BUILDING PERMITS ARE DOWN

I kind of figured the yearly permit records had to end pretty soon, but I never figured we would be down this much;

Building permits in the city of Sioux Falls are almost $100 million less in valuation than they were through the first three quarters of 2018.

Maybe it has to do with NO major public projects, something I have felt for a long time should be separated from the commercial and housing permit valuations.

IS THE CITY USING FIRST PREMIER TO COLLECT PARKING TICKET FEES?

Not sure, the information is a little hazy from the city;

Parking citation payment options are as follows:

• At any Sioux Falls First PREMIER Bank location

There are other options included, but one wonders what the bank is charging to provide this service? Yes, we will be saving money (mostly because NO one is using the boxes) but should we be allowing a portion of the parking fees to go to a third party? I doubt FP is collecting the fees out of the goodness of their hearts. That extra money would sure come in handy to buy school supplies, or something of that nature 🙂

IS FIRST PREMIER ‘SOFTLY’ CAMPAIGNING FOR JENSEN?

This is an interesting online ad; 

SMG MERGES WITH ANOTHER COMPANY

Maybe this is the reason they had to force the last Denty manager out before the merger;

SMG, the company that manages the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, has announced it’s merging with Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc. (AEG) to form a new standalone management company.

It will be interesting to see how SMG explains to the city the merger and the change of contract. You wonder how long the city knew? You also have to wonder if this qualifies as a legal ‘breech’ of contract? Should the city look for a new management company, maybe one that actually books shows and brings some revenue in for taxpayers so we don’t have to pay a majority of the bond/mortgage out of 2nd Penny CIP road & infrastructure funds.

MAYOR PAUL SAYS NEW CITY ‘BRAND’ WILL ASSIST HIM IN HOW HE DRESSES FOR THE DAY

Tenhaken’s interview with BARFrage yesterday had it’s moments, but when Paul said that the new universal city brand will make it easier for him to select what pin to wear to what event, I had to laugh. I wonder if it will also help him to decide what trucker hat to wear depending on the natural disaster that has occurred?

CITY ASKS NOT TO BE SUED OVER RECENT DEATH OF TODDLER AT FALLS PARK

So the city is citing state law for why they shouldn’t be sued;

In its motion to dismiss, the attorneys representing the city argued that officials responsible for park safety did not breach their duty to the public, noting that municipalities must be proven to have acted in willful or wanton misconduct to be held liable for injuries sustained on public recreational land, according to South Dakota law.

I would agree that people need to take personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their children when at Falls Park or any park, but also agree with this point;

According to depositions of city officials reviewed by the Argus Leader, the city took additional safety measures following two other drownings in 2013 in the same area where Zaiger drowned.

The city added warning signs and anchors in rock walls to assist with rescue efforts after the 2013 drownings, but did not view foam buildup as a safety hazard to the public at the time. Since Zaiger’s death, foam buildup has been established as a public safety issue by the city, according to court records.

So on one hand the city is citing state law to slip under the radar, but implemented safety measures in the area where the toddler perished. So which is it? Are people responsible for their own safety? Or is the city?

I don’t think this will be dismissed and I have a feeling the parent’s will get a settlement when the dust clears.

7 Thoughts on “City of Sioux Falls Tidbits

  1. kind of like when sdn ran a bunch of commercials with vernon brown doing the voice overs when vern was running for mayor. or the extra fisher-rounds ads when rounds is running for something.

  2. Rounds actually promoted supplemental insurance for Medicare in PSAs when he was governor. I asked several legislators at the time if that was unethical. No response.

  3. ''Extremely' Stable Genius" on October 2, 2019 at 10:19 pm said:

    Permits are down because the city has plateaued….#IToldYouSo….

    Having First Premier collect parking ticket fines is just further proof that it really is “Sanford Falls.” In fact, Denny and FP even have their own council candidate, don’t they?

    This branding bullshit has gotten out of hand, too. A true democratic government (lower “d”) cannot be administered and or led merely through image. Instead, it sustains itself through substance and transparency.

    As far as the falls area on the river, well, when the city cleaned it all up and made it inviting, they established a new legal duty for the city and that duty calls upon the city to make Falls Park a safe environment and any dangers of the falls are on the city. Patrons of the falls may unfortunately exercise contributory negligence in their visit, but such a reality does not deny the obvious duty that the city has newly created for itself by making Falls Park more attractive.

    ( – and Woodstock states: “Clothing and transparency could be a new one for politicians, huh?”)

  4. D@ily Spin on October 2, 2019 at 10:28 pm said:

    To many subjects here.

    Parking tickets, don’t pay them. Judicial ordinance doesn’t allow appeal. Every lawyer in town collects them. If First Premier tries to step in, more reason. A private entity can’t impose public regulation.

    Building permits are down because the Ag economy is in a slump, banking is a victim of low interest, and medical is a bankruptcy business plan for patients. Everything in the Denny Kingdom is failing. Kinda like Trump but without the tweets.

    First Premier (aka Sioux Falls) is a boondoggle chaos. It’s time to clean the streets and rebuild. Try democracy. It works when people have their voice via uncontrolled elections and correction from corruption.

  5. Which parts of six (seven? eight?) month winters, rampant racism, chilling effects on civil rights, an extremist legislature, living in a chemical toilet, perpetual welfare state and permanent disaster area escape you people? In South Dakota local control means Republican control. Why any Democrats live in my home state remains a mystery.

  6. D@ily Spin on October 3, 2019 at 1:58 pm said:

    The city charter makes them sovereign like an Indian Reservation. The judicial ordinance states ‘Subject to judicial appeal’. Pre Munson, it read ‘Subject to appeal into Circuit Court’. They consider themselves the final decision. One can only sue constitutionally to change the charter. You can’t sue them but neither can they sue you. If the child suit makes it to State Supreme Court, there’s a chance for democracy.

  7. "'Extremely' (Now 'Very' again) Stable Genius" on October 3, 2019 at 7:19 pm said:

    “Why any Democrats live in my home state remains a mystery.”

    Actually, there are very few Democrats who live in South Dakota. Many who claim to be Democrats in this state are nothing but Minnesota Republicans in denial, who think that being anti-choice, pro-gun, and broadcasting their faith is somehow Democratic.

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