Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
l3wis Mayor Huether must not get out much or read state news, it seems development is popping all over the state;
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
February 2016
The Event Center Change Order Gobbly Gook
Another fine city of Sioux Falls government document
As the Argus Leader reports today, they have attained 27 pages of change orders from the city on the Events Center (you can go over there and try to decipher the fun stuff). There are some things missing though.
No beginning costs on the change orders (for instance, the siding is only listed as warranty)
What was the original estimate on the siding? What was the final ‘changed’ price.
While Mortenson made 2.25% commission on building the place (over $2 million) There are no records of what subcontractors who were in direct business made/shared with Mortenson. In other words some of the subcontractors may have shared profits with Mortenson since they may have been in a business partnership together. Finance office, Tracy Turbak with the city mumbled about this on the SuFuStu show saying something to the effect of, “We don’t know what those numbers are.”
While it is all fine and dandy we got these documents, they are just the tip of the iceberg.
UPDATE: Is the Make-A-Wish foundation moving away from Hot Harley Nights?
Dear Scott,
On behalf of Make-A-Wish South Dakota, I would like to assure you that our relationship with J&L Harley-Davidson and Hot Harley Nights is stronger than ever. We are fortunate as an organization to have such a great community partner that collectively has raised more than $2.25 million over the last 20 years to help make wishes come true for kids facing life-threatening medical conditions across the state. Hot Harley Nights is supported by many businesses and organizations in Sioux Falls as well. The community comes together for a fun regional event, while also helping us toward our vision of granting every eligible child’s wish.
We are also excited to be partnering with Maxwell’s Food Equipment, another great community supporter who believes in our mission and wants to make a difference in the lives of kids. We like the boldness of Aaron Montecuello and others involved as they strive to raise $1 million over the next few years. He approached us wanting to partner with Make-A-Wish because he, like everyone involved with Hot Harley Nights, believes in our mission and want to give back to help others.
Both of these events are planned by outside committees and community members with good intentions in mind. We are fortunate to live in an area where businesses and individuals give back to nonprofits, such as Make-A-Wish, but also the hundreds of other local charities. You just have to look at the recent results of the Sioux Empire United Way Campaign to know that people here care deeply about helping others. Your article is puzzling as most nonprofits have several events and partnerships throughout the year and Make-A-Wish is proud to partner with both.
Please join us at either event this year – Maxwell’s Million Dollar Dream is May 14 and Hot Harley Nights is July 7-10 – and join us in helping to make more wishes come true!
Paul R. Krueger
President and CEO
Make-A-Wish South Dakota
Maxwell Food Equipment is jumping in the game of charity fundraising for Make-A-Wish;
The goal is to raise a million dollars through fundraising events over the next two to three years. Those will include huge family fun events, like the one comin gup on May 14 with food trucks and a food battle. Montecuollo said private donations are also accepted, which people can give by contacting him at Maxwell Food Equipment. He says he’ll keep raising money as long as he can and doesn’t foresee his relationship with Make-A-Wish ever ending.
A family focused event to raise money for the organization is a great idea, but one has to ask, with such a big event like Hot Harley Nights, does Make-A-Wish have the energy to endorse both?
It’s no secret that many people are NOT a fan of Hot Harley Nights, while many support raising money for a worthy cause, the beer soaked event (coined as the 2nd Sturgis by organizers) rattles house windows for three days in our town and has been criticized by many because J & L Harley Davidson uses the Make-A-Wish endorsement to raise (profit from) thousands of dollars privately in various events and sales at the dealership, while giving just a portion of the lion’s share to the organization.
Not sure if there has been a falling out between the two organizations, but I do know that J & L recently teamed up with Badlands Pawn for some other events around Sturgis and maybe J & L bailed on the charity instead of the other way around?
I guess time will tell.
Acting like a ‘retard’ apparently not against the law
Apparently, councilor Johnson eats a lot of turkey. That’s not against the law either.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C6nvNlVx1A[/youtube]
I was skeptical of what laws former Hartford councilor Doyle Johnson may have broken by making up emails that said offensive things about his special needs son and didn’t mention a specific name, or for that matter a fictitious name of who authored them;
Johnson admits he altered that letter to read in part:
“I would like to think you cannot be more *expletive* than your son, but it certainly doesn’t seem that way.”
Johnson read the letter at a city council meeting on December 1st, and added an additional six other sentences to the email, including another referring to his own special needs son.
Minnehaha County States Attorney Aaron McGowan says while Johnson’s actions show “dishonesty and poor judgment” they do not fall within criminal statutes regarding false entries into a public record and it will not yield any prosecutorial merit to forth any criminal charges.
Did he lie during a public meeting? Sure he did, but if we had to start filing charges every time an elected official lied during a public meeting, our courts would be busy. I think the term ‘Grain of Salt’ applies here, as with most politicians when they have ridiculous rants like this.
BTW, anyone who would concoct such a rant (disparaging their own son)Â for sympathy doesn’t need to see a court room, they need to see a head doctor.
Nominate ME to be the Next President of the Washington Pavilion
Hey, who better then me to run the joint? I worked in the Great Hall, I had a show in the Visual Arts Center (and been in joint shows). As a board member of the Civic Dance Association I supported my favorite form of performance art, contemporary dance hosting shows at the Pavilion. I helped with Arts Night, forcing the Pavilion to make many changes to the event to get artists more involved.
The board of trustees is looking for someone local, and we all know I would turn the place upside down, and I wouldn’t be afraid to hand out the pink slips. I also would truly open the doors to EVERYONE, diversify the performances, bring in new promoters and turn the Cinedome into one of the hottest weekend spots for teens and families.
So in all seriousness, or even in snark, nominate me to the board;
As the Washington Pavilion looks to its future, The Board of Trustees are soliciting the community’s suggestions regarding talented individuals in the greater Sioux Falls area who might be ready to serve in this great capacity and continue moving the Pavilion forward. Please share any names of potential candidates with Board Chair Angie Haft at the following email address boardchair@washingtonpavilion.org.