Search Results: Staggers

Looks like Sioux Falls’ biggest developer is pulling the strings at City Hall again;

When the Sioux Falls City Council approved the sale of land on the north edge of downtown two years ago, it was meant to jump-start the transformation of a key part of the city’s core.

But two years later, the city still holds the title to the land on North Phillips Avenue, records show. And the ambitious development plan councilors envisioned is stalled, a result of the economic downturn and a soil contamination problem that could significantly raise the price on the project.

Both the city and the developer – Uptown at Falls Park – say they remain committed to developing the area. But Sioux Falls city councilors say they haven’t been updated on the development since approving it. And despite a development agreement that called for the city to sell the land, unexpected complications have prevented the sale.

This shouldn’t surprise those of us who have been following Mr. Lloyd’s chokehold on city hall. First he orchestrated getting our retail taxes raised so the taxpayers would have to build roads for developments on the edge of TEA, SD (still trying to figure out how this benefits SF residents.) But what is disheartening is that the council approved the downtown development two years ago and hasn’t received one penny yet. Why?

Craig Lloyd, a partner in the Uptown group, complimented city officials for trying to work through the problems.

What? You agreed to buy the land, why are we using taxpayer money to ‘work through the problems’? I’m sure you are very happy with the help. We are footing the bill for all the ‘tests’ and you haven’t given us one single penny.

I have always felt that Phillips to the Falls was a stupid idea. I said from the beginning, if developers want the land, let them develop it, build the road, etc, etc. Then there is the mayor breaking city ordinance to approve a 100% spending increase on the project ($1.5 million) without council approval. He claimed he needed to approve the increase ASAP so he did not have time to contact the council. Bullshit. We are almost five years later and not one shovel has been stuck in the ground yet. I am still frustrated that Munson wasn’t  charged with breaking city charter and thrown out of office. Phillips to the Falls is quickly turning into another Lloyd / Munson boondoggle on taxpayers. Staggers says it best;

“I thought we made a good-faith contract to get the money and we don’t have it yet,” Councilor Kermit Staggers said. “It’s a surprise, but not a surprise.”

We shouldn’t let private business or even our mayor take advantage of us. It is inexcusable. Someone on the council needs to step up and hold Munson accountable, in a big way. Enough is enough.

As I watched the joint City Council/Minnehaha County meeting on Monday afternoon, I was still baffled by Jamison’s and Kelly’s opposition to the chronically homeless shelter. Yes, other councilors and commissioners have concerns about the cost. Specifically if a grant will be issued to help build and maintain the facility. There is also still disagreement on how much the county and city is going to pay. Staggers also brought up the topic of SSI and Veterans assistance for some of the shelters occupants. These are all great questions. But what baffles me the most is that Jamison and Kelly are vehemently against helping these people NOT because of the above listed concerns but because they think these people don’t ‘deserve’ the help. Jamison claimed that his constituents are telling him this. Hey, Greg, there is more then one person besides your daddy living in your district you can talk to.

Moby Dick move

Okay, let me be the devil’s advocate for a moment. Let’s say I agree with Dick and Greg. Let’s say I don’t care about chronically homeless drunk veterans with mental problems, let’s also pretend I don’t care if they rot in a gutter or freeze to death in a snowstorm. Let’s also pretend that I think it is dispicable that one cent of my money goes towards these bums. But, see, that’s where Dick and Greg just don’t get it. Even if you are against helping these people, it just makes economic sense to help them anyway. By building this shelter we will be saving taxpayer’s aproximately 50-70% in public saftey costs because these people won’t be using our most expensive emergency services as often.

It just makes economic sense to help them, whether you like them or not. I suppose we could get rid of our animal control to save taxpayer’s money also, but we know the public saftey repercussions outweigh the expense and that’s why animal control is important.

I would think two guys in the Real Estate business would understand simple economics, but hey, look how these two vote most of the time.

The Gargoyle wrote about it today in an editorial, where once again they praised Munson’s leadership on passing the bonds. Because there is nothing like flushing $8.5 million in interest payments down a monkey crapper toilet for projects we could have budgeted for instead borrowed for. Yup, that’s leadership alright, right to the poorhouse.

Ahhhh, much better. Thanks city council!

The council votes on the monkey crapper quality of life bonds tonight and the mayor’s office cleverly put enough different things in it to appeal to (almost) every councilor. I mean, gee willickers, who would vote against funding a new library?

I was thinking about drinking a 1/5th of Wild Turkey and showing up to chew ass, but I predict that almost all the councilors will vote yes on the loan no matter who shows up to dissent it. I have no doubt that Dr. No Staggers will vote against it, and that will be it.

I do expect some lively debate. With Vernon giving his usual ‘Everything is Unicorns and Rainbows’ speech and Quen Be De telling everyone what a wonderful job every city employee does, and Bob Schlitz talking about progress and moving forward even though those two things have nothing to do with football. We will also probably here an impassioned speech from Gerald that really has nothing to do with anything.

Another evening wasted in futility.

Thanks for the new crapper Sioux Falls taxpayers!

I have long known that our city leader’s priorities are not in line with a majority of the citizens, the circus that occurred at the informational meeting yesterday proved this.

Sioux Falls officials are seeking an $18.5 million quality-of-life bond for four projects ranging from a new west-side library to Big Sioux River greenway improvements.

 

The improvements between Sixth and Eighth streets along the river have the highest price tag at $5 million, followed by a 15,000-square-foot library at $4.3 million, a junior football complex for $4.2 million and $2.5 million for zoo master-plan improvements.

Porridge trailer The library is the only part of this spending that makes sense. One of the biggest reasons this bond should not be approved is that the city is withholding information to the councilors on what the money will be spent on and details of the projects. Here are some of the (few) details that came out of the informational meeting;

– The library gave a fine presentation on what the money would be spent on and how the city determines when it will build another branch. It was a very detailed and well thought out presentation.

– The Zoo also gave a good presentation, but like I have said in the past poor use of taxpayer money.

– The Greenway project is a mess. Not sure if Director Cooper knows what they are doing with the project, or if he is just gonna wing it when he gets the money but the only thing he really could give details on was that they are removing the RR bridge at Falls Park and replacing it with a pedestrian bridge. Obviously that won’t cost $5 million. Staggers questioned Cooper about the rest of the projects planned in association with it and Cooper got a little nervous. He said he would get back to the council on that. So you are asking for $5 million but have no plan on how to spend it? Nice.

– As for the football fields, the city does have a plan on what they want to build, but the Jr. Football Association hasn’t raised the $1.4 million they promised to provide, and on top of that they haven’t signed a contract with the city saying they would provide that money yet. Only a handshake. I think until the Jr. Football Association signs a legally binding contract with the city saying they will provide $1.4 million by a certain timeframe we shouldn’t start or fund this project. We need to know for sure they are going to uphold their part of the deal, and we need more then a lousy handshake. There is also a gigantic mystery swirling around about the Hockey Rec center. When Staggers questioned the city about it, they all dummied up. That makes me suspicious that there will be more organizations asking for handouts in the future in this proposed sports complex area.

Whether you are for or against this bond doesn’t really matter, the council deserves to know what the money is being spent on before they approve the spending. Once again a bunch of blind mice following the Mayor to the money pit.