I don’t know how many times I have told individual councilors in private and them as a body (as I did tonight) in a public meeting, that the only way you can stop the mayor from stepping all over you is to stand up to him (still waiting).
I suggested tonight they vote against the website contract, and even further suggested, even if they support it, to vote against it, and come up with their own contract. (I also noted that a jobs website was unessary and too expensive).
No luck, but no surprise, as I counted out the YES votes on my fingers with my hand in the air at the meeting they approved the very contract they cried about being constructed in secrecy. It’s like saying it’s okay for a homeless person to steal food because they are hungry and have no money.
The big disappointment of the night was Kenny Anderson Jr. While he talks a big game that he was against the way the mayor handled the contract spending in private, he votes for it tonight, with Erpenbach, Karksy, & Rolfing (Kiley absent). And bravo to Erickson, Staggers and Jamison for voting against it.
I told them in public testimony, the only way to stop the backdoor deals is to not approve them. Extra kudos to Jamison for asking Darrin Smith who chose to put the mayor’s mug on the billboards? Darrin said it was his idea.
LMFAO!
Only a city director can lie this straight face in a meeting. He must be getting lessons from Cooper and Schmidt. He mumbled something about the mayor being the face of our city. Funny, I have always thought SF was quite attractive on the surface, apparently I was wrong 🙁
I will say it again, the only way you stop the mayor from continuing to sidestep you on important decisions is to start voting against his proposed contracts and resolutions, and as a legislative body, present your own. It’s kind of your job. You know, like how you should have postponed the meeting tonight because it was in violation of city charter for proper notice of a public meeting.
We do pay the city council to be our check and balance against the mayor, start acting like you are actually punched in and doing your job, otherwise, do us all a favor and resign.
Couldn’t agree more.
There is a reason the current city council is called the mayor’s rubber stamp council.
The biggest question is where is their courage? Who on the council has the guts and determination to do the right thing?
Obviously this whole thing is about the mayors ego and taxpayer funded campaign contribution to whatever his next political run is? (Mayor or governor)
On this one, the only headscratcher is Kenny Anderson. Don’t get it.
The website is already built. Money is spent. There’s a question of whether to waste the expenditure or let it run for awhile. I’m fine with accepting but phasing it out. However, the mayor’s face prominent on billboards must be terminated. No doubt, his involvement and the reason this nonsense came to be is to use public money for narcisist promotion bordering upon illegal political promotion. It’s no secret he’s lost his primary campaign contributers. There’s no money to run for governor.
There are 3 other Web sites that do a much better job matching jobs with applicants. Just a thought but how about one web page and but a few billboard spots along Interstates coming into town. It’d be funded with any remaining funds. There’d be a picture of the falls and private web links. Cheaper, effective, no servicing, and (above all) ethical.
Our mayor keeps himself in trouble. His actions will be used against him when he runs for office. I noticed the city attorney stammering regarding meetings law. I’m thinking he’s ready to side with the council and (therefore) the people.
if these jobs are so great, why are we spending 100k to teach the applicants english?
Thanks for speaking out on this Scott! Whether certain members of the council will listen and start to vote for our interests….Who knows? But I would have to think they are getting tired of being manipulated by the lack of information on these projects. Agree Dan …..on the signs, why the mayor? (well we know why!) but why not show pictures of people actually performing jobs with website information as Dan suggested?
I follow Ellis of the argus on Twitter. Gotta love his take.
https://twitter.com/argusjellis/status/590870116964892672
Also in tomorrow’s argus Sneve chimes in. I guess even erp does not like what this campaign is all about. Then, ERP, for the love of God, why do you continue to rubber stamp anything and everything this mayor wants?
While Ellis and Sneve do what they are paid to do, huethers press secretary continues to do what he does best.
http://www.argusleader.com/story/stu-whitney/2015/04/22/huether-family-match-pointe-tennis-facility-stu-whitney/26189015/
Poly43,
Then, ERP, for the love of God, why do you continue to rubber stamp anything and everything this mayor wants?
Because Councilor Erpenbach has already begun her run for mayor of Sioux Falls in 2018.