South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

April 2015

Employment SF City Council Sioux Falls

Should teaching English be considered a part of taxpayer subsidized job training?

l3wis 6Comments

Around $170K of the $500K the city is awarding in workforce development is going towards immigrants and refugees.

While I am not opposed to teaching them English and using taxdollars to do it, shouldn’t our #1 focus be on actual job training, when it comes to workforce development? When I think of teaching immigrants our language, I look at that as a social service, not a workforce development service.

What do you think? I think it is a very fine line;

Workforce Development Pilot Program Recommends Funding Eight Organizations – Applications Still Being Accepted

In January, the City of Sioux Falls launched a Workforce Development Pilot Program to support and explore activities to address workforce challenges and to drive workforce growth and development. Today, the City announced its intent to award funding to eight local entities that are well-positioned to address workforce development needs in Sioux Falls. Grant awards are proposed for:

  • Employment Edge—$25,000
    Program to focus on recruiting, screening, and finding jobs for nonviolent offenders recently released from state or federal custody
  • Forward Sioux Falls—$50,000
    Creation of a comprehensive community workforce action plan
  • Globe University—$100,000
    Development of individualized training programs for businesses that incorporate on the job and academic learning
  • Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire, Associated General Contractors of South Dakota, and Sioux Empire Manufacturers—$50,000
    Creation of mobile training labs to teach construction and manufacturing skills
  • Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls—$70,020
    Workforce training program for immigrants and refugees
  • Sioux Empire Society for Human Resource Management—$34,250
    Will host a community-wide workforce development conference
  • Sioux Falls School District, Career and Technical Education Academy—$12,250
    Electrical skills program that provides post-secondary credit for high school students
  • Training Solutions Institute, a division of Southeast Technical Institute—$99,408
    English language and job skills training for immigrant and ethnic populations

 

The eight awards total $440,928. The City has received 38 applications requesting a total of $1,932,715. An evaluation committee and the City Attorney’s Office reviewed each application. Ten finalists were invited to make a presentation to the group and were scored by the committee according to:

  • Level of impact
  • Investment made by the proposer to execute the program
  • Proposer’s qualifications to successfully deliver the program
  • Quality of interview
SF City Council Sioux Falls

Are the same recycling requirements enforced on Commercial vs. Residential?

l3wis 1Comments

A few months ago I spoke to the SF City Council about my concern that NOT all (a majority) of restaurants are NOT recycling (besides cardboard and cooking oils).

Jessica Lantgen, Sustainability Coordinator for the city spoke about the topic of recycling enforcement yesterday at the Public Services Committee meeting.

Below is the separate set of ordinances for recycling requirements;

Commercial Recycling

57.028 states that commercial and business establishments, governmental facilities, entertainment facilities and schools must separate from the waste stream materials banned from landfill per 57.050 and the recyclables must be removed at a minimum of twice per month

  • 57.030 (b) states nonresidential sites may use either single-stream, dual-stream or source separated for the collection and management of recyclable materials
  • The collection of recyclable materials from businesses, industries and institutions is provided by private haulers licensed by the City
  • Commercial generators contract for collection service from the hauler of their choice and pay the hauler directly for the service

oThe City of Sioux Falls regulates the licensed waste haulers’ recycling rates. The waste hauling community is the connection between the City and individual residents and businesses

 

Residential Recycling

 

  • 57.027 states that licensed waste haulers must collect separated, required recyclables from residents at least twice per month. Required recyclables collected shall not be deposited at the sanitary landfill
  • 57.030 (a) Residential sites shall use a single-stream methodology for the collection and management of recyclable materials
  • 57.022 Residential recycling containers shall accommodate single-stream recycling
  • The ordinance states that required recyclables include office paper, corrugated cardboard and chip board, plastics #1 and #2 and metal containers, newspaper, electronics, magazines, and bulk rate mail. These materials are also banned from the landfill per 57.050
  • In addition, 57.032 allows garbage haulers to not collect solid waste containing visible required recyclables for disposal as long as they leave a note about why it was not collected. Residents and businesses must remove these materials before the waste is collected

 

I find it interesting that residential have specific requirements for materials but commercial does not. And this may be why enforcement is not as strict on commercial properties?

What I also find even more interesting is that if these ordinances are in place, why are they NOT being enforced on commercial properties?

Lantgen talked about trying to increase that enforcement and has a goal of higher recycling rates, and that is wonderful! But my question is why hasn’t it been done up until this point? I think I have been recycling as a resident in Sioux Falls since the late 90’s.

Once again, the rules may or may not be the same for residents and businesses, but it also seems residents have to follow stricter rules then the commercial properties.

The supposed ramped up enforcement on commercial properties will be intriguing to watch.

Public Works Sioux Falls snow removal Snowgates

Snowplow Identification?

l3wis 1Comments

Theresa Stehly (co-chair of the snow gate petition) recently had a letter published in the Argus Leader about identifying snow gate plows;

Snow Gate Service:  WINNERS AND LOSERS

Our citizens voted a year ago to make it mandatory that the city use snow gates to clear the driveways in Sioux Falls. As the co-chair of the group that brought this issue to a vote, I have received many comments, both positive and negative about the quality of service provided during snow events. Our members have surveyed different neighborhoods after the snow plows have come through, and have discovered vast differences of efficiency in clearing the driveways with snow gates.  There are snow gate operators out there who are doing a fantastic job.  However, I have been told by the city street department that many drivers are still learning how to use the gates. We certainly understand that there are factors that could hinder the process like inexperience, attitude and fatigue.

We would like to see more accountability in the process.  One area of assistance would be to have a large marking on each snow plow. Galen Huber, the street supervisor, told me that the plows already have a number assigned to them. Using that same number, enlarging it in black letters and placing it on each side of the plow, would give the citizens the information needed to help the drivers do a better job.  Also, there could be an incentive for the drivers who had the most positive comments.  Many of us have seen the markings on the back of semi-trucks that say “How is my driving ?  Along with a phone number.”   This inspires the person behind the wheel to do their best at all times. The same would hold true for our snow gate operators. Using information called in by the citizens, the street department could work with those drivers who are having a difficult time getting the job done.  The manufacturer of our snow gates is willing to come and train drivers on the proper technique to clean all driveways within a neighborhood.

Along with an identifying number on each plow, the city needs to develop a SNOW GATE hotline.  We have a POT-HOLE hotline, and the city sends out flyers with contact numbers to file complaints about neighbors who violate city codes.   These numbers are frequently published and people are encouraged to call about their concerns.  The same energy needs to go into the snow gate program. The city needs to   include the snow gate hot line phone number in all mailings and media programs.

The snow gates have been a wonderful addition to the amenities offered by our city government. With some additional effort, we can create a winning experience next winter for all the citizens of Sioux Falls.

SF School District Sioux Falls

The SF School District all of a sudden is concerned about ‘voter turnout’

l3wis 12Comments

Trust me, I almost threw up laughing. They decided to robo-call all of the parents in the District and email them the same message about tomorrow’s election;

From: “DeeAnn Konrad” <noreply-sf@k12.sd.us>
Date: April 13, 2015 at 6:45:01 PM CDT
To: “Undisclosed Recipients” <“DeeAnn Konrad” <noreply-sf@k12.sd.us>>
Subject:Election Reminder

Hello Sioux Falls School District Families.  We are calling to remind you about tomorrow’s school board and calendar referendum vote.  You have three choices for two open spots on the school board.  Candidates are Randy Dobberpuhl, Kate Parker and Todd Thoelke.  The calendar issue asks if you wish to uphold the School Board’s decision to begin school in August or if you wish to begin school after Labor Day.  A “yes” vote upholds the School Board’s decision.  A “no” vote means school will start the Tuesday after the first Monday in September – September 8th this fall.  Voters can stop at any one of the thirteen vote centers listed below.  Remember to bring your photo ID.  Thank you.

Really?! School District elections have the worst turn-outs EVAH! Now all of sudden you care if people vote? Yet, I cannot recall if this kind of ‘informative’ robo-call has been done in the past? The stakes must be high this time? Glad to see our school administration is involved in gambling, too bad those (video lottery) revenues don’t fund you.

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