Update II: I attended the meeting this morning and it appears they want to split the collection up to the folks out to the east but the local folks want the entire collection. There is ONLY one local contractor and they have yet to establish themselves as a real organization.
There was also some other things that occurred in the meeting. I was shocked when they discussed public input with myself and 5 journalists in the room with Kelo recording. They basically were trying to figure out when they were going to let the public speak. Under my breath I said, “That should of occurred 2 years ago” Quite a few people heard me. Even though they call it a work session, it is a public meeting and there should be public input. After the meeting I approached Jim David, Council Administrator, and said to him, “This was an open meetings violation” and he kind of agreed. (he did not organize the meeting, Parks Department did). They also have yet to apologize for flat out lying to the public about the arsenic. I also question if some of these Ivy League orgs would want the collection once they find out how it was acquired (several of the animals were killed in illegal poaching) It may go against their ethical standards, I may have to drop them a note about that 🙂 Lastly, Jeff S. who is on the committee (developer of Cherapa) said we should put a plaque at the Zoo honoring the family who donated the animals. Maybe we could also put up Jeff’s bowling trophy collection to? What will the plaque commemorate? Stupid decisions by this committee, the Zoo, the Mayor and the council? They plan to have this ALL BAKED before the public can see it or comment on it.
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First, I will say, that the city missed a huge opportunity here by NOT saving the Delbridge collection. I have even told people we should at least store them until we find a local or state taker. But history is NOT important here for people who don’t understand it.
Here are the orgs in the running;
- University of Notre Dame
- Peabody Museum of Natural History (Yale University)
- Institute for Natural History
- Grand Rapids Public Museum
- Coburn Grand Resort
- Oddities Museum
I was unable to find ANY info on the last two, but I think that ‘E’ is in Harrisburg but not sure what it is? As for A-C all great organizations, but unfortunately on the East Coast. It will be so sad when whoever gets this collection they will fully restore it in it’s original glory and the only way we will be able to see it is ONLINE or traveling there. If I was on the committee I would pick ‘C’ they seem to have what it takes to take care of this collection, it’s just too bad we don’t work out an agreement where we get like 4-5 of the animals back after restored.
I wonder if Poops will have a sendoff party for Lenin’s Tomb? We know he will be personally celebrating!
Can we split them up? I’d like to see Yale get our monkeys. Perhaps, the one with the impala being attacked by the cheetah, or whatever, could go to the Oddities Museum. Let’s give the Fighting Irish Catholics something predatory in nature or having to do with evolution, while the Natural History one might like something involving procreation between a monkey and a wild bore. AND, Grand Rapids, the home of Jerry Ford, might want a simpler exhibit…. Oh, and that Resort place (Is that a water park?) might like the walrus, which could have a tube stuck up its you know what, and then from time to time, it could spray the kids with water…. 🙂
The only reason they are on the chopping block is because old white rich developer guys of the City do not want them. They want to destroy them or give them away to other states in turn for their fancy toys. They do not care that the People of Sioux Falls love the museum, want to keep them a community asset, and want to restore them. I laid out a vision of how to resolve this issue, while keeping them owned by the city, while building a new Museum as part of a Nature Indoor and outdoor Museum for all to enjoy, alongside a concept the create Public and Private Campgrounds as part of a newly created business improvement district. I am so over the City Councilors lieing about it, which is why i stepped up to the podium on December 17, 2024 to speak on the fact – I wish this council was as passionate on wanting to save the Brockhouse Animals as a community asset as they are all these fancy shiny toys. But all members Richard, Ryan, and Miranda could do was stair off into the lights, and Joe Sneve ignores the situation by never calling out the ‘city government’ in any stories out of fear that Matt Paulson will disown him.
“Joe Sneve ignores the situation by never calling out the ‘city government’ in any stories out of fear that Matt Paulson will disown him.”
I saw Joe’s legs sticking out of MP’s behind the other day. He seemed to struggle walking, which was surprising because he talks the same way.
Perhaps Scherschligt would consent to place a plaque which honors the family which donated the collection along the sidewalk pantheon of fame on the 6th Street bridge – The Walkway of VUOPM*
* (“Vision” Using Other People’s Money).
Scott, I have to thank you for attending the meeting, I am surprised they even let people attend. I appreciate the recorded minutes in your own words to describe what occurred, and what was said. This whole ideal is a joke, and the city council is a joke for allowing this to occur. As I stated last night at the city council meeting, I have lost respect for the city council as it stands now. They refuse to do their job. I sent you an email with a letter to the council, but if you allow, here is is for your people to read:
Directed to the City Council of Sioux Falls,
I have always made every effort to be respectful in all my comments, and I hope that you all see my comments as respectful in return. But I have to say, after last night, and this morning, I am losing confidence in the 2024-2025 City Council, and I am starting to question whether or not this group even chooses to represent the greater interests of the residents. I hear everyday from people that the Delbridge Museum assets are part of our family, that most people are upset that they are being discussed to be sold outside the city. These animals have been part of our culture, our city, our family for more than 50 years, and what the city government is doing to them is outrageous. You all voted to give $8 million or our money to a private company in exchange for 30 acres of land. All this city government cares about is fancy, flashy toys, and they care not about what the people actually want. I am hoping the voters vote NO on the Downtown Convention Center, there is nothing wrong with the floor space at the current location. I am tired of you people voting on “Behavioral Type Ordinances” telling people what they can and cannot do, and I am tired of all the love and support going to Downtown Sioux Falls. I sat there last night thinking to myself, this council hardly ever debates any ordinance, they vote them all through 99.9% of the time with no debate. I am proud more and more citizens are coming forward to provide public comments, last week alone it took nearly 1 hour, more time than the standard council takes to read an ordinance. You all want your fancy toys, as if you all worship “Material Things” but when it comes to assets such as the Delbridge Museum, the Brockhouse Animals, they mean nothing to you. I have not been attending many council meetings lately, cause what is the point, i often wonder if you actually listen to the people. We have residents who care more about this community that attend these public meetings that represent their neighbors better than the council does it seems. If you allow the Brockhouse ANimals to be sold, it will show the people you truly do not care about the people, this city, its culture. It is all about money, fancy toys, and big buildings. I hope you all at least think very hard about what you’re passionate about, cause it’s frightening to see a governing body that seemingly has no heart. You have the power, and you all know there was no real threat to the public, and that the MUSEUM should be opened immediately but you all cater and serve the mayor as if he is god. I can agree to disagree in a respectful manner, I can give thanks where its due, and I can provide you with critical comments in a very respectful, and professional manner, and I deserve the same respect. Do you care about keeping this “Community Asset” local, owned by the city, and are you prepared to put forth a vision forward on how to display them in the future, forever? I hope so.
For this reason, I will NOT support the Downtown Convention Center, you do not have the support of the community on this topic. Prove Yourselves. I wonder how much Matt Paulson has paid off the City of Sioux Falls to get what he wants in this community…
Mike Zitterich
Concerned Resident
mike blames the council, as he should, but he also needs to blame the guy in the corner office who cooked this whole thing up.
If others want them, then why don’t we still want them?
‘Dusty Monkeys’ would have been a great name for a punk rock group back in the day….. Perhaps, they could have recorded a parody based on this classic great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBxlsi5SYkg
I blame the city council as a whole, and because the mayor is elected as part of the council, all comments are directed to all members. Bottom line is, the City Council has failed the people miserably on this public matter, cause they hold all the power to investigate the situation, to audit the situation, to subpoena all public officials, officers, agents, employees, and all persons involved in this crisis. Until now, they have refused to invoke their powers, rather in turn, they allowed the Mayor’s Office to take the lead on this, which self-appointed committee members that have no intention of siding with the public. I attended at least one of those meetings, Scott attended the last one, and we both can agree, this was set up for the committee to advise the Council to vote in favor of selling the community asset regardless. Until the City Council gains a backbone, and defend the interest of the people for once, they will continue to be strongly criticized not only by myself, but by the residents. These hand chosen committee members are all part of the conspiracy to defraud and manipulate the facts. And the dangerous part is we have a mayor who got 70% of the previous popular vote in the 2022 election, so he can easily manipulate public opinion of those voters that voted for him, who are made up of mainly young persons born ‘after’ 1980, an era of easily manipulated people who do not seem to care about our history, culture, and the town as it is seen by those that came before them. The City Council will not investigate, and the local legal newspaper will not call out the government. This is what happens when one man buys off the government and the media.