Is the Bid Review Board a stacked deck?
l3wis Not sure that Rolfing and Kiley should both be on this board. Probably should only have one on it. To have former council member Jim Entenman (from “one of the 5 who stood together†fame) on this board is a safe play for the mayor. He may as well trade his Harley logos on his truck in for stickers that say “Rubber Stamper.â€
Members
Rick Kiley, Sioux Falls City Councilor (Chamber Board Member)
Mark Wahlstrom, First Dakota Title
Jean Hoesing, Ramada Hotel
Nan Baker, Former Sioux Falls Arts Council Director (First National Bank family)
Steve Sanford, Attorney
Paul Schiller, Lawrence & Schiller (Heading up the ‘Arc of Dreams’ fundraising with Sculpture Walk’s Jim Clark)
Jim Entenman, J & L Harley
Rick Knobe, Radio Host (former mayor)
Randell Beck, Retired Publisher from the Argus Leader (Not sure if he is still employed by Avera?)
Tom Bosch, Avera McKennan
Mark Lee, Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Rex Rolfing, Sioux Falls City Councilor
Knobe is an interesting choice after the mayor’s past comments in the Argus (forgot the quote but someone just posted the link recently on another SD Cola story) about Hanson, Munson, Knobe, etc.. being investors in projects around the city while they were mayor as an explanation for the mayor’s shady business dealings.
I was especially drawn to this part of the story:
 “Huether also wants the committee to look at the potential for using this money to go toward big events, like Jazz Fest and for building projects.”
 “There are these new investments that are being considered. These dreams, like an Arc of Dreams, or some that are already here,” Huether said.  “Those bricks and mortar type projects are very important to the community and they’re important for our growth. But somebody still has to sell the community,” Schmidt said.  Huether says the city will hire a third party to moderate the review committee, which will meet a few times and make its recommendations within a couple of months.
Funny thing is the ‘Arc of Dreams’ head fundraisers Schiller and Clark have said this will be built with all private money, I see their list of donors may be drying up a bit, ask the State Theater how it is going for them. I knew when they announced that project it would only be a matter of time before they came looking to dig their hands in the taxpayer’s cookie jar. Also, does SF really need an ugly shrine that reminds people of a monument in Iraq or of a half-baked version of the St. Louis Arch, the Gate-way to the West? What will ours be a Gateway to, TIF-ville?
Curious to hear who the city will hire as the third party to moderate the review committee, which will only be meeting a few times before making its recommendations. Will their recommendations be made to the mayor or to the council? If made to the council, there doesn’t need to be two current council members sitting on the committee then.
I look for this fund to either be pilfered to cover expenses around the city and for more self promotion of the mayor at the expense of its true intent, promotion of Sioux Falls.
