SIDENOTE: I have been trying to get information from the city about how many city employees have been working from home during Covid, and more specifically what departments these people work in. I have yet to get a ‘number’ of how many people it has been. I am also curious how many of them have been working full-time. In other words has the city’s IT department tracked their computer/phone use. The only information provided is what Mayor TenHaken said in a press conference that ALL city employees at home have been working. Okay. Please provide the proof.
Informational Meeting • 4 PM
Presentations on Covid, April Financials, Legislative Priorities and Election update. There is no link right now, but I think the April financial report will be very telling of the economic sales tax impact to Sioux Falls.
Regular City Council Meeting • 7 PM
Item #6, Approval of Contracts.
Sub Item #1, Provide Consulting to Develop a Formal Electrical Safety Program, $52K. Apparently the city needs to hire a professional consultant to teach city employees how not to stick a fork in a light socket.
Sub Item #18, Debt Collections Services by AAA Collections. Besides receiving a 24% commission collecting on delinquent accounts, AAA has a very poor rating.
Item #20, State Theatre beer/wine license. This is the final reading of the license application. It will be an interesting discussion considering the council denied a license to West Mall Movie Theater, 8-0.
Item #28, Citizen Board Approval. Eric Weisser to the Washington Pavilion Board of Trustees. Eric is of course is the VP of Weisser Distribution. He also used to employee the failed Tech Director for the city, Jason Reisdorfer. While Eric has been very successful as an online tool salesman, I’m not sure why someone like this would be appointed to a board of an arts institution.
Item #31, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITYÂ OF SIOUX FALLS, SD, ENCOURAGING SIOUX FALLS LANDLORDS TO SHOW FLEXIBILITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
This of course is just a ‘friendly’ suggestion from the Mayor and City Council. There is NO legal teeth in this resolution but typical of our ‘Youth Pastor’ Mayor who likes to give free advice on how to live our lives. It is in city ordinance that ALL landlords must register with the city (many do not), so they could at least enforce some of these suggestions through ordinance especially if we controlled the million bucks we passed off to a non-profit with no oversight;
• Immediately stopping the assessment and accrual of all late fees and penalties for nonpayment of rent for those impacted directly by COVID-19.
• Demonstrating flexibility with rental due dates for those impacted directly by COVID-19.
• Allowing tenants who have been directly impacted by COVID-19 to pay partial amounts of rent and provide a written agreement for full restitution.
• Accepting payments from the One Sioux Falls fund with no further financial obligation to the tenant.
• Stopping the pursuit of evictions exclusively for nonpayment of rent for those impacted directly by COVID-19.
There’s truth forthcoming from the pandemic. It’s time for the city to redirect into disaster mode. The Feds are sending money into corporate welfare and a little into $1200 checks. They print money that we’ll soon realize is not worth so much. Whatever city revenue is will be worth less than less. Favorably, debt is old value. Maybe Huether spending set the city up for bargains that bonding agents wish they’d not written. However, new services will cost more. Already, state governments are setting up a gold standard. Dollars could become worthless Iraqi dinars in the future.
Give the State Theater their wine license. With present 6′ pandemic offset, winos can’t throw up on one another. The painted puke spread is even better than Clorox treatment between movie audiences.
The next council meeting should include a discussion about the 50% occupancy rule due to COVID-19. Because after driving around town on a Saturday night, I don’t think the 18th Amendment nor Wiley’s got the message. It looks like business as usual at those places. In fact, Wiley’s had a long line outside, where no one was practicing social distancing.
Agree with VSG. I’ve driven past there a half dozen times and noticed they are completely packed every time. Looking through the window there is zero social distancing going on.
I honestly do wonder why places that do this cannot have their liquor license temporarily suspended. All hat and no cattle as usual from PTH.
Good luck getting information about city employees working from home. The mayor still hasn’t said where the FEMA money disappeared to from the tornados last fall.
I know it is just a drop in the bucket, but why is the city entering into a lease ($60,000 +/year)/purchase ($1.5 million +)? I thought we had plenty of space now with all of the palaces built. Or is this a non precinct for the police department?
Lol. You ain’t getting a damn thing about city employees working from home. I know you think you have a right to everything the city does because “you pay their salaries” nonsense. You just can’t stand to be on the outside looking in. I’m no fan of government but I root for the city against you every time as I know not getting what you want from them infuriates you. Have fun banging your head against the wall, it’s entertaining.
The only thing that infuriates me is ignorant folks like yourself who defend this behavior. And as long as ignorant fence posts like yourself exist, nothing will change for the better.
Why are the owners (taxpayers) of the Events Center finding out from KSFY that the EC is re-opening to the public!?
PBR/July 2020/With Spectators
I wonder if the City Council has even been informed!
Gee he could work for the city. He has their attitude! He says he is no fan of the government but he sure could work for them!
Sounds like the platform for the next mayor election should be a complete audit of city finances. With all these people working from home, there’s resources. I suspect TenHo will get re-elected so can’t happen. There’s to many more dead voters (COVID).
Those were two of the craziest Council meetings I have ever watched, and I watch a lot of them.
SWIMMING POOLS
So, let me get this straight. We will not be operating any of the outdoor pools in 2020, BUT the Mayor and his team are discussing if the indoor pool will be reopened. I guess those ‘swim team kids’ gotta have their ‘pool time’.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
When evidence of covid started showing up in our community, I listened to Jill Franken, SF Director of Public Health, and I trusted what she was telling us. Now, ten weeks later all I can say is, “She’s been drinking the ‘mayor’s kool-aid’!!!
Phillips Avenue
pth stated that he came through DT at 6:15 and there appeared to be very few people. Yes, many people GET IT! Stay Home, Stay Healthy, and when you do begin to go out, do it in a careful, thoughtful way to protect both yourself and your family.
Allegiance
When ten haken handed the gavel to Councilor Selberg this evening, his remarks made it very clear his allegiance is to the business community. pth, I would strongly suggest that this is where you return to. You only have 23 months left to endure this role called, ‘Mayor’.
Council Vote 8 to 0
It has only been a matter of days since the Council voted to start easing the restrictions regarding reopening business. June 3rd they will make a decision on whether to ‘throw the doors wide open’! This is at the same time local media is reporting about preparation for a surge:
Patient Care EMS has already added two more to its fleet, totaling 12 ambulances in the city. In addition to that, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue will lease two other ambulances from the company for $1 per month.
https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/ems-groups-add-more-ambulances-to-prepare-for-covid-19-case-surge/
Why Does All This Matter?
It matters because the history of the decisions made now by the Administration and the Council lay the groundwork for when a resurgence of covid happens. And, it is a shaky foundation, indeed.