Warren’s snow removal Wednesday
l3wis 
Sioux Falls
Parting Gift
So on one day the City of Sioux Falls ‘Gifteft’ a nice cop mustache calendar then the next day they ‘taketh’ with the water rates. No wonder they couldn’t print a brochure with all the important numbers on it and insert it in the water bill – there was no room.
I have to admit I knew about the water rate increase, but it still bothers me we are paying for a pipeline that won’t be here for another 2-3 years, if ever. I don’t think we should have paid L & C one single penny until the water was flowing. If the pipeline is going to be so successful, as they promise, then the banks can loan them the money to build it and they can pay the interest instead of us. You don’t pre-pay for electricity or natural gas so why would we prepay for water?
Dumb.
County makes good decision
As I have said in the past, the best place for a homeless shelter would be downtown, close to detox and the jails. The county finally took the bull by horns and took the first step by buying the land on 3rd and Minnesota.
Bravo.
The Minnehaha County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to purchase property at 700 N. Minnesota Ave. and 314 W. Third St. and will seek architectural concepts on developing it as housing for the chronically homeless.
The purchase price is $252,000, and the deal will close Feb. 26. The commission approved spending $10,800 for concept designs and site development plans for either a 24-unit or 32-unit facility.
It’s too bad it took the county commission full of lame duck commissioners to get the ball rolling on this. Yes, several city councilors sit on the committee, but it is disappointing that our mayor didn’t help more with this. I guess we are too busy buying empty lots for parking and parks in the boondocks to worry about a public safety issue like the homeless.
I want to commend councilor Anderson for pushing for this site. Good job!
Sioux Falls Poverty
At the City Informational meeting yesterday, a school district representative gave an informative presentation about impoverished kids in our community. I’ll warn you, the numbers are shocking and should be a wakeup call about taxes on food and utilities.
CLICK ON THE DECEMBER 15 INFORMATIONAL MEETING AND FAST FORWARD TO 27 MIN. IT LASTS TO ABOUT 55 MIN.
I really think this report should have been put out before the retail tax increase vote. While our city continues to blow money on historical windows and $750,000 pedestrian suspension bridges we have people in our community that can’t afford to buy food for their kids – food that is taxed so we can buy these WANTS.
The presenter even said one of the main reasons Dr. Homan doesn’t like to close schools on cold days is because school is the only place some of these kids get a warm breakfast. Pretty sad.
Greg Jamison even had the nerve to ask, “Thank you for the presentation, but what are we supposed to do with this information.”
Really Greg? You have to ask?
You should work on making cuts to our bloated CIP budget so we can reduce taxes for working families. That’s a start.