Downtown Sioux Falls

Pavilion ‘Roofgate’ continues

Last week a person who works very close to the Pavilion told me they have been loading materials (roofing) on the roof with cranes last week and continue to work on it. So I drove by this morning and noticed scaffolding on the roof. There was also 3 commercial trucks parked by the work area; An HVAC contractor, a drywall contractor and a roofing contractor. Notice the logo on the roofing truck. This is a company that specializes in this kind of roof repair. So I’m just wondering, when is the administration going to tell the citizens they are repairing the roof. And who is paying for this? #militantclosedgovernment

Well, there is at least ONE person running for mayor

Oh, the funny things you see Downtown Sioux Falls while riding the pedicab. I saw a potential candidate for mayor roaming thru Cherapa II with a professional photographer and he looked as though he got a haircut, a beard shave and probably a Brazilian wax. I know the photographer, so I stopped with my ride and said, “So, what’s these photos all about without your wife and family?” He knew he was busted, got kind of red in the face, giggled a bit and said, “You know what these photos are for.”

I’m sure you have a pretty good guess.

First SF City Council candidate emerges

Mike Zitterich is running for central district city council. The election will either be next June or September. I also heard this will be a crowded race with the potential of 7 candidates running, which means a runoff.

I am filing this document today with the City Clerk Office. Mike Zitterich for Honest Government for the Central District. I will be updating my website in the near future to provide additional info.

I want to see from the City Council: 

  1. Financial Transparency, 
  2. Honest Government,
  3. I want to see more investigations done by the council of the government,
  4. I encourage a better dialogue/correspondence between city council and residents both during meetings, and outside the meetings,
  5. I see myself as the next Kermit Staggers, a strong opposing vote against large government bureaucracy’s, voices, more in line with residents,
  6. I want to see more planning and promoting of other Business Districts here in Sioux Falls ‘other than S.F.D.T’  – I want to urge other parts of the community to establish B.I.D organizations,
  7. I want to promote and push to change our T.I.F strategy, getting away from large projects to introducing smaller, single-family type projects 1 Block, 2 Blocks like the City of Sturgis, 
  8. I want to promote, and help lead to establish city-wide Natural Wildlife, Nature, Historic Program that introduces policies to promote our awesome natural wildlife, nature parks, our history, and the idea of adding camping and lodging parks throughout the city within our Department of Parks and Recreation, one that promotes Family and Youth Outdoor Entertainment. 

With your guidance, I would like input on how we could create a public office “Government Financial Transparency” to be made up of appointed members to audit and review ALL city departments, offices, agencies, all Nonprofits that take city funds, with the goal of trimming city expenses,, while using the savings to set aside and perhaps give back surpluses to the residents. 

With your guidance, I would like input on how to move forward with recommending changes to our charter that accomplishes two things – I want the City Attorney to become a “elected member” of the Governing Board, no longer appointed by a mayor, and one that services a 4 year term (two terms), while changing the charter to create a “odd numbered council” with no less than 2 At-Large Chairs, and any number of District Chairs (5, 7, 9, etc), with the Mayor and City Attorney as the other “Elected At-Large Chairs”. 

With your guidance, I would like input on the idea of creating an ordinance to make ALL “legal opinions” of the City Attorney Office to be public record, allowing residents to review them on the city website, just as the State Attorney General must do. This improves transparency, and hopefully urges the Attorney Office to be more accountable to the people, along with being elected. 

I also support lowering the 2nd Penny Sales Tax from 1.00% down to 0.75% to give back to the residents the chance to keep as much money in their pockets, and I urge the City of Sioux Falls to set the example on taking less property tax revenue, thus leading the charge to give back to the property holders the ability to invest in their properties, encouraging more residents to donate to the city treasury, private funds that could be appropriated by the City Council for future community projects such as flower gardens, community watch advisory committees, to public infrastructure supported by the residents. 

Mike Zitterich 

Two year old fitness park already broke

The machines at the Rotary Park fitness area are broken and have been for almost a year. I have informed several councilors and a parks worker. Still broke. How sad it is that we put this wonderful park in (June 2023) and we do ZERO maintenance on the equipment. The machines should also be put in storage during the winter months to avoid damage. They have left them out since installing them. They actually were under 6 feet of water during the flood last year. That would have been the time to fix the equipment. All they did was spray off the workout pad with a hose.

The Parks department operating budget is in the millions each year. How about fixing up the current equipment we have already instead of building entertainment complexes downtown.

The Fitness park was the idea of our mayor, which I supported. But you have to actually maintain the equipment after installing it. It seems every idea our mayor has usually fails.

What’s up with Downtown Sioux Falls SNACK MAN?

I alerted some councilors that there has been this man wandering the sidewalks of downtown pushing a shopping cart with snacks (chips, candy bars, etc.) and when he approaches you to ask if you want to buy something he states, ‘Would you like a snack, proceeds will be donated to help the homeless’. If this is the case, BRAVO! It truly takes a kind heart to volunteer their time to do something impactful. BUT, there are red flags. I do want to clarify, he is very friendly and dresses very nice casual, he is NOT a transient.

• Does he have a peddler’s license and tax ID? Even if you are donating the proceeds you still need to keep track of the revenue you collect and expenses.

• What organization do you work for? And what is your name?

I think it is wonderful that people want to volunteer their time to help, but there are better ways to do it. What’s up snack man?