Sioux Falls

We’re in the money!

l3wis February 18, 2009 0Comments

Munson could not be more excited, Christmas is coming early this year;

Now that the economic stimulus bill is signed,Â city leaders in KELOLAND are wondering how much will come their way for local projects.Â We spoke with Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson about where the city could use the financial boost the most.Â

And to make it look like I really care I will only mention NEEDED infrastructure projects.

Munson says the levee improvement program tops his list.Â The new flood plain affects about 1600 properties, which is why the levees need to be raised in Sioux Falls.Â

“To have the flood insurance that they’re going to have to pay for those properties to up to the level it is, that’s not acceptable,” Munson said.Â

But charging extra retail taxes on groceries to old ladies on fixed incomes is perfectly acceptable.

Next on the list is Highway 100. The city needs about $100 millionÂ to finish the 17-mile project.Â It connects Interstate 90 to I-29 at the Tea exit and is expected to encourage further development on the east side.Â

Hey, Dave, might wanna mention that 90% of that project is a state and county project, not a city project, not sure if Jodi forgot to send you the memo.

“We’re so fortunate, in Sioux Falls, we’re growing in every quadrant of the city, we really need to have the stimulus package proposals out there to really help,â€ Munson said.

While we are $100 million behind on current infrastructure and maintenance! Woo-Hoo! Because instead of spending the 2nd penny on roads and such we blew it on ‘Fun’ projects.

Sioux Falls

Total disrespect for Sioux Falls taxpayers

l3wis February 15, 2009 0Comments

Couldn’t be a better time to give over 9% raises to city management;

“With Sioux Falls, I guess I could see it if it’s a matter of continued growth,” Ring said. “I guess I’d expect that they would be battening down the hatches, too.”

Yah think?

And the editorial board decided to chime in, while shoving a knife in the Union’s back;

Downtown Sioux Falls Event Center SF City Council Sioux Falls

Get ready for New Development downtown . . . in 3-5 years.

l3wis February 13, 2009 2Comments

Tired of looking at old lumber yard sheds and such? No worries, you’ll get to look at this next.

I guess we were all wrong about what is going to happen at the old lumber yard location downtown;

Some of the existing sheds will be torn down then, and before it becomes anything else the site will become a construction equipment and supply staging area . . .

Wooooo Hooooo! Can I go play on the bulldozers at night? Maybe have an outdoor festival on one of the gravel piles? No longer will we have to worry about Sioux Falls ‘Leaking Money’ like councilor Jamison has warned us about (while wearing his brand new, freshlyÂ pressed AC/DC shirt while tearing up fake checks, a performance that should have honored him an Oscar, or at least a Mayor’s award for the arts).

City Council member Greg Jamison said he’s mindful of the spirited debate on where to build events and convention facilities, but he acknowledges “there’s a lot of value to putting it downtown.

“Wherever it goes, though, downtown or at the Arena, I would love to cut the ribbon on it as soon as we can. It’s a huge economic engine we’re missing out on.”

Couldn’t agree more Greg. Maybe you, your brother and Daddy Warbucks General Jamison could pool your money with other developers in town and build your own fricking Event Center. Huh? Instead raising taxes on little old ladies bread and milk? I would come to the ribbon cutting. I promise.

Abe Lincoln shit found Sioux Falls

Bill Bill’s Honest Abe’s bedroom

l3wis February 13, 2009 0Comments

I’ve known about the Sioux Falls Lincoln bedroom for awhile. Bill Williams’ daughter is a friend of mine and we have often gotten a chuckle out of it.

Instead of a night cap, you can put on a stovepipe hat similar to what Lincoln wore.Â

“This is an 1851 beaver hat of the times,” Lincoln said.Â

But if you think the bedroom is a trip, you should have seen the Titantic he built from toothpicks!

Sioux Falls

Mike ‘IN DENIAL’ Cooper defends the red tape

l3wis February 12, 2009 4Comments

Looks like another Sioux Falls citizen is receiving some fine customer service from the city

Gotta love Mike Cooper. He still defends that the code enforcement ship is running in tip-top shape. Don’t believe me? Just ask Mike himself.

“I didn’t want the flow chart to be perceived as an indicator that every violation involves this maze of steps,” Cooper said in an e-mail sent after we talked.

He calls the flow chart “somewhat misleading. … I think the flow chart almost makes it look more confusing. I would say it’s somewhat misleading for anybody looking at this chart. They would say this is a broken process that needs a lot of fixing.”

Funny, on the heels of a hearing tommorrow about code enforcement and due process (which is estimated to cost taxpayer’s over $100,000 in lawyer fees fighting a couple of feet of concrete and a $100 citation that does not exist on the books), Mr. Cooper still thinks everything is fine and dandy.

The customer – the city taxpayer – already is well-served by those who work for Sioux Falls government, Cooper says.

“We have a very coordinated process, as I said to the council,” he says.

Don’t you mean ‘bureauracratic process’ Mike?

We’re in the money!

Total disrespect for Sioux Falls taxpayers

Get ready for New Development downtown . . . in 3-5 years.

Bill Bill’s Honest Abe’s bedroom

Mike ‘IN DENIAL’ Cooper defends the red tape

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Falls Park, data center and an RFP

Sometin’ Stinkin’