Champion Awards
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz0dwsq04OM[/youtube]
Neighborhood Success Stories
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fclf5B43I5g[/youtube]
Neighborhood Safety
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpNjd5xvIoY[/youtube]
I have to admit I’m finding the ‘outrage’ about the cell phone ban getting killed in 1st reading quite hilarious, and a little late.
I guess Poo-Point University today had a full on bitch session about it.
Here’s the deal, if anyone from the public cared or was paying attention, I posted about this way back on May 15th. On May 24th, the Argus Leader ran a poll about the ban, and since then have done several stories about the ban.
It’s been in the news. A LOT!
In fact, if so many people were concerned about the ban, why was I the ONLY person from the public to testify in public input at the 1st reading?
The outrage about it now is an after thought, kind of like a fart that doesn’t make a sound or smells.
My feeling is that the people wanting this ban didn’t want public input (against it), that’s why the silence and education about it. They just wanted their fancy-smancy names to speak for themselves;
AARP South Dakota
Augustana College, Rob Oliver, Pres.
Bender Commercial Real Estate Services, Michael Bender, Pres.
DakotaCare, Kirk Zimmer, Pres.
Falls Area Bicyclists
7th District Medical Society
Raven Industries
River Ridge Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Center
Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital
AAA South Dakota
Southeastern District Dental Society of SD
University of Sioux Falls, Mark Benedetto, Pres.
Vern Eide Motor Cars
Individuals
Dr. Loren & Mavis Amundson
Kathy Amundson
Robert Amundson (retired Justice of the SD Supreme Court)
Duane Anderson (former ass’t City Attorney)
Rich Aquilar
Sue Aguilar (former City Councilor)
Tam Baker (former City Councilor)
Dr. Jack & Linda Barker
Brenda Beninga
Gerald Beninga (Pres. & CEO Active Generations, former City Councilor, current Chair Minnehaha County Commission)
Bruce & Mary Boyd
Frank & Martha Brost,
Vernon Brown (former City Councilor)
Dean Buckneberg
Walter O. Carlson, MD
Gary Conradi
Steve Crim
Msgr. James Doyle
Jim Entenman, (CEO J&L Harley, former City Councilor).
Cy Farner
Dick Gregerson
Joel & Susan Hagen
Anne Hajek (former City Councilor, County Commissioner, member of the SD Legislature)
Doug Hajek
Robert W. Hartman
Ann & Joseph Henkin
Sandy Jerstad (former member of the SD Legislature)
Gene Paul Kean (former States Attorney and former Circuit Court Judge)
Bob Kiner
Dan Kirby
Joe & Jennifer Kirby
Helen Henkin Kluck
Jeff KluckKnobe (former Mayor)
Laurie Knutson
Rich & Shirley Lauer
John McIntyre (former member of the SD Legislature)
Steve Metli (former Planning & Services Director for the City of Sioux Falls)
David Munson (former Mayor)
Nathan & Brianna Nassif
David Nelson (former Minnehaha County States Attorney)
Mary Olinger
Loren Pankratz
Gary Pashby
Douglas Pay, MD
Sandra Pay
George Roberts
Daniel A. Rykhus
Ellie Sabers
Richard Sabers (retired Justice of the SD Supreme Court)
John Simko (retired US Magistrate Judge)
Tom Simmons
Terry & Cleo Sorensen (their son was killed by a driver texting on his cell phone at 26th & Minnesota in 2012)
William Srstka (retired Circuit Court Judge)
Jim Stavenger
Theresa Stehly (Drivers Ed teacher)
Bob & Trish Swanhorst
Jerry & Mary Pat Sweetman
Bob Thimjom
Pam Tiede
Stuart Tiede (retired Circuit Court Judge)
Carol Twedt (former County Commissioner)
Robert VanDemark Jr., MD
Dick & Marilyn Viehweg
Dave Volk
Ron Williamson
Dick & Jeanne Wold
Jim & Penny Woster
This is a list I have had since May also.
The bigger question is why is our current mayor absent from this list? And why the deafening silence from City Hall? The Police Chief?
Let’s face it, it is a public safety issue, put it on the ballot and let the voters decide, not a bunch of thumbsuckers that get their way every time they come crying to the city council. You are really starting to make an embarrassment out of our local government.
With Doug’s retirement this last Friday, I suppose I should make some comment about his tenure. First off, I wish him luck. From talking to other city retirees, I can guarantee, you will be a lot happier 🙂
As for the job Doug did, I guess I couldn’t really say anything bad or good. He has kept our city relatively safe.
I can say though that while the mayor was running for his second term it was disengenious of Doug to back the mayor in saying that the violent crime rate increase wasn’t concerning.
I also think some improvements that Doug could have worked on are;
• An internal affairs department that processes and resolves all citizen complaints about officers
• More transparency with evidence to the public
• Getting our officers in the same physical shape as our firefighters
• Require officers to go through criminal justice training/schooling (and pay for it).
Other then that, I don’t have a bone to pick with Barthel’s job performance. Could he have done more? Yes he could have. But he certainly didn’t do anything detrimental to the force.
Now if he can just hand over the Tuthill Ghost!
Hey, it’s October, who doesn’t like a good ghost story?
Councilor Anderson told me on Friday about a recognition they will be having for Chief Barthel (I believe in tomorrows city council meeting). I asked Kenny if the outgoing Chief will fess up to what happened NY’s Day at Tuthill Park before departing. I think Kenny’s response was ‘probably not.’
It has been almost 10 months and we still have no clues. But of course, the public hasn’t been allowed to see evidence either and the shooting was investigated internally (because no one was injured – are we sure?)
Hopefully this incident won’t be ‘haunting’ Doug into his retirement.
I guess the announcement will be sometime this morning. Here is a video featuring Captain Smidt. To be honest with you, when I was told this morning, I didn’t have a clue who he was, and even seeing him on this video, it still doesn’t ring a bell. That’s not always a bad thing.
In related news, I was also informed that the Human Relations Director who had a very short stint with the city was ‘Not terminated’. Don’t know too many other details, or the circumstances (you know the whole game of ‘you can resign’), but if she indeed quit on her ‘own terms’ it seems it didn’t take her long to figure out the games being played by this administration. Heck, it has taken the city council 5 years and they still are falling for the same old parlor tricks.
l3wis