Is the new public transit system working?

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.

What’s up with this place?

I get so many emails about this place by numerous citizens that I decided to post it, it is at 33rd and Duluth. It was knocked off it’s foundation by a car hitting it, not sure when it happened but Google took this pic in September. A retired city employee told me that when he worked for the city, this would have been remedied pretty quickly. A city backhoe could literally tear this place down in 30 minutes (save the tree!);

Screenshot

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

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

What’s up with PMB’s?

So what is a PMB? It is short for Private Mailbox. Basically it allows people to vote in SD if they registered their address in the state. Some do it thru mail forwarding services, but some are just using business, campground or hotel addresses. They have been voting this way in SD for decades.

During the Minnehaha County Commission meeting today, where I thot Dean Karsky was going to cry, or throw something, several of the MAGAS showed up to also cry about this.

While I would agree with several commissioners that this is a state and federal issue when it comes to election laws I question the ‘issue’.

As an American citizen you have a right to vote, it is tied to your address and district. So why is voting for president in Arizona any different then South Dakota? (ok, I know, there are some differences, but play along).

I believe every American has that right, and where they choose to cast that ballot doesn’t mean a damn thing, as long as they only vote ONCE.

Now I get it, the state has been doing this for years due to the revenue from PMB’s. Also, what if you really do own a home or condo in Sioux Falls but have another home in Arizona four months out of the year. Where should they vote? Sioux Falls or Arizona? They have a constitutional right to the vote, are you denying them that right?!

While our system of PMB’s is unconventional, I don’t see a problem. I think a good change to state law is you can’t list a campground, business or hotel as permanent address you should be required to use a mail forwarding business or other permanent residency. Trying to tell someone who lives out of an RV eleven months out of the year they can’t vote in Federal elections goes against our values as a democracy. Whether you live here 12 months out of the year or in a van traveling the country side, you still have a right to vote. And with the internets being around for over 30 years anyone across the country or living in an RV can research the state ballot issues before voting or just skip voting for local issues and just cast a ballot for Federal candidates.

The irony of all this is that a lot of the RV voters are old white rich people that will likely vote for the same presidential candidate that these MAGA asshats will, so what gives?

I have said, if President Spaghettios loses, these folks will cry up until January then it will be over with. They don’t have the stamina or intelligence to keep pushing the issue, how do I know? I have been blogging about local government for about 20 years, and the one thing you see when certain groups show up to complain is they will move on to the next conspiracy theory that presents itself. Trump has created this rhetoric that certain people don’t have a right to vote. If you are legally in this country and NOT a convicted felon you can vote and don’t let these weirdos tell you any different. Let them take you to court and watch the judge throw out the case.

Changes do need to be made with PMB’s, but voting is only a small facet of those changes. Instead of yelling at Dean Karsky and Joe Kippley every month (though they deserve it for other reasons) why not work with the legislature to make significant changes? Instead of wasting your time on goofy websites you can also do a constitutional amendment or initiative to change the law. I think it would be pretty easy to get this on the ballot and would likely pass by over 60% of the vote.