January 2014

Dan Daily sends out letter to suspected code enforcement violators

l3wis January 16, 2014 12Comments

Not sure if you know it, but the city has a webpage that lists all the peeps and bizzos that have received code enforcement violations (apparently this is more pertinent PUBLIC information then knowing TIF investors 🙁

Mr. Daily decided that he needed to educate these ‘supposed’ violators and sent them a letter explaining their rights. Not sure what the response has been, but it is intriguing, none the less.

THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT:Â Code-Violations

Public Works Sioux Falls

It seems the only thing city government has learned from history is to repeat itself

l3wis January 16, 2014 13Comments

Do I believe in keeping up with the historical aspects of our city? Yes. Do I think historical paver stones need to be replaced? Yes. Do I think it is a wise for SF taxpayers to be footing the bill? NO;

A $16,000 grant will help pay for the restoration of a central Sioux Falls alley where the 19th and 21st centuries collide.

Quartzite paving stones in the alley connecting Sixth and Seventh streets between Duluth and Summit avenues are to be removed this summer. City workers will pour a concrete subsurface, then relay the pavers.

With help from the South Dakota State Historical Society’s Deadwood Fund grant program, the city’s cost will be around $175,000.

While I do think that the street department has some financial obligation, I don’t think we need to foot the Lion’s share of this project. I think the city’s role should be making sure the project is done correctly and zoning is in place to do this type of infrastructure work, beyond that, I think either private donations, grants (which are already being used) or adjoining property tax assessments should pay for this project. I scratch my head when the city forces businesses and homeowners to build city sidewalks at their expense, but we drop a cool $175,000 in a neighborhood because it is ‘historical’. Fine. Make them pay for it. It is no different then citizens fixing the city sidewalks.

Besides, with all the discussion about public transit costing the city so much each year, it seems ludicrous we would be spending tax dollars on pavers in an alley. It seems the only thing city government has learned from history is to repeat itself.

Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

Is Community Swim 365 using a professional strategist?

l3wis January 16, 2014 58Comments

I find it interesting that the group has propped up Margaret Sumption as one of their citizen spokes people. Who is Margaret? She is the partner in Sumption & Wyland, a strategic planning firm;

Margaret J. Sumption, MSED, LPC, SPHR, has over thirty years of experience as a teacher and counselor, nonprofit administrator, development officer, and volunteer board member serving a wide variety of organizations. She is a popular, dynamic, and effective speaker and trainer for nonprofit professionals, customers, and policy makers.

Not sure if Sumption is volunteering her time to the organization or being paid for her advocacy? But the group has a spiffy little website that was hardly thrown together by some swim team teenagers. They also are using a PO Box instead of a physical address for the organization which tells me this isn’t some Mom & Pop social club.

No surprise, the Events Center advocates put together the organization Build it Now to promote their cause, so it only makes sense that Community Swim would do the same. But the real issue here is posing as a ‘grass roots’ operation, when you are clearly using professional assistance to get your message out there;

Members of Community Swim 365 say Spellerberg Park is the perfect place for an indoor swimming pool. Margaret Sumption, a longtime central Sioux Falls resident, says a year-round aquatic center would help draw more families into the area.

“I want very much for my neighborhood to remain vibrant. It is a beautiful community area. It is in the center of Sioux Falls and that center of Sioux Falls is changing,” Sumption said.

Small business owner Susie Patrick believes an indoor facility would preserve park green space and enhance access to the nearby sledding hill with more parking.

“We just like to swim. Taught our kids to swim at a really young age and think it’s really important for the community to have access to the same swimming lessons and have a pool for everyone to use,” Patrick said.

The stark irony of the group when compared to the Hockey or Indoor tennis folks is that CS365 doesn’t have any skin in the game (private/public partnership) but seemingly have found a way to raise money for professional marketing assistance, oh, and some t-shirts.

So let’s be honest here, are we dealing with a ‘grassroots’ organization, or a ‘professional special interests’ organization? Not sure. I would also like to point out the name of the organization is kind of odd. I doubt the pool will be open 365 days a year, but you never know? I can’t wait to get in my Christmas day swim.

Mayor Hubris Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether Sioux Falls

Credit where credit is due?

l3wis January 16, 2014 10Comments

Besides the fact that he is using a city director in his campaign materials (Mark Cotter) on his FB Page. He seems to be taking credit for a lot of things.

So let’s clarify for the voters;

1) Cleaning up after a natural disaster. First off, I find it a bit strange that someone would be using a natural disaster as a campaign issue. Secondly, it was the work of Public Works, city employees and the countless volunteers that deserve the credit on this one.

2) The Events Center. The private campaign group, Build it Now, the voters, the multiple task forces and tax dollars are what got the Events Center rolling.

3) Building a luxury hotel downtown with the use of tax rebates (TIF’s) and a taxpayer funded River Greenway bulkhead. Once again, the assistance of government money and programs with the approval of the city council is what spurred DT growth.

4) Better air travel. Well, according to my commenters just a few weeks ago, the Mayor had nothing to do with this, or did he? Still a mystery.

I wish Mike luck, but I also wish he would campaign fairly, and give credit to the council and citizen taxpayers on these projects. Without the money, manpower and the city’s legislative body, many of these ‘accomplishments’ would not have happened.

And just for fun, read his accomplishments page. The ‘not tied to special interests’ and ‘low airfares’ made me chuckle.