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Code Enforcement

Code Enforcement Mayor Hubris Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether Sioux Falls

Mayor Huether treats ‘Compassion’ like he treats ‘Transparency’. Do as I say, not as I do.

l3wis 5Comments

After I got off the floor from laughing, I was better able to evaluate this press release;

“Sioux Falls is made up of diverse backgrounds, abilities, economic status, and beliefs, and all of us deserve to live in a compassionate community,” says Mayor Mike Huether. “Our citizens regularly demonstrate compassion by sharing their time, talent and treasure, but even more can be done.”

This coming from a guy who preyed on the poor and financially inept, selling them credit cards they could never pay off.

Becoming a compassionate city will encourage Sioux Falls residents to work together to alleviate the problems of inequality and disrespectful behavior, which will end fear and ignorance that creates distrust and division.

You want to know what creates distrust and division? A city government that is not only neither transparent with it’s citizens, but with it’s councilors and employees. A police department that can’t be forthright about when officers screw up. A mayor who continually lies about the process with the backing of a city attorney, who should be looking out for the best interest of the citizens and protecting the city charter and US constitution, not the mayor’s lies.

Oh, but the ‘compassionate’ advice keeps a coming;

• Connect with individuals, organizations, and local government.

Yes, and when you get to involved, you are labeled as a ‘gadfly’ and told you are ‘tiresome’. Another ‘feel good’ initiative like the ‘Sioux Falls Has Jobs’ campaign that doesn’t really solve the issues at hand.

Code Enforcement Sioux Falls

City of Sioux Falls Double Standard?

l3wis 3Comments

As the first flakes of winter begin to fall, so do the letters to the editor about the hypocrisy of city code enforcement;

The same thing happened to an elderly friend of ours a few years ago. She was 95 years old and was out trying to clean ice off the top of her driveway with an axe and broke her wrist, all because of a city citation.

Those giving out these citations can surely tell if the walks were shoveled or not.

The same double standards apply to the citizen’s boulevards. A lot of the city boulevards are just as unsightly and dangerous as the people’s, but that is another story.

The same double standards are going to apply to the poor and middle class people this next summer with swimming. Only the rich will be able to swim in the public pools and the wonderful new indoor pool. We will be having problems with the rest of the children trying to swim and drowning in the Sioux River, The Falls, etc.

Or how any new business, church or non-profit in Sioux Falls must supply adequate parking, yet the Events Center is exempt from the rule.

In October, Sioux Falls code enforcement decided to fine and prosecute a resident on a little known ordinance (even though the mayor and city council has promised a moratorium on boulevard plantings until the ordinance is revised);

160.518  DRIVEWAY SAFETY ZONE.

(a)   No monument style sign or other sign with its face less than ten feet above grade or any fence, wall, shrub, evergreen or coniferous tree or other obstruction to vision exceeding three feet in height above the established street grade shall be erected, planted or maintained within the area from the curb line to ten feet behind the curb line.

The issue, the resident had 4 foot day lilies (I have heard once day lilies hit that 37″ mark they tend to attack cars driving by and small children, they have even been known to swallow fire hydrants alive). And while the city has plantings by the downtown library that exceed almost 5 feet, they waste tax dollars going after a resident, AFTER they promised a moratorium. Now that’s hypocrisy kids.

Code Enforcement Planning Commission SF City Council SFFD Sioux Falls

Why was the sheetrock provision amended from the building codes by the Sioux Falls City Council?

l3wis 15Comments

According to this Argus article, it would appear the Homebuilders Association knows more about fire safe materials then actual fire fighters. And why wouldn’t the council listen to them? Our fire department was practically dead silent about amending the provision.

Why didn’t Fire Chief Sideras come and speak about the importance of this issue? A Brandon firefighter died because of this exact problem. I can’t even fathom a fire department being absent from a discussion as important as this.

 “Ron Bell said last month the added layer of drywall would add between five and 10 minutes of structural life to floor trusses in the event of a fire.”

Not quite!

A 1/2” layer of ordinary sheetrock can add up to 30 minutes of additional protection to a floor truss delaying structural collapse. Ron isn’t a fire expert but a fire fighter like the chief or the fire marshal (Dean Lanier) could have easily provided that information.

Either one of them could also have reminded the council that many cities do not opt out sections of the International Fire Code when it is updated, they adopt it as is. (I.E., they don’t let the Homebuilder’s Associations run the show with scare tactics like “people won’t be able to afford houses anymore or it will add $3,000 on to the cost of a house (Notice they didn’t mention the square footage of that house).

“Putting that cap up, there is still going to be areas that will be exposed to those trusses and the airflow will go up in there,” said Council Chairman Kenny Anderson Jr. “I just don’t feel there’s enough data to show … that this will be effective.”

Airflow isn’t the problem, it’s when the flame gets to the metal gusset plate on the floor truss itself. Example: Take a hot pan on the stove on high heat. Put your hand above the pan 2” away. You can feel the heat, but you aren’t being burned. That’s airflow. Put your hand on the pan. You’re being burned, eventually to the third degree. (bet you wish you had that piece of drywall about now) See the difference?

Drywall will delay that for up to 30 minutes.

More Evidence;

www.1800drywall.ca

homerenovations.about.com

www.archives.nysed.gov

The fire department, Sideras, and the union have the data to show floor trusses are extremely dangerous under direct flame contact – that is why the fire code was changed to cover the trusses. They will fail within 5-10 minutes of direct flame contact. In some cases that’s before the fire department is even on scene. Changes to the fire code aren’t made lightly, they’re just as political and fought against at the national and international levels.

So did Sideras put his career ahead of the life safety of the 200+ firefighters under his “protection”?

“Citing cost concerns and a lack of effectiveness, councilors rejected the proposal Tuesday.”

They made the only decision they could come to considering they only had half of the facts – the ones provided by the homebuilder’s association and the incorrect ones provided by the building services director. Where was Sideras and what are we paying this fire chief for? But it also proves that our city council does very little research of their own relying solely on the shills that run the different departments.

(Note: A former firefighter/inspector contributed to this post)

 

Code Enforcement SF City Council Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls City Council accepting Public Input at what time?

l3wis 2Comments

As you saw in a previous post, the city council will be accepting public input on boulevard gardens tomorrow, but like the time your cable repairman says he will be by to fix your cable, the council seems to be taking the same approach;

Land Use Committee, *** 4:30 PM

*** Committee Meeting will start immediately following the adjournment of 4 pm Informational Meeting.

Which pretty much means anytime between 4:05-6:55 PM.

I brought this up on the Argus ‘100 Eyes’ show today, and Patrick Lalley agreed that it wasn’t a very good way of handling public input. He suggested a special meeting at a specific time to address an issue like this. I rarely agree with Pat, but he is right. Don’t tell us you are accepting public input, but can’t give us a specific time when it will occur. People have busy schedules and don’t have the luxury of sitting around for 3 hours waiting for an opportunity to speak. I will be surprised if anyone shows up, in which the council will use as an excuse that no one cares about the issue.

Funny how the council and mayor are always asking for ‘respect’ yet don’t show the same respect towards the people who pay their wages.

Code Enforcement Public Works SF City Council Sioux Falls

Boulevard Landscape Ordinance to be discussed w/Public Input

l3wis 3Comments

MEETING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH AFTER 4:00 COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEETING

CARNEGIE TOWN HALL, Council requesting public input!

A proposed ordinance could affect hundreds of property owners who have landscaping in the boulevard area. Councilman Greg Jamison is putting together an ordinance which will address this issue. Many homeowners and businesses have worked to beatify this strip of land between the curb and the sidewalk. This ordinance could mandate that this landscaping be ripped out.

Areas that may be targeted are: medium to tall grasses, rocks of any kind, large boulders, mailboxes and landscaping by the driveway, corner plantings, fencing and shrubs on either side of the sidewalk, pavers and flowers. Several council members have told me that if this ordinance passes, the city will also be required to remove the rocks, daylilies, grasses and Russian Sage on city property. This would include the area by the downtown-library and the McKennan Park Boulevard.

Please call the men on the Land Use Committee and let them know how you feel about this effort. They are:

Greg Jamison 310-1930

Kenny Anderson261-5132

Kermit Staggers 376-4056

Rick Kiley 367-8102

It also would be beneficial if you called the representative for your district and the Mayor. You can get this information from the city clerk’s office 367-8081

There is a Land use committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 15th, after the 4:00 Council informational meeting.  The meeting will be at the Carnegie Town Hall.  Watch the Argus for further updates. They have assured me that they will cover this issue.

Theresa Stehly, 332-1363

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