Besides the fact that our city council and mayor’s office is on cruise control, our legal department is being ran by lazy numbskulls.
Just listen to the common sense legal advice from Mitchell’s City Attorney Justin Johnson;
“If we don’t put anything in place, then it is essentially the Wild West. I think it is important we get our regulations in the books even if we have to come back and make changes down the road,†Johnson said. “There is importance in getting our regulations in place before the state laws become effective, and the zoning side of things will determine where these types of businesses can be located and operate.â€
Yeah! What a concept, making changes later (if they have to) and having something in place so there isn’t chaos on July 1st.
I’ve lost all confidence in the supposed legal advice our city attorney gives, heck, he doesn’t even understand the 1st Amendment and prior restraint. I think it is pretty embarrassing and frankly egregious that towns like Yankton and Mitchell can figure out this simple law (which is spelled out in the initiative that passed into law) but for some reason in Minnehaha County and Sioux Falls we are too busy having secret meetings with our lobbyist (Municipal League) to find ways to kick the can down the road instead of facing reality.
If Commissioner Barth didn’t go to the media and myself, we would have never heard a peep from Councilor Neitzert and his secret endeavors and his hatred towards open government. At least we still have a handful of elected officials in local government who are willing to blow the whistle, it’s just too bad we have to look to local officials in much smaller cities for legislating common sense. Time to turn off the cruise control Paul and start being a mayor.
I hope we get some pedal puffs in town out of all of this. Maybe Emmitt could help. All of this is giving me much pain. I could definitely use some medical Mary Jane.
Seems like city hall only comes around when there’s a developer asking for a TIF or pushing something thru around city ordinances. The city attorney office gained 20 employees since Munson. What do they do all day? Marijuana can happen ignoring the city. It’s best to overwhelm them. The mask ordinance happened after the pandemic. Judging from crime this week Meth is the real problem. Pot heads are safe at home burning sage to keep evil city spirits away.
We need local news that’s not weather or crops. I’m thinking a blog with volunteer contributors. I’d have a police scanner and go to where there’s crime. We need Rodney King photographers. How about a documentary on pot distribution and use? How many ignore unenforceable ordinances? A history of the parking ramp debacle? Where they hid ‘David’ and who’s making underwear for him? A story of city sponsoring for Huether Tennis? It’s Net Network News with franchise potential.
Can you tell us the difference between hick towns and regular towns? Is everyone in a hick town a hick?
People don’t like to be called mean names. It comes back to haunt them. i.e. HRC; deplorables
Why do we have to move so fast? The wheels of the governing process is meant to move slowly, as to not step on the toes of those who do not agree.
The PEOPLE voted for and to make legal “medical marijuana” in November, the law does NOT take effect until July 1, 2021.
IN reality, all the voters approved of is for the legislature to adopt, promulgate rules, and controls of the entire industry.
Lets be clear, the City itself, as the “city attorney” has said, must adhere to the voters will, a few council chairs begged the Mayor’s Office to play a bigger role, while the city attorney mentioned – the PEOPLE put their trust in the “Governing Body” to act, meaning, the people did NOT ask the Mayor’s Office, nor the Administration to act, but for the City Council to act.
I believe, and I believe Greg Neitzert said it best, why rush to judgement, for if we pass and adopt specific rules, the legislature by instructions of the Department of Health and/or Department of Revenue can come in and promulgate rules that then “nullify” our local ordinances.
Yes, we have a Home Rule Charter, but that charter does NOT strip the State completely from the process. Thru the legislature, it can give the state preemptive rights.
What is the hurry here – Slow Down, Get it Right, and Make sure the Public is along for the ride.
The City Attorney, Councilor Neitzert are right.
LCJ, I was trying to be tongue and cheek, it’s not a dig on the small cities but more on Sioux Falls. We think we are the big boys in the state and so cosmopolitan even thought the small cities in this state have easily figured this out, heck even a third grader could. This has been law since November and no one wants to lift a finger until the 11th hour. It just shows how lazy and ineffective out local leadership is. This law is written out in plain English and I think it is ironic that places like Mitchell and Yankton don’t blink an eye and do what is right while our city wants to have secret meetings and drag their feet.
Zits, what’s wrong with tweaking them later? Nothing. Zoning laws, taxation, codes, etc are changed all the time. Are we saying we can’t change the regs later on this issue. It’s a gigantic BS excuse because they are too dumb or too lazy to do their jobs.
I believe they wish to wait and see how specific language is going to be defined, regulated by the Dept. of Health and Revenue before making set in stone rules. I have no issue with them waiting for the Legislature promulgate rules, regulations, and codes. I like “SLOW” moving government. Get it right the first time.
– Mike “The Awesome Debator”
Since at least 2011 I’ve taken my proposal to mirror state gaming statutes to mayors and several commission members to make Deadwood the exclusive non-tribal cannabis market but they have always blown me off because they wanted the sports betting gig. So my position today is that the tribal nations trapped in South Dakota must have exclusive production and distribution privileges.
South Dakota will be the 52nd State to make it legal for white people to grow or sell cannabis but tribal nations are already underway so the nutbag legislature should simply legalize possession and get out of their way.
“I like ‘SLOW’ moving government. Get it right the first time.”
That’s one of my favorite Barry White lines.