SF City Council

Councilor Brown wants to spend $250,000 of your tax money so you can dial 4 less numbers

l3wis April 14, 2009 9Comments

Hey, Vernon, rotary phones went out in the 80’s.

The city wants to make it easier to turn in your neighbors. Are we changing the city’s motto to, “The city of neighborly hate”? or “If you have a neighbor, he’s probably a criminal”

Sioux Falls officials, reacting to City Council criticisms, say they are making it easier for residents to file code enforcement complaints against other residents or businesses.

Because before code enforcement started 6 years ago, our city was in shambles! Shambles I say! Shambles!

In response, the city is marketing its general information phone number – 367-8000 – as the number to address code violations. The city has contracted with the HelpLine Center to answer those calls, and operators there will be trained to get complaints to the appropriate departments for investigation.

Because no one that works for the city is qualified to answer a phone and talk to citizens? And we wonder why we may be spending $34 million next year for “Professional Services”.

At some point, the system might even be set up to handle calls 24 hours a day, seven day a week. Officials hope to have a new Web site up in May, which will provide examples of violations of city code and access to file an electronic complaint.

Because we won’t be happy until we turn our city into a police state! This is a crock of shit. Now we are training residents on code enforcement? This is getting out of control. Who the F’ck is on a power trip here? This crap has got to end.

Councilor Vernon Brown, a longtime critic of the city’s handling of code enforcement complaints, told Director of Health Judy Buseman that private companies would go out of business if they treated people as the city does.

Can we fire all of you? Point me in the right direction. Let’s get this party started!

Rather than use a seven-digit phone number for complaints, Brown said he thinks the city should use a 311 phone number. It would be easier for people to remember, but cost $250,000.

Vernon thinks spending $8,000 to experiment with snowgates is a “Waste of Money” because “They don’t work.” But spending a cool 1/4 million on a phone number is well worth it. Go figure. Isn’t it ironic that a guy who works for a telecommunications company wants to spend that much money on a specialized number? Gee, I wonder what company in Sioux Falls is qualifed to handle that kind of contract? (Cough, Cough, SDN communications, Cough, Cough, Time Killers, Cough). I guess it’s time to pay back your Telecommunications PAC money you received during your last campaign, huh Vernon? Talk about conflict of interest!