South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

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Are public notices in newspapers a waste of money? Sometimes.

l3wis 0Comments

As you know, I am big on open government, and public notices are important;

A bill that would allow South Dakota’s 17 largest cities to publish their public notices such as meeting minutes online instead of in the local newspaper was defeated in committee on Thursday.

HB1167 would have allowed cities with populations of more than 5,000 to publish their public notices on their websites, freeing them from the current requirement that notices be published in the local newspaper.

Rep. Greg Jamison, R-Sioux Falls, the bill’s sponsor, said the state’s larger cities are already posting their notices online, as well as broadcasting the meetings.

HB1167 “makes it so it doesn’t have to be in the newspaper,” Jamison said. “That’s the big difference here.”

While I agree alternative methods should be ‘explored’ I do agree with the SD newspaper industry – to an extent;

Justin Smith, an SDNA lobbyist, said that having a third party print the notices ensures that the government “cannot come back later and change them.”

In his work as a lawyer, Smith said, he has at times needed to check on notices published as far back as the 1950s.

“There is forever a record of that information,” Smith said. “1167 would destroy this permanent archive.”

While their arguments are fine and dandy, the issue I have with the way it is now, is that it has to be in a ‘paid subscription paper’ and the problem with our local paper is that they print it on a weekday (not as many subscribers) and in 4-point type. It should really be in the Sunday Paper in at least 6-8 pt type so people don’t have to get out a magnifying glass. I also don’t see a problem with it being in a weekly shopper that doesn’t have subscribers, it may get MORE readership. Right now, the government entities are subject to when the newspapers decide to print the notices, and that isn’t right either. Just Sayin’.

County Commission Developers Development Downtown Sioux Falls Mayor High Crimes Mayor Hubris Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether Minnehaha County Public Utilities Public Works SF City Council SFFD Sioux Falls

Copper Lounge Collapse, lots of questions little answers

l3wis 14Comments

Here are some leading questions after the collapse;

• Will Downtown businesses be reimbursed for lost business by the construction company’s insurance? Most of these businesses are family owned, they don’t have a lot of buffer like national franchises especially during one of the busiest shopping times of the year.

• Will the city be reimbursed for the enormous cost of the rescue and security efforts? While most would argue this is part of paying taxes, sometimes those costs go above and beyond.

• If the city was aware of construction issues with Hultgren, why wasn’t the Lewis project monitored more carefully, especially after complaints?

• What is the signifigance of the meeting on Monday between the city, OSHA, Hultgren and the families affected? Will they be talking about a private settlement?

• Since Legacy Development was one of the companies to bid on the future parking ramp, were they chosen? And if so, will the city pull the contract? Will the public ever be told? Do we have a right to know?

Who are the private investors in Legacy Development?

One of the biggest questions that has been boiling to the top all week – did any of the city councilors, county commissioners or even the Mayor have investments with Legacy, Hultgren or with the PAVE or Lewis project? And if so, isn’t this a conflict of interest, especially since the construction company has gotten quite a few ‘passes’ from the city’s planning/building services office? This speculation comes from the city’s decision to launch NO investigation of their own and a desire to not press charges unless OSHA finds serious fault. Think about it, Cameraman Bruce was arrested and taken to court over a stack of shingles and the possibility of a couple of mice, something the city called a health/public nuisance. Doesn’t it seem silly the city is worried about a couple of mice, but not that a man died in a construction accident? It just doesn’t add up.

I will tell you folks, this goes deeper, and I think some people with some serious connections are involved. Notice the rancor coming from the city lately about the media stirring the pot, they are trying to squelch the message and kill the messenger.

It will be interesting to see who is holding the bag when the smoke clears . . . it may just be one of the biggest scandals this city has ever seen, it will make the secret million dollar settlement on the EC look like vandalism under the 10th Street bridge.

Public Utilities Public Works Sioux Falls

Bump Out Mania! Phillips to What?

l3wis 3Comments

Another meeting the city of Sioux Falls should have covered but they forgot their Handicam at the office. The town is going to spend over $1,000,000 per block rebuilding Phillips Avenue in downtown and a couple of people show up at the Public Library on November 29, 2016.

A few things to note in this presentation are the continuation of the bump-out and trees but to where and why.  Those of us in the audience didn’t disagree in principle with the plan but so few showed up to talk about it. This is one of those needed updates to the underground infrastructure but the frosting on top still leaves long stretches of parking lots to prevent long walks between possible shops.

Notice the expensive Saddam Arch of Questionable Dreams gets a fancy approach on 7th Street. Will Raven feel like giving up some of their property to allow it?

The planners actually would like your feedback. Overall it will improve the stretch of roadway above and below ground. Let’s all join the moderator of the event in scratching our heads over it a bit.

 

Media Public Works

Let’s Face It, the Mayor and the Director of Parks had NO plan before opening the indoor pool

l3wis 8Comments

This whole thing about the swim teams, and elitism is total hogwash. The fact is the mayor’s ‘peeps’ had NO plan when they opened the doors. Now they are spinning what was being said about the swim teams and the media misleading people. I think the media was very clear; The Mayor talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Also, I loved Sneveawonderful’s tweet about the empty suit B-N-B is, and his spelling challenged* producer, Too-Late Todd.

*Todd often spells names of politicians wrong in his posts (I’m not perfect either) but one day he had three different posts about councilor Stehly and he spelled her name three different ways, none of them correct. No wonder he doesn’t pracktuce lawe anymoore. Remember, in journalism, it IS the little things that count.

twitter-war

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