The commission finally has the real Census numbers to work with. I’m with Hurlbert that the main focus should be Central District and everything else will fall into place. I think it should be expanded and should always have the highest numbers due to density. No doubt it is the most diverse economically, but districting committees are NOT allowed to form districts around economic status or race.
MINNEHAHA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS STATEMENT
August 27, 2021
DJ Buthe was employed as the Minnehaha County Highway Superintendent between December 2011 and February 2021, at which time he resigned to accept the position of Public Works Director for the City of Brookings.
The FY 2020 construction projects expenditures for the Highway Department were approximately $4 million over budget which led the Minnehaha County Board of Commissioners to engage Eide Bailly to conduct an internal controls examination of the Highway Department. Eide Bailly was engaged in early February, 2021, and the report was completed as of March 30, 2021. Eide Bailly reviewed policies and procedures, budget reports and supporting documentation, contracts/agreements and change orders, and conducted interviews with employees focused on identifying strengths and weaknesses within the controls over their respective positions. Eide Bailly determined the deficit was related to a flawed process to track encumbered funds. Corrective action has since been implemented by the County, including the purchase and use of additional software designed to prevent this budget deficit issue from recurring.
Vast has reached out to me and asked me to post this update;
City Reinstates Permits Following Design Changes, Enhanced Communications Tactics
(Sioux Falls, SD) – August 26, 2021 – Vast Broadband, a leading broadband/cable company, announced today that it will re-start construction in early September to install fiber optic communication lines and equipment as part of a $60 million expansion effort to provide high-quality, high-speed broadband and video services to additional homes in the Sioux Falls community. Construction was paused earlier this month following community feedback from both residents and the City regarding the installation of stand-alone, front yard pedestals. Vast took swift action to address these concerns and the City has now re-instated construction permits. Moving forward, Vast will use flush-mount vaults instead of pedestals for all front yard installations – even those co-located with other utilities – and will deploy enhanced communications efforts to ensure community awareness of the construction process.
“We are thrilled to be able to restart construction and to illustrate to the Sioux Falls community that we not only hear you but have also taken significant action to earn your trust moving forward by no longer using pedestals for any front yard installations, even where other utility pedestals are present,†said Jeff Seidenfaden, Chief Commercial Officer for Vast Broadband. “We fell short of expectations initially, but we hope that this design change not only meets but exceeds expectations of what a community partner is capable of in terms of customer service.â€
In areas where fiber expansion construction has already begun, all front yard pedestals will be replaced with a flush-mount vault with a ground level profile, regardless of whether there are other utility pedestals present in the same location. For future construction locations, a flush-mount vault with a ground level profile will be installed in all front yard locations, regardless of whether there are other utility pedestals present in the same location. For future backyard or side yard installations, Vast will use a shorter pedestal regardless of whether the installation is stand-alone or co-located with other utilities.
“The City team has worked closely with Vast Broadband to provide guidance on their response, which includes design changes and more thorough communications to address the concerns of Sioux Falls residents. This design change will ensure all front yard installations are at ground level. These updates reflect community input, and we’re pleased that residents will be seeing these improved changes,†said Mark Cotter, Director of Public Works for the City of Sioux Falls.
As construction restarts, Vast Broadband is also rolling out more robust, proactive communications tactics to inform residents of the construction process. Neighbors in areas where construction is already underway will receive a construction update letter in the next few days via first class mail followed by a door hanger. Neighbors in areas where construction has yet to start will begin receiving information about 30 days prior to commencement including a post card, construction awareness letter, door hangers and yard signs. These communications tools will be supplemented with mobile billboards as well as digital and TV campaigns. Finally, the company has deployed an enhanced informational website at www.vastbroadband.com/fiberforward where residents can see details about the construction process, report construction concerns and sign up for updates regarding construction in their neighborhood. Residents can also reach out to the local call center at (605) 413-1628 or the toll-free number at (888) 745-2888.
Vast Broadband’s expansion will bring Sioux Falls a fiber rich network offering higher speeds, better connectivity and more bandwidth for both homes and businesses.
My friend of over 25 years, Matt Fockler, is throwing a FREE music festival in Montrose this weekend. There are some amazing local and national musicians playing. The Saturday night concert featuring Redd Volkaert and Steve Fisher is $30 but everything else is FREE including parking and camping (in a tent). There will be plenty of great vendors including Ben’s Brewery. Come on out, it should be a blast.
Yesterday at the joint meeting, Lincoln County Commissioner Joel Arends tried to get out of planning staff (both city and county) where they came up with the 1,000 foot setback. Once they rolled out the Mariachi band and did an extensive dance, they still couldn’t give a reason. That’s because it was directly pulled from their behinds. Seeing they were not going to win that argument, the city attorney Paul Bengford decided to move the goal posts and say this was about meeting a deadline and newspapers and NOT the setback. It was quite the turd polishing, and exhibited just how inept our local government officials and appointed staff is.
I think they truly believe the public is that naïve.
But the best part was when Councilor Neitzert said it was ‘absurd’ to allow citizens to vote for the legalization of drugs (marijuana). Waiting for our elected officials to legalize it is even more absurd, because they would never act. I joked to someone before the vote in November that even if the Feds decriminalized MJ today and allowed states to regulate it would take South Dakota a decade to put in the regulations if you waited for the elected officials to act.
The only way anything beneficial to the citizens happens in this state is through direct democracy. Waiting for our representatives to help us is the true measure of absurdity and their war on the initiative and referendum process. Keep poking the bear, because that just emboldens us.
l3wis