South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Sioux Falls

Employment Sioux Falls Unemployment

Major Company in Sioux Falls laying off over half of workforce

l3wis 9Comments

I was told that the ‘lay off’ process started over a month ago with soft, random firings and forced resignations and demotions and will continue until 60% of their workforce is eliminated by the end of the year.

I do NOT know who this employer is, but have my guesses. If my assumption is correct, this employer is in the top 30 employers in Sioux Falls and they run a multi-state multi-faceted business that also employs many private contractors (so employees of these companies will also be affected).

While I just received this information this morning, when you talk to people who may be affected by this, they confirmed that they have been suspect for months because the company hasn’t really started any NEW projects and the main reason for the layoffs is because projects they handle in Sioux Falls have dried up. There are also rumors of financial problems (which makes sense) and legal issues with several court cases moving thru the courts.

Eventually they will have to admit to the failure, but like most institutions like this in Sioux Falls you won’t hear a peep about it in the media until the ship sunk.

BTW, this business is NOT a food truck 🙁

Curt Soehl Downtown Sioux Falls SF City Council Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls City Councilor Curtis Soehl, DEFENDER of the GIGANTIC TRUCK!!!

l3wis 9Comments

While Councilor Soehl has done very little in his two terms, besides brow beating public inputers like a unruly child, he did surprise his fellow councilors today with his passionate defense of gigantic trucks that only belong in gravel pits with the governor’s dead dogs.

A new councilor, not Lucy the cement bucket lady, but Jennifer Sigette has proposed an ordinance that previous chickensh!t councils and parking department gurus wouldn’t pull the trigger on; if you have a gigantic truck, don’t park it on these four blocks on Phillips Avenue.

Pretty simple, but Curtis the Blurtist wasn’t having it!

“What if a bunch of my podunk relatives who only drive gigantic farm trucks from Woonsocket came downtown to shop at all the luxury boutiques, buy rare antiques at Zandbroz, have a steak meal at Crawfords or Minervas right before taking in the Symphony at the Pavilion after getting this ticket, they may never come back.”

First off, he didn’t say most of that, but he might as well had. He gave some bullsh!t anecdedote about some farmer visiting from a small town. Yeah, so many boot scraping visitors downtown these days I am surprised it doesn’t smell like cow manure . . . nope, just dead hogs. As someone who has lived and worked in DTSF for over 30 years, the only time you observe ‘Farm Folks’ downtown is when all six of them are trying to read a parking meter and after 10 minutes of frustration get back in their sheep hauler and drive away never to experience some overpriced app at Parker’s.

Besides the safety reasons for passing this ordinance, it is just plain RUDE. So you have a big truck. Good for you. I don’t need one, I drink a couple of Arnold Palmers each day, it seems to cure my fascination with large shiny things.

Paratransit Public Works Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Transit Transportation

Is the new public transit system working?

l3wis 2Comments

I couldn’t tell you personally, because I haven’t used the on-demand because I don’t like them data mining. But I have heard positives and negatives on the issue. Dakota Food Truck News did a story about the system, and I was surprised the GM didn’t kill the story because of the negativity towards the city. I wonder how many nasty calls they got from Poops’ ‘TEAM’ about this;

Brockman has used Sioux Area Metro and locally has not had any issues. He said that he has not been able to get a response from Via on the concerns he has and hopes things can be adjusted.

“It really sounds good in theory,” Brockman said.

Another option with SAM on Demand is the ability to reserve a ride ahead of time.

Brockman said that it’s a great idea, but he said that he has not been able to use that feature and that it needs to be 24 hours in advance, which is not convenient with him.

I actually find it baffling that the largest city in the state has one of the worst public transit systems in the nation. It would be different if this was sunny California where you can easily ride a bike or even walk everywhere, but with our extreme weather changes a good public transit system is important.

While I haven’t rode the public transit system in Sioux Falls, I was a daily rider in High School. In the late 80’s I lived in a suburb of Seattle, I moved to another adjacent town, so my school changed, but I didn’t want to go to that school, so my former school had open enrollment, the problem was I couldn’t take the school bus anymore so I would get a ride in the morning from my dad and take the CT (Community Transit) home. It was faster then the school bus and I was home within a half hour. I also ride public transit when I travel because other cities make it very easy to use. I told someone once, “You would literally have to be brain dead if you couldn’t figure out San Fran’s transit system.”

While On-Demand is nice, they really need to have fixed routes and they need to run from 5 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week! The current hours are;

Monday to Friday: 6:00am to 9:15pm
Saturday: 8:00am to 6:00pm

I think it is strange that you have all these White Christian Nationalists in this town that don’t provide bus service on a Sunday so folks can attend a church service, or even a BBQ at a friend’s place.

Has any of my readers tried the new service?

This is what happens when you build a transit system around cars instead of moving people. There are streets in this town if I ride my bike on them, it would be a death wish.

Sanford Hospital Sanford Sports Complex Sioux Falls

Sanford and City of Sioux Falls plans to hold a joint press conference today

l3wis 1Comments

Funny, didn’t see this announcement anywhere on the city website, so I guess you have to get any information from the private seller instead of the public buyer. There has also been NO word on what the place will be called, but it seems Sanford may have cut a deal where their name stays on the building, Not Sure, just speculating;

Wellness Center Updates
Wellness Center members,We have several updates to share with you today from both the City of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation leadership team and the Sanford Wellness Center leadership team. There is a lot of information here that may be beneficial for you, so we invite you to take a few moments to read through the following.

Parks &  Recreation Update
As you know, Sanford Wellness Center Tea-Ellis is transitioning to new ownership under the City of Sioux Falls. On Jan. 1, 2025, the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department will begin operating the facility. At that time, its new name will be the Westside Recreation Center.
We are planning to announce some key operational changes in a press conference at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the facility. You are welcome to attend in person or watch live online on the City’s YouTube channel and the City’s Facebook page. We want to share the updates with you here first.

Consistent Operations and Smooth Transition
The City’s goal on day one is to maintain consistent operations and a smooth transition for users of the facility. Many of the services and amenities current members have come to know and love will still be there when the City takes over. This means the facility will have the same fitness equipment, pool, locker rooms, group exercise classes (land, water, cycling) and other amenities.

Operational Changes Effective Jan. 1, 2025, at Westside Recreation Center (formerly Tea-Ellis)
• Kid-Zone Operations: Drop-in childcare under KidZone will no longer be available. Parks and Recreation will offer new, structured programs in this space at specified times and dates. Examples could include arts and crafts, movie nights and more. Users will need to register for these programs beforehand and have a pass to the Westside Recreation Center to attend. The cost of the programs is free unless specified otherwise.
• Open Seven Days a Week: The facility will be open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Facility hours Monday through Saturday will remain the same.
• Towel Service: Under City ownership, the facility will no longer offer towel service. Members will be asked to bring towels when they visit.
• New Rates: Starting in January, there will be daily, monthly and yearly pass options with no contract. Current members and the community will be able to sign up for passes starting in early December.

Membership Update and Hiring Information
• We’re excited to announce that Deena Rogers will be the new Recreation Center Coordinator, and Grayson Lange will be a Recreation Program Specialist. Deena and Grayson are already familiar faces at the facility, as they are current Sanford employees. It’s exciting to have them aboard!
• Applications for part-time positions will open Thursday, Oct. 17. We’re looking for individuals to lead, assist and provide oversight with programs, classes, leagues and events. Starting Oct. 17, the job posting can be found at siouxfalls.gov/westside.
• In December, current members will be able to sign up for a monthly or annual pass in the City’s new system. A full calendar of classes and events will also be available at that time. Be on the lookout as you plan your fitness and recreation activities for the new year!
From now through the end of the year, you will continue to see current Sanford employees as well as City employees from several different departments preparing for this transition. Starting Nov. 12, City representatives will be available in the facility to answer any questions. In the meantime, you can visit siouxfalls.gov/westside for the latest information as this webpage will continue to be updated or email brett.kollars@siouxfalls.gov with questions.

Sanford Wellness Center Update
Throughout the last several months, the Sanford Wellness Center leadership team has been evaluating current operations across our three locations (Oxbow, Tea-Ellis and the Fieldhouse). While specific programming and group fitness conversations are still in the works, we have established updated days of operation and a new reduced membership fee structure.
Effective January 2025 at Sanford Wellness Center:
• The Oxbow location will be open seven days a week. Hours are still being finalized.
• Note: We will resume Saturday hours on Jan. 11, 2025.
• The new member fee structure will be as follows:
Individual $49 plus tax per month
Couple  $59 plus tax per month
Family  $69 plus tax per month

• Sanford Wellness Center members will maintain access to Sanford Fieldhouse as they always have.

Additionally, plans to reopen the pool and new locker rooms are still on track for late November. We also look forward to sharing more details about some exciting changes coming to Oxbow in 2025.
________________________________

On behalf of both our teams, thank you for your continued curiosity and support as we work to move this transition forward as smoothly as possible for you, our members and the community.

Mike Davidson
General Manger
Sanford Wellness Center

Brett Kollars
Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation
City of Sioux Falls
Brett.Kollars@siouxfalls.gov

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