Mayor High Crimes

I’m wondering if Mayor Huether plans on becoming an SNL writer after leaving office?

He gave his comical presentation ‘Top Ten Wins’ again this year;

 

  • Sioux Falls City government lived within its financial means by making tough choices. (actually, he went ape crazy on raising fees)
  • A new city administration building, a first since 1936, will serve citizens and employees for decades to come. (Dozens of administration and operational buildings have been built since 1936)
  • Economy flourishes with America’s lowest unemployment rate, four straight years of record development, and largest growth of new citizens in Sioux Falls history. (yet with such enormous growth, revenue growth is down, low and stagnant wages remain and housing is too expensive)
  • Midco® Aquatic Center is completed on time and under budget and opens to rave reviews. (yet low attendance and a high operational cost will plague our city budget for years)
  • Downtown Sioux Falls is the place to be and invest with $50 million in construction, the Washington Square project, Main Avenue Road Diet, and more. (while true, this has been going on for almost 15 years)
  • A $12 million hotel/conference center is the latest development near the PREMIER Center, strengthening our ability to compete for Division 1 NCAA events. (initiated by taxpayer subsidies)
  • The honeymoon continues for the 88th busiest Events Center in the world with $2.1 million in net revenue, and our good news is spreading throughout the industry. (Yet we have no idea if the taxpayers are benefitting from this success financially?)
  • Monster infrastructure improvements in sanitary sewer, the 12th Street Bridge, and roads, roads, and more roads. (something government is supposed to do with our taxdollars. Normal course of business)
  • Bevy of software implementations increases employee productivity, improves service delivery, and maximizes taxpayer dollars. (Can we see the numbers?)
  • Pension reform continues protecting retirees while fulfilling City government pension obligations. (while screwing over the unions. I actually think this administration wants to break the city unions)

 

Mayor Huether only concerned about transparency when it comes to him

Howdy Doody lays it down!

Funny how Mike only cares about transparency when it comes to him,

The council’s reasoning on the Parks Board ordinance is transparency, but Mayor Huether says, that’s what’s missing from their decision to donate the Ice and Rec Center.

“Where have been the work sessions on this and the meetings with the public or even the meetings with the executive branch of government,” questioned Huether.

But, of course once again, he stretches the truth. The Glory House idea was first raised this Summer by councilor Starr, then in October he told city directors he was serious about the matter, but they just ignored him. The mayor tries to claim no one tells him anything, ironically it is always things he is opposed to. See a trend?

What is the cost to follow the Mayor around with a camera?

Theresa Stehly mentioned on B-N-B show this morning that she requested the amount it costs to follow the mayor around with a camera for press conferences and Listening & Learning sessions. The finance director could not give her a solid number saying they really don’t keep track (in other words buried in the CityLink/Media budget.
Huether fancies himself as a great and prudent businessman. He has a director of finance (Turbak) who pretends to know what he is doing controlling the town’s cash. This director of the cash doesn’t know the cost of videoing the mayor’s events?
An astute businessman would know how much it costs to:
  1. buy all the equipment needed
  2. send a guy out with a camera
  3. return to the office to upload
  4. store the recordings
  5. how much it costs to replace the equipment as it wears out
They both complain about the cost of recording but had no idea how much it would cost? This proves how bad the city finance system is when they do not understand the basics of cost centers. This is actually a very easy number to generate. To a real cost accountant, this could take minutes to figure out. As for a guy who has worked in the media business for over 20 years, if I had to do a quick educated guess, just to record the press conferences and L & L sessions, it would be well over $100,000 a year. This does not include the entire CityLink budget OR the independent contract hosts like Madeline and Jolene.
There is a strong belief the lack of recordings is not a cost issue or to protect the board members. This effort to stop recordings is to protect city staff from being recorded giving bad advice the board members have to follow. There is no attempt to protect the members only city employees. Our videos show this time and time again.

Ironic quote of the day by Mayor Huether

I don’t know where he comes up with this stuff, but it is rich;

“Why we would want to give away something between a half a million and a million dollars, dumbfounds me,” says the Mayor.

If he was Mr. Prudence, I would agree, but this dumbo who has borrowed well over $200 million over the past 7 years spending it mostly on special interests and play things, like $500K to a private tennis center he plastered his name on. What a hypocrite.

This should bode well with voters if Huether decides to run for higher office

South Dakotans love nothing better then an elected official bragging about increasing taxes, especially property taxes;

Mayor Mike and Cindy Huether have long supported and advocated for the public school system. In fact, they were the co-chairs of the last two opt-out campaigns to increase funding for Sioux Falls public schools, along with many other leadership and stewardship roles.

Mike really likes to shoot himself in the foot lately, like calling transparency a slippery slope. Now he brags about wanting to raise our taxes as proof he supports education. Can’t wait for this tidbit to come out if he runs for higher office.