The Transient Roundup?

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Ellis and Young with the Argus Leader did a couple of great stories today about the cycle the homeless get into with the legal system in Sioux Falls, essentially trapping them in jail and the legal system all over a ticket they cannot pay.

SouthDaCola has been suspicious for some time over the ‘weekend roundup’ that is occurring in Downtown Sioux Falls, turning mentally ill and addicts into criminals over a trespassing ticket.

In out Part II interview with Sheriff Milstead we touched on it (FF: 12:30)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9pqFIE8FmI[/youtube]

Minnehaha County Commission Races

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Rumor has it that a Sioux Falls city councilor that is term limited this Spring is considering a run for the county commission. Also, some have been suspecting that appointed commissioner Jean Bender will not run because she has found the job to be ‘overwhelming’.

Maybe if the commission would have been more transparent when they made the appointment, they would have picked someone who was more ‘committed’ to public service instead of someone who was ‘connected’ in the developer community.

But what do I know, I’m just a speculator.

Sheriff Mike Milstead sits down with DaCola

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Sheriff Milstead and Chief Deputy Sheriff Michelle Boyd sat down with me today to talk about the new proposed jail, crime and punishment, mental health services and the proposed city cell phone ban.

Stay tuned for the video interview (Cameraman Bruce chimes in also).

 

While the city fiddles with admin buildings and indoor pools the county is planning a new jail

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On Monday, Minnehaha County will be discussing the jail expansion (DOC: jailbuildingmeeting)

The Minnehaha County Building Committee will meet at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2015 to review information about the need for an expanded Minnehaha County Jail facility. Over the past year architects from TSP in Sioux Falls, SD and Shive Hattery in West Des Moines, IA, have assisted Minnehaha County in a master planning process to identify the safest and most efficient ways to address the county’s growing inmate population. This meeting will be an opportunity to review that work and consider options to address future jail needs.

I find it ironic while the mayor and some of the city councilors are pushing for a new administration building, the county is planning for the future by scraping a jail plan together. I’m curious what money has been budgeted by the city to help with the new jail? Maybe it is in the 5 year plan? But I don’t recall. Once again, while the county spends all of their money on crime and prosecution the city builds play things.