If we could only use snowgates to remove . . .
l3wis 
Mayor Subprime Mike Huether
“How much would it cost to change the name of SF to ‘Sanford Falls’ ?”
You need to watch this Listening and Learning session. The above question was the most hilarious. But there was several good moments.
Naming rights and Reindeer Games
As I reported about a month ago, there were changes in the naming rights game. But I did leave out a few details, we will get to those in a moment . . .
I asked a city councilor last week when he thought the naming rights would be announced, and he suspected right before the ground breaking in August, I guess, to keep that element of intrigue and surprise with the public. Heck he doesn’t even know, but let’s just say him and the mayor are not real ‘close’.
I am just not sure how ‘surprised’ the public will be when they hear the ‘S’ word for the the 1,000th time. Christ, what some people will do to buy their way into heaven or at least into the pocket books of the sick and dying.
Now, back to the naming rights.
As I reported on June 16, there was a little switcheroo on the naming rights contract. The city decided to terminate their contract with Superlative and hire Legends to help with the naming rights. Which seems odd since the company(s) that want to put their name(s) on the building may have already been chosen.
What I did not tell you is on June 15 I had a very ‘colorful’ talk with Myles Gallagher, owner of Superlative. We had an intriguing 45 minute phone conversation about Sioux Falls, the Events Center, and his ‘disagreements’ with Darrin Smith and Mike Huether. While I would love to share most of the conversation with my South DaCola readers, I cannot.
I can say this, it seems two companies are possibly vying for a naming rights deal in a quasi-partnership.
But does the city have other competitors? Even if they were still going to go with the ‘S’ word in partnership with the ‘F’ word. Wouldn’t it help to drive up the bid?
Is this why Superlative was dropped over Legends? Did Superlative give advice that would be beneficial to the taxpayers? I guess we will have to see if ‘S’ & ‘F’ come in first place and if their offer is golden, that will be tell tale heart.
I’m pretty sure this will not come up at the groundbreaking ceremony, but I’m sure there will be several punch bowls of kool-aid being served.
UPDATED: Why wasn’t the SF city council privy to the Mayor’s capital plan before today?
UPDATED:Â In the past the CIP was used as a way to implement the long-term vision and planning efforts produced through good city government work. There were people internally at City Hall that invested a great deal of time into putting that document together, again, based on a vision of sustainable and planned growth.
Where is that committee now?
The city’s priorities within the CIP are identified by the Finance Department and Mayor. I think the Mayor now meets individually with all departments to discuss their individual department projects in the CIP instead of meeting as a large group to discuss how each of the department’s priorities need to work together cohesively to implement our short and long term vision for Sioux Falls. And I know for a fact that the council has no part of these discussions.
The CIP has always been a tool used by staff to help in ensuring that long-term vision doesn’t disappear with the comings and goings of elected officials. Unfortunately that is no longer the case.
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I was told this morning that the city council was not given a copy of the plan before today (capital2013). While I may understand why (well I don’t) the public hasn’t seen it yet, why wasn’t council given a sneak peak of the plan?
He will lay out the plan today at 4 PM, which includes millions in special interests projects for private club sports.
