April 2018

Curt Soehl Elections Sanford Hospital SF City Council Sioux Falls Zach DeBoer

Council Candidate Soehl bows to the Sanford Altar

l3wis April 23, 2018 7Comments

While watching the online interview today between Sioux Falls Central District Council Candidates DeBoer and Soehl, Argus Leader Metro Guru Joe Sneve asked them what they thought about developer impact fees and specifically Sanford tearing out affordable housing in the core of our city.

Sanford has mentioned in the past that they would like to expand the 18th and Grange campus all the way towards Minnesota avenue. In that process they have bought several properties in that swath, which includes some of the most affordable housing in our city.

Soehl answered the question first and pretty much towed the tired old line that Sanford has done so many things for our city including employment opportunities (South Dakota has some of the lowest healthcare salaries in the nation) that we should be careful about stopping such expansion.

DeBoer had a different twist on the topic. Besides pointing out that Avera has decided to expand in an area that doesn’t require tearing down affordable housing, he says the Sanford expansion has been detrimental to affordable housing in the core of our city. He reminded listeners that these are some of the most affordable housing options in the city that help first time homebuyer pull themselves out of poverty and rental living. He also pointed out all the blacktop Sanford is putting down in these neighborhoods in the form of parking lots. While he admitted to the economic impact of Sanford, he also said they could expand elsewhere in our city without tearing down these houses.

Zach is right. Instead of Sanford giving several acres to the school district, they could use that land for expansion.

But Zach brings up a bigger point, why does the city, and particular the council and city hall always bow to the altar of Sanford. The Planning Department, the Planning Commission and the City Council could easily say NO to Sanford when they want to tear up more affordable housing in the core of our city, or impose heavy impact fee penalties to dissuade them from doing so.

We need more councilors like Zach, who are looking out for the best interest of the citizenry and not the bottom line of Sanford.

Elections Jolene Loetscher Paul Ten Haken Sioux Falls

“You may say it’s negative, but I call it the truth.” Loetscher

l3wis April 23, 2018 32Comments

I just about fell out of my office chair when I heard Jolene say this today to TenHaken at the DT Rotary debate at noon.

It is something I bring up ALL THE TIME on this blog. Being truthful is the OPPOSITE of negativity. Honesty means you have integrity. Loetscher showed that integrity today.

The incident occurred towards the end of the debate when the two candidates were allowed to ask each other questions. Jolene looked straight at Paul and asked him why he continues to spread the lie that the PD is not interested in precincts. She informed Paul that she had a very long discussion about the lack of space at the law enforcement center with McManus and Burns and researched the idea before going public with it. She also accused him of fear mongering by claiming Jo’s plan would have jail cells at the precincts (not a part of the plan). TenHaken got very nervous, waived his hands around than complained he was questioned by DCI because Loetscher filed a criminal complaint on Friday over her website and campaign bank accounts being hacked. He never responded to her question.

Actually Paul went into a diatribe about how he vowed to never go ‘negative’ in his campaign. That is when Loetscher made the above comment. She has never accused Paul of the hacking, though it makes you wonder if he knows who is behind it. My guess is that it is someone in the nefarious Republican hack job underbelly of the SD GOP working alone to destroy her campaign. They have so many weasels it would be hard to dig one of them up.

But what was more revealing during the exchange was when Paul said, “I have dirt on all seven of the mayoral candidates, but I’m not going to go there, it’s not my style.”

Then why do you have this ‘dirt’?

As I have told people in the past, I get tons of tips about the candidates running for office, and I have been very impressed that I have not heard ONE negative thing about Jo, except the fact that she is a strong outspoken woman, and IMO that is an asset. All we have to look towards is other local female politicians with strong personalities that have done superb jobs like Loila Hunking, Anne Hajek, Pam Nelson, Karen Soli, Theresa Stehly and soon to be councilor Janet Brekke. We expect this from a leader, and today Jolene showed just what kind of leader she would be. Bravo.

I was disappointed in moderator Jack Marsh after the exchange for warning the candidates to keep it civil moving forward with more questions. Really Jack? Does the ‘truth’ make you uncomfortable also?

Elections Jolene Loetscher Paul Ten Haken SF City Council Sioux Falls Theresa Stehly Zach DeBoer

Who is Councilor Theresa Stehly going to vote for?

l3wis April 22, 2018 11Comments

Trust me, if I had the answer to that question, I would let you know. I do know at this point she is undecided, and she has told me so. But I do think she is leaning towards one of them.

She has said she has had several wonderful private conversations with both. Mostly to lay out what her agenda will be on the council over the next two years. I think that is a good approach.

She told me she has to work with either and it would be unfair to endorse or even tell people who she is voting for, and I agree.

But let’s look at reality here folks, doesn’t matter if it is Jo or Paul, the council is the policy making board of the city, and you are going to see that happening. I think councilors Neitzert, Erickson, Starr, Stehly and Brekke would be the first to tell you they are going to take that bull by the horns come May 16. And if DeBoer wins (GO ZACH!) you will see another added to that team. It could become a very lonely place for Kiley and Selberg no matter who is sitting at city hall.

I think you will see one of the strongest councils since the new charter was formed. Be for warned, when you combine a strong legislative body with more open government, things are going to seem very messy for awhile, but this is what government is supposed to look like when it is out in the sunshine and not behind closed doors. I think all of the sausage making will be beneficial to the citizens in the end.

I sat down for 45 minutes yesterday with mayoral candidate TenHaken, we discussed many things like public input, public funding of the arts and the Pavilion, satire in politics and forensic audits and budgeting. I told Paul that it will be essential for the next mayor and council to put on the brakes in 2018 and start from scratch. Really take an in depth look at our finances before moving forward with any new fees, taxes or monument projects like baseball stadiums. I told him that I don’t think the citizenry will hold it against the mayor or the council for taking this year for a gut check, I think most would praise them for it.

I look forward to 2018 no matter who becomes mayor. And when there is missteps, I will make sure they are held accountable.

County Commission Minnehaha County SF City Council Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls City Council Agenda, April 23-24, 2018

l3wis April 21, 2018 6Comments

Audit Committee Meeting, 4 PM Monday

External Audit Results from Eide Bailly

2018 Audit Plan

RFP Auditing Plan

Joint SF City Council/Minnehaha County Commission Meeting, 4 PM Tuesday

Update on Siouxland Museums Enterprise Funds

Change orders for archive building

Helpline Center Community Program Trends

City Council Informational Meeting, 4:30 Tuesday

Wastewater agreements with Tea and Harrisburg

Public Facility Consultant study. Honestly, I read this 90 page report and I am more confused now than before I read it. A lot of mumbo jumbo about population and attendance. I wonder how much we paid for that monstrosity; DOC:Â SF-Facility-Study

Executive Session. I have no clue what this is about.

Elections SF City Council Sioux Falls

Wish list for new Council & Mayor

l3wis April 21, 2018 6Comments

The first thing on my list is going to be asking the new council and administration to pass an ordinance that will restructure the entertainment tax to give a percentage to local public art projects.

My hope would be to give around $1 million a year to the projects.

I would be adamant about using local independent artists, contractors and artisans. In fact it would have to be written into the program. NO one attached to other public art facilities or projects like the EC or Pavilion.

The projects would be for beautifying the city, like mini parks, murals, sculptures, gardens etc., in dead spaces around town.

Besides downtown a good place to start would be the gateway to Sioux Falls from the airport.

What’s on your wish list that would be revenue neutral?

Council Candidate Soehl bows to the Sanford Altar

“You may say it’s negative, but I call it the truth.” Loetscher

Who is Councilor Theresa Stehly going to vote for?

Sioux Falls City Council Agenda, April 23-24, 2018

Wish list for new Council & Mayor

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