, property holders, the township supervisors have the utmost power over their own government, and can dictate how to manage the activities on their land freely without to many distractions.
Zitts, you really need to read this book;
https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-November-Senator-Pettigrew-Dakota/dp/1575790726
Wayne lives in SF, he could school you on all of this, big time.
Talk about a ‘Tale of Two Cities’. A Burger Battle that ranges from $11 to $55?…..:
https://www.keloland.com/keloland-com-original/2025-burger-battle-prices-range-from-11-to-55/
#McDonalds$5Meal!