Funny how Dunham can build a 276-unit apartment complex with underground parking AND an INDOOR pool for $22 Million. But it will cost the city $19 million to build a stand alone indoor pool.
Why is it when private enterprise does something it is about 4x cheaper then when the city does it?
FROM a South DaCola foot soldier;
I thought you might be interested to know I received a call on my home phone for a poll regarding the pool issue. It took several minutes to answer all the questions and they were testing a lot of messages about the voting “no” on the outdoor pool. They also asked about the mayors race. At a lighthearted point in the conversation, the person taking the poll told me she was a Republican working for the Democrats.
First, they asked some basic questions such as:
• Do you plan to vote in the April election?
• Do you think the city is on the right track or wrong track?
• Do you have favorable opinions about Huether?
• Do you have favorable opinions about Jamison?
• Do you plan to vote for Jamison or Huether?
Next, they asked if the following statements would make you more likely, less likely, or have no impact on your decision to support an indoor pool at Spellerberg Park
• There is a lot of congestion at the intersection of 26th & Western
• The indoor pool will be a large facility and take up a lot of room at Spellerberg Park
• Sioux Falls needs an outdoor pool and if we do not approve it this time, it will not be built for several years
• The VA is next to Spellerberg Park and parking at the facility is congested
• Congestion near Spellerberg Park would decrease with an indoor facility
• Congestion near Spellerberg Park would increase with an outdoor pool
• Sioux Falls already has several outdoor pools but does not have an public indoor facility
• The money for an outdoor pool has already been allocated in the budget
• An indoor facility will add $13M to the city’s debt
• Sioux Falls should provide recreation activities for the public’s use
I was not able to write down the questions as they were being asked so this is my best recollection of the questions. I will keep thinking about it and let you know if I come up with any more.
HELP! The chat room has been shut off, and I am drowning in questions.
I waited a few days before posting about this. (100 Eyes show 1/30/14) I was pretty hot at the time, I have cooled a bit since Wednesday. A nice brisk walk in the February weather probably helped.
For full disclosure, I like Pat Lalley, like myself, Pat has an opinion and likes to share it. Good for him. In fact I met Pat when he worked at the lowly (but always entertaining) TEMPEST magazine. Heck, I have known him longer then my dog.
But sometimes, like myself, he can be tragically hypocritical. Snowgates come to mind (he hires a contractor to clean out his driveway).
While his employer launches lawsuit after lawsuit for open government, he certainly doesn’t like to practice what he preaches.
On Thursday, for instance, he had the pool ‘Indoorers’ on his show, 100 Eyes. The program is simple, you tune in, and you can leave questions for the guests. In fact, Pat started the chat by saying ‘Fire Away’. I will admit, I recruited many people who support an outdoor pool at Spellerberg to ask questions. Good questions. We fired away like machine guns.
Not one single question was asked (or at least in OUR context), heck they were not even posted in the chat room. We were CENSORED. That’s fine, the Argus is a private news organization, they can do what they want. The obvious bias towards the ‘Indoorers’ was clear.
So what’s my beef? Don’t talk about transparency and sunshine in government, and shut the lights off.
To say I am disappointed is putting it mildly.
Here’s a list of questions I helped compile that were never posted in the chat:
Okay, let’s look at the Parks and Rec agenda. Oh, nothing there.
So what is going on at TODAY’s Park board? Seems the indoor and outdoor pool plans have been completed and are being presented to the Park Board today at their meeting, and then to the council at the February 4th work session.
How do I know this? It was told to me by a city official. But what is troubling is why there is NO public announcement of the meeting today.
Hmmm.
l3wis 