Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

UPDATE: It’s a pool party (indoors)

l3wis January 26, 2015 17Comments

UPDATE: The city decided to edit the Q & A out of their version of the video. That’s why we bring the camera, you never know what kind of creative editing the city’s propaganda station will pull.

Sioux Falls Aquatics Focus Committee Named • 1/22/15

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUwRTtk09Q[/youtube]

Well as one commenters stated, “It looks like a stacked deck”. Yup it sure is. The Sioux Falls special specials all gathered together to bless the forgone conclusions we knew were coming.

Don Kearney keeps talking, never saying anything and then answers questions never asked in an order never followed (but does mention renderings will be released next week to city council(?) – so has this committee already been meeting?)

We want to know what happened to the Quit Claim Deed issue and many more unanswered questions. We won’t hold our breath waiting for answers.

How about putting people on a “focus” group who don’t have problems with the ethics of campaigns and contributions.

Why do we need two parks board members (and a former one) to sway the opinions of this ‘neutral’ focus group? Why do we need a voting member of the city council on this group? What does an “Avid Park and Trail User” have to do with a swimming pool? A person who sells sporting goods is a good fit to supply items to the swim teams, pool and parks department, but to be on the steering committee? Still trying to understand what qualifications a Lighting Design and Engineer for corporate and religious events brings to the table. Does the certified pool operator have other plans once the pool is operational? Do the healthcare employees plan to sway the project for their particular employer’s benefit? We understand how the front persons for the NO on the outdoor pool campaign were placed in the leadership of this effort but no other neighborhood residents? What about an egg salesman who donated $400 to the previously mentioned campaign interest group? We’re just curious as usual.

Just a few more questions for our ethically challenged city administration to answer someday when they get around to it. It took about 7 weeks to name these pre-chosen committee members, let’s see how long before we have to wait for more answers.

In the end, will these 15 people just be the rah-rah club for Don Kearney’s plans or will they actually have any say in the process?

The Indoor Aquatics Center Super Secret Planning Committee?

l3wis January 14, 2015 3Comments

Being the watchdog that I am, I somehow seemed to have missed the big announcement of who was going to serve on the planning/design committee for the indoor aquatics center at Spellerberg Park. The announcement was supposed to take place after Thanksgiving. I kind of figured that maybe they had some hiccups in the process, so I still have been waiting for this ‘hand selected’ list. Then the mayor announces the actual plans will be revealed in 2-weeks (but still no word or MOU on the Quit Claim Deed and the VA).

Huh? Did I miss something?

So has the committee already been meeting without the public’s knowledge? Could the mayor’s timeline of the release of the plans be inaccurate? Do any of the City Councilors know who was on this committee? Have they seen the plans?

Here is the ‘City Team’ announced last September.

My hunch is that the plans for the $20 million dollar facility had to be scaled back from what was originally planned (before election), and the committee members had to be in lock step with it.

FILL OUT YOUR SURVEYS

The city announced that the citizen survey went out in the mail this week. I encourage everyone to fill it out. I had asked while the council was reviewing the questions that ALL city employees including councilors be purged from the mailing list, and they said that they have. If you are a city employee, and you receive the survey, let me know, or throw it away, or both. I have often found the 30% response rate to be highly suspicious since there is NO monetary incentive for filling it out.

The mysterious Quit Claim Deed for Spellerberg Park

l3wis December 15, 2014 8Comments

You could read this several different ways (DOC:Spellerberg Park info from Deed files-2 ) but I decided to pull out the finer points of the 23 page document that covers the original purchase by the VA and the city’s purchase of the park.

Honestly to tell you, if I was reading this as an attorney or judge, I would be on a fence. While you could easily argue as long as the city was using this park for recreational purposes (indoor pool) and not interfering with the business of the VA, they have a 100% right to build an indoor pool at Spellerberg, AND I would see NO legal issues or conflicts with the deed if the city builds an indoor pool at that location.

I’m sure I surprised everyone with that statement 🙂

I have never been against a public indoor pool, I just think there should be a larger private partnership with it and at a different location. Which brings me to item (b)

Who ‘determines’ if the city is using the park properly in reference to the deed? The Veteran’s Administration? They could almost make any case as to why the city build the indoor pool with interference to the VA.

This is why I think it is very important that both the city and the VA come to a legal agreement OR an amendment to this deed before dirt is moved. It would be the wise and prudent thing to do before building a $20 million dollar facility.

Image was cropped and highlighted for ‘specifics’ reasons, no text was edited or changed.

Surprise! Surprise!

l3wis December 4, 2014 6Comments

In an amazing revelation (not really) the Sioux Falls School Board is going to keep the search for the Super – Super, Super secret;

Residents won’t know who will replace outgoing Sioux Falls School District Superintendent Pam Homan until this spring, when officials announce the new hire.

Of course, this is no surprise, this city and state lack transparency on all levels. Heck, the School District can’t even tell us the suggested names for new schools. It is really sad that a public education organization that takes our property taxes to fund them has to be so ultra secretive. It is a BAD example to the students. They are saying it is OKAY to make important decisions for taxpayers behind closed doors.

Shame on the Sioux Falls School Board.

Board member Doug Morrison said he would prefer to respect the privacy of the candidates who are applying for the position.

“I don’t know if there’s any advantage for us to release the names,” Morrison said.

C’mon Doug, this is a VERY PUBLIC job, I think the applicants know that. If they are unwilling to give their name to the public before getting hired, then they shouldn’t be applying in my opinion.

Keeping interviews closed to the very end could potentially increase the pool of applicants, Thoelke said.

“That really jeopardizes a guy’s job when he goes back home,” Thoelke said. “I would hope the public would be more interested in getting quality candidates than being involved in the final three.”

We are interested in QUALITY candidates, and that starts with letting the public also vet the candidates. Besides, if they are looking for a different job, they should be honest with their current employer and let them know they are applying for another job. Like I said above, this is a PUBLIC job, not private sector. The selection process should be PUBLIC!