Sioux Falls

City of Sioux Falls Tidbits

DELBRIDGE ANIMAL COLLECTION REFERENDUM FAILS

I was told they got between 500-1000 sigs, which surprised me, because I didn’t think they would get that many. I truly believe if Sioux Falls voters were polled about keeping the collection 80%+ would say they don’t care if it gets given away. Which is unfortunate because science and art are important, not to mention we are giving away a priceless collection of mounts. But people care more about the price of eggs and who wins an Oscar then they do about history.

NOEM GETS SERIOUS ABOUT HER CREDIT CARD RECEIPTS

It seems Noem now is calling Dakota Skab ‘Fake News’;

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem‘s legal team hit a South Dakota media outlet with a cease-and-desist letter demanding that it correct and end its knowingly “false and misleading” reporting that Noem allegedly racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars on a government-issued credit card when she served as governor, Fox News Digital has learned. 

“On behalf of former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in her personal capacity, I write out of concern that your website continues to publish false and misleading information about my client that you have known to be false since at least July 2024,” an attorney representing Noem in her personal capacity said in a letter to the co-founders of a South Dakota outlet called The Dakota Scout. The letter was obtained by Fox News Digital on Thursday. 

“Specifically, your website repeatedly, and inaccurately, refers to all charges on credit cards used by the Office of the Governor of South Dakota as charges of my client—allowing a conclusion by multiple commenters on the site and other news outlets that my client violated the laws of South Dakota or stole taxpayer funds for her personal use,” it continued.  “We demand that The Dakota Scout immediately cease spreading these false, misleading, and inaccurate statements and take immediate and significant steps to correct past inaccuracies.

Reading a FOX news story is like reading a 7th grader’s book report, either way, when I have read all the stories about her hair and nail receipts it seemed clear to me she was spending the money on her staff. But that is NOT what is in question, the question is why were you racking up these CC bills so your staff could travel with you? The taxpayers of SD shouldn’t have to foot the bill so your Trump ass-kissing entourage can parade all over the US. I’m sure the DS will fight this, but Noem’s law firm is pretty tough at this stuff. I think it would be ironic if the suit bankrupts the fledgling paper and the county commission, city council and school district have to grovel back to the Argus to print their legals. I’m sure the Argus would be happy to oblige, but I am guessing under a whole new rate.

SIOUX FALLS CITY COUNCIL GETS ROLLED BY THE MAYOR ON DUD FENCE

At the council meeting Tuesday night I spoke during public input (2:20:00) after Jordan Deffenbaugh spoke about the lack of policy leadership and transparency of the current council (47:30). I also told the council they need their own outside counsel (law firm) to write policy and they should put a line in next year’s budget for the expenditure. I knew it was going to be 8 yes votes. First off, because the council is extremely predictable and when I texted councilors to please vote no, I got no response, so I knew how this was going down. They act like they need unity on all votes, you don’t. I told them solving the problems of the city doesn’t take unity between councilors and the mayor it is about solving problems and sometimes you have to vote NO and start over. Many constituents including myself know this was cooked up by the mayor’s office and not dropped in councilor’s laps until the Thursday before the meeting, and let’s just say they weren’t happy about it. If I was them, I would have all voted NO and told the mayor that they will come up with a better solution within 30 days. Grow a sack already council.

WHY IS A NON-PROFIT PROVIDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOANS?

I received a postcard in the mail recently from Habitat for Humanity asking me to apply for this program. Someone asked me how I would have received this. I said, I worked in direct mail for 30 years and you can buy a list for anything. So I am sure they purchased a mailing list that had homeowners in a certain income bracket, and that would certainly be me, LOL. While I appreciate this program, it had me thinking, why isn’t the city mailing out postcards for their similar program thru the Feds of community development loans? The premise is the same, help with needed home repairs. There is a reason we had to but a fence around the Dud, there is NO affordable housing in Sioux Falls and the places that are affordable are falling apart.

City Council Bingo is back!

In an attempt to offer a “low-key way to meet your neighbors, stay informed and turn city government into something we enjoy engaging with,” Gist Wine Shop is starting City Council Bingo. The first event starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the downtown business. Enjoy a glass — or share a bottle — of wine while watching the televised council meeting. Bingo cards will be filled with squares like “someone calls for transparency” or “we don’t want to be like Sioux City.” Players will mark their cards as they hear those items. The first person to get bingo “gets bragging rights and wines (yes, wines) a prize!”

City of Sioux Falls left holding the bag on another project

Once again either the developer wasn’t being honest with the council and administration or the administration hasn’t been honest with the council, either way, this stinks;

The development concept still is being finalized. When it was presented to City Hall a year ago, it included a mixed-use concept with residential above and Tre Ministries among the lower-level occupants, along with opportunity for other commercial tenants.

A final determination for the overall site design hasn’t been made and will depend in part on financing.

The site demolition was funded with support from the city of Sioux Falls. The city has a $500,000 deferred loan at zero interest available to Tre Ministries that allowed the site to be prepped for construction.

The remaining development will depend largely on donations.

As I understand it Tre got a gift or loan from some ‘corn’ folks to buy the property, then the city gifted $500K to tear down the property (0% interest deferred loan) in order to move forward with the project, now they are saying they don’t have enough money to proceed? WTF?

So did the council and administration KNOW in advance that they didn’t have a plan BEFORE they gifted this money? If they don’t even have money to build the place how the heck do you suppose they will pay us the $500K back!?

I TOLD SEVERAL COUNCILORS TO VOTE AGAINST THIS LOAN. I felt the organization was a little shady in what they planned to do, and I was right.

Suckered again by prosperity gospel folks, but no surprise when Pastor Poops is their main advocate, and I bet he knew they didn’t have a plan and hid it from the council. If I was the city council I would declare breech of contract and make them pay the $500K back immediately. Then they can sit on the empty lot as long as they want. We have to stop subsidizing religious organizations like The Dud House who is connected to a church worth BILLIONS and a SD Diocese that spent $16 million to restore the Cathedral. They have the money, and even if they didn’t, taxpayers shouldn’t be funding religious organizations they should be funding a mission. If we need more affordable housing for young folks, build it! If we need more job training opportunities in Sioux Falls, let’s fund it, but we have to realize anyone can accomplish anything with determination and hard work, the Bible is just a nice book to read once in awhile.

RIP Heath Henjum

It is with heavy heart a great musician from Sioux Falls has passed away;

Heath Henjum, a steadfast member of several Twin Cities rock groups, has died. Over the past three decades, he played with the Hopefuls, the Beatifics, Vicious Vicious, Little Man, and several other groups.

On Sunday, Henjum’s sister Kirsten Henjum shared the news of his passing on Facebook, stating “I am going to miss you baby brother. Rest in Peace.” In the days since many other former bandmates and friends followed with tributes and remembrances of the man often nicknamed “The Legend.” He was 55.

Heath Laurence Henjum grew up in South Dakota and lived in Sioux Falls. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, he studied political science and computer science while earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Heath and I have kinda lost touch since he moved to Minneapolis, but he has always been in my heart. I first met Heath through his mother. I interned at a print shop DTSF in 1993 and Heath’s mom worked there, she introduced me to Heath’s band, ‘VIOLET’. I became a die hard fan instantly. The one thing I loved about Heath was he was the ‘leveler’ in any band he was in. He kept the beat, and the peace. I probably saw Violet play 50 times and was always blown away how he was the conductor of the band (he played bass). Sure, Rich and Mark were the show ponies but Heath kept it together. My heart goes out to the family, we are truly going to miss an incredible talent!

The Sioux Falls Police Department doesn’t frickin’ get it

So for some reason, the SFPD doesn’t want to share a video that would help them solve a crime;

“The video released this past Friday has been very helpful and eye-opening, shedding light on where Tyler was headed the morning of September 4th. If anyone knows where Tyler went that morning, please reach out and speak up. This season has been absolutely dreadful and confusing for our family. We all want answers. I know the SFPD has more footage from Combined Building Specialties that shows Tyler walking toward the interstate, and I am hoping that footage will also be released to the public. If anyone knows where Tyler went, SPEAK UP. This is incredibly difficult to express because my vulnerability is being mocked and used as an opportunity to create baseless theories. It’s putting my family’s safety at risk and perpetuating a false narrative that only endangers my family even more. Enough is enough.” – Mona Lisa Perez

As we know, police departments across the country and state have been successful posting evidence online to social media and getting the public to help them solve a crime. I remember a story from a small town in Eastern SD (I forget the name) but after posting a crime on their FB page it was solved in a matter of hours. GIVING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION WILL HELP YOUR INVESTIGATION! THIS IS CRIME PREVENTION 101. They don’t get it. While I hate closed government on ALL LEVELS, the PD should always be transparent in their investigations. Their lack of transparency only cost$ taxpayers because of extended investigations that go nowhere. Unfortunately we will probably have to wait for a new mayor and council to get transparency from the PD. The first thing I would do is fire the chief, the information officer (he would be FIRST!) and all the detectives and replace them with national searches that actually know how to investigate crimes and be transparent with the public. I have felt for a long time that the chief has a ‘warm bodies’ attitude towards hiring and the COS’s son is in charge of that. I often advise people if you can solve the crime on your own, you are probably better off.