ENOUGH SCHNITZEL
Conversation between diners (couple);
SIR: You can share some of my Schnitzel . . .
MS: I had some of your Schnitzel last week!
The look on his face to me (above)
SIR:Â I guess we could take that a couple of different ways (smiling).
MS:Â Oh, shut up!
Scott L. Ehrisman (c) 8/6/2013
Well you be the judge.
We have 1140 city employees, if you divide that by $93.3 million budgeted for them, that comes to $82,000 per employee, this includes benefits, etc. If you take that number times 72% (the amount of the budget that is only salaries) that comes to $59,000 a year in wages per employee.
Do I think city employees deserve a fair wage and benefits. YES! Do I think these ‘fair’ wages are comparable to the private sector? NO!
Just for fun, why don’t we put city employees wages more comparable to other living wages w/benefits in the private sector, in Sioux Falls. Let’s say $40K + $7K in benefits = $47 K x 1140 = $53.6 million for a city savings of almost $40 million a year.
Conclusion, do I think city employees are overpaid? YES!
Make no mistake, Item #29 on the city council agenda tonight will be contentious and there will be public input, I suspect quite a bit. I won’t speculate how city councilors will vote on the issue, and many of them are still saying they are undecided (ahem).
I will say this, after being CENSORSED by then council chair, Erpenbach and mayor Huether during the snowgate vote debate and discussion at the council meeting, I will put a word of warning to the council and mayor; city ordinance is clear when it comes to public input, 5 minutes, per person, per agenda item. You MUST allow BOTH sides of the Walmart zoning issue to speak tonight and express their feelings, opinions and arguements. This is much too important of an issue to limit (CENSOR) to 20 minutes. The testimony tonight MUST be on the public record, this is much more important then swaying councilors’ votes (most of them have probably already made up their minds) this is more about educating the public about both sides of the issue.
Even if the council approves the zoning tonight, the most important thing we should take from tonight’s meeting is freedom of speech, 1st Amendment rights and the public’s right to input. I hope and even pray that the council and mayor have learned something from the snowgate censorship fest.
People are watching. Follow your own laws and allow public testimony to last until each and every person has had the chance to speak their peace. This is a democracy, and the democratic process, not a Kangaroo court.
EMAIL from SON;
Tonight at Carnegie Hall the Sioux Falls City Council will be voting on the request to rezone just under 40 acres of farm-land from AG to C-4 commercial. We need to pack the room this evening and have a large showing of support for our position. We have folks ready to speak on our behalf concerning various topics and we remain hopeful that the city council will rule in favor of protecting the rights of its citizens over the economic desires of the world’s largest big-box retailer. Please pass this message along to anyone you know who supports our efforts. We hope to see you there and thank you for all you are doing, have done, and will continue to do to make Sioux Falls such a great city to call home.  Remember, common sense is on our side!
Now read this KELO-TV story from 12 years ago carefully;
City Hosts Open House For Eastside Corridor
Power problems didn’t draw a lot of attention Tuesday night, but planned pavement sure did Wednesday night. Sioux Falls city planners held an open house to give the public a chance to speak out on the proposed East side corridor.“That’s stupid!”
There was no holding back at the convention center. More than 120 people got up close and personal with city planners to talk about a four-lane loop connecting Interstate 29 and Interstate 90 on the east side of Sioux Falls.John Homan lives in the path of the latest plan at the corner of Minnesota Avenue and 85th street.“It feels like they’re building roads right up to the homestead.”
Homan’s not against growth, he just wants the city to preserve as much land as it can–including his.“I just feel like they’re taking an awful lot of our land and there’s other, better alternatives.”
The current East side corridor would go south of Interstate 90 along Highway 11, then cut diagonally to County Road 106 and then west to Interstate 29.
If you’re having trouble visualizing the project, maybe this will help; the proposed bypass will look a lot like Russell Street.
l3wis 