How many of these three projects have an actual economic impact on the city? Just one, the Event Center. Of course the Gargoyle would like you to think these projects are wanted by a ‘majority’ of the citizens, but between you and me, we both know that this what the Ed Board is pushing for, so they want your opinion on the projects. Kay, I’ll give you mine;
More Hockey Rinks
Proposal: In 2008, the Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association suggested a new ice rink near Benson Road and Westport Avenue.
Sure. Build the facility, privately. If the rink will benefit the association, then raise the money, build it and run it yourself. Voters have already rejected a public facility, move on already.
Indoor Swimming Pool
Proposal: In 2007, the city proposed an indoor pool at Nelson Park. Opponents took the issue to a vote, and an outdoor waterpark was built on the site. A couple of years before that, voters rejected a proposal for a recreation center, which also included an indoor pool.
Get over it already. How many damn sour grapes are we gonna have to hear about on this pool issue? The voters rejected it, just like the hockey rink. We have over seven privately owned indoor pools in Sioux Falls already you can swim at, why do we want to compete with them? And secondly, why can’t we build an indoor pool attached to a HS that the public can use? Wouldn’t a partnership with the School District make the most sense? Wouldn’t we get the most use out of a facility like that?
Events Center
Proposal: A sports and entertainment complex.
Yes, we probably do need a new EC, 5-7 years down the road. Build it downtown and upgrade Howard Wood at its current location. Do it with a bed and booze tax. Not only would we save millions we would have a EC in a place perfect for entertainment development.
Your comments are common sense. To be a city leader you must be preposterous. Their method is higher sales and property taxes inside a socialist regime to pay back developer friend favors. The end result will be a provoked bypass I-90 to I-29 through Minnesota and Iowa past the new mall and resort. I’ll live here but maybe outside the city limits for state/corporate tax reasons but shop and play in east adjoining states.
WTF is wrong with the AL Ed board? The voters turned down the Indoor pool and Hockey Rink already. Nothing like beating a dead horse. If the minority want these facilities I suggest they pool their fucking money and build them, otherwise these are moot points in moving SF forward.
Doesn’t the city have enough indoor pools, when you consider all the health clubs/wellness centers that are in town?
Also hockey should be able to be played on the outdoor ice rinks.
Doesn’t really matter how many pools we have, the voters don’t want to pay for a public indoor pool or hockey rink. It’s a done deal.
Red –
Actual league hockey is played indoors. What they want to do is be able to host tournements where people who are serious enough about hockey that they’ll travel and spend a lot of money so their kids can play on traveling teams.
Whether it’s worth building the facility or not is another issue.
I never thought I’d see the day where Rapid City is ahead of Sioux Falls in the indoor pool and ice hockey rink department. Nor did I think that the edifice-opposition groups would migrate eastward to SF and make a bigger stink than they did in RC.
How do you figure? 1) we have over seven indoor pools in SF already and if you count the hotels it is close to 30. and 2) I don’t think anyone is saying we don’t want a new hockey rink, they are just saying the taxpayers shouldn’t pay for it. If the NEED exists and the place will have a economic impact, I highly encourage private investors and the hockey association get on it – what are they waiting for?