Well lots of things have been happening in our pleasant city besides frolicking in the pools that are getting more expensive (The Sioux Falls City Council had a great discussion at the informational meeting on Tuesday). Let’s just say not everyone is happy about the rate increases and how they came about. I think the only councilor to support them was Karsky, and he was even skeptical.
PUBLIC GAVELING
During public input (at the Sioux Falls City Council meeting), things got a little heated. Bruce Danielson pointed out the secret sub-committee meetings that were taking place to get the pools rates passed without including the public OR the city council. As Bruce was talking I noticed Parks Director Kearney was ‘laughing’ at Bruce pointing out the meetings. In fact you can see him laughing on camera as Bruce is at the podium.
When I took the podium, I first chastised the stupid 5-minute rule and reminded the mayor, the council AND the directors in the room that there are NO time limits on meetings and they all get paid very well to be there.
I then thanked the city council, and told them I was ‘proud of them’ for the discussion they had at the informational, and told them to take the issue to an OPEN committee meeting to discuss with the public. I also chastised Kearney for openly laughing at Bruce and the secret meetings.
I closed with telling them about my meeting with Patrick Warren, and told them he was a great asset to the city, and they should not have fired him.
After another constituent blabbered about it being OK to have closed door meetings (because you get more things done that way – OMG – you ain’t a kidding) Bruce attempted to approach the podium for a second time saying it was well within Roberts Rules of Order, to which he was gaveled, then I.L. Weiderman approached also, to which he was gaveled, then we all got a pleasant lecture from Hizzoner about how we need to conduct ourselves at the meeting, and that city directors are not ‘paid enough’. I think I laughed out loud.
ITS ART STUPID
Moving on, I had an update over the weekend about the mosaic wall. I was told two things, that some of you may or may not know. Central Services who is in charge of cleaning city owned art never ever intended to budget for or clean the wall AND even if development happens at the triangle lot adjacent, the wall has to remain, It’s a Federally mandated flood wall. I asked if volunteers could clean the wall and that is out of the question due to the salt buildup. Special chemicals have to be used by professionals to clean the wall. I am told that councilor Erpenbach is working on a solution.
I’M THE OTHER DAVE BILLION
The council was a bit dumbfounded last night (Item #16)when ‘former’ Billion Automotive employee (Dave Billion Jr.) addressed the council over Billion Auto wanting a street vacated so they can expand there lot on 41st street. He spoke against it, and his testimony must have been good, because the vacation failed 3-5 (it needed 6 votes to pass). A confused council questioned Billion’s intentions. Councilor Kenny Anderson Jr. asked why he was speaking against it, and something about ‘Doesn’t your company want this vacation?’ Too which David responded, “That’s the OTHER David Billionâ€.
While I have known about Dave’s departure for quite a while, there hasn’t been much media about it. Mostly because no one is talking. Hopefully this latest stint last night will give at least one of the ‘David’s’ to talk. But even if they do what media source in town is going to risk losing advertising? Even when KELO did the story about it last night, they called Dave ‘A former employee’ then stated his name.
Just another fun night at Carnegie. Lots of laughs, lots of gaveling and lots of confusion.
l3wis 
