City of Sioux Falls claims they have nothing to do with the Link

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The Darkness at City Hall was taken to a whole new level this week when the city said this about denying Forum News a copy of the contract with the Link;

The City of Sioux Falls has denied a request to make public the contract to operate The Link, the publicly funded triage center for people in crisis from addiction or mental illness.

Sioux Falls Live requested the contract from the city on July 17. The city denied that request on Monday, July 31.

The reason given for the denial is that the contract is not technically with the city, but rather with the non-profit created to run The Link, according to Paul M. Bengford, senior assistant city attorney.

“The City of Sioux Falls is not a party to the Agreement you are seeking,” Bengford wrote in a statement denying the request.

WOW!

‘Yeah, you know, that building the city owns and leases for FREE to the Link and helps subsidize with city and county taxpayer money, yeah, we really don’t know much about that.’

The Link was setup BY the city and county, it is occupied in a city owned building. If anyone would have the contract and know what is in it, it would be the city.

Oh, and to state the obvious;

“The Link is an important community resource, and there’s interest in knowing how it’s operating,” said Mary Jo Hotzler, chief content officer for Forum Communications Co., parent company to Sioux Falls Live. “Our interest is in transparency and accountability.”

Heck, I can’t even get an annual report from a non-profit that provides free concerts, what makes you think you get this contract? Maybe there is no contract;

During a city council meeting in July, which included approval of a new three-year agreement between the partners, TenHaken said the source of new funding was “TBD.”

It kind of sounds like most things the city does . . . by the seat of their pants. Recently it was said that the city is looking for a recruiting contractor to help find more mid-management, skilled positions. Maybe the city is having problems finding these people because no one wants to work for a certain somebody. I’ve seen morale take a 180 at places I have worked after certain troublesome management is let go. Maybe the city has an image problem?

I tell people it must be a great place to work, I saw a mid-manager at a meeting a couple of months ago wearing sweatpants and sliders, surprised he wasn’t curled up in the corner with a pillow and a blankey.

With all this darkness lately, it makes you wonder if this is about keeping information from the public or keeping information from a higher authority, and I ain’t talking about JC.

The Link Triage Center has given few details about post triage

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While there has been several stories about the opening of the much needed new triage center, some are wondering what the mission and goals will be for clients after they are released. We do know what the purpose of the center is and that it has received plenty of outside funding for construction, but many questions remain;

• How will operational costs be funded if there is a shortfall in insurance, donations and federal funding? Do county and city tax payers pick up the tab? This isn’t such a bad thing, because helping folks on the front end actually save taxpayers money on the back end. My frustration comes from not being open with us about that funding.

• Will all individuals be directed (triaged) to a safe transition after they leave? This is the biggest question, because we know that relapsing even for people who have a strong family and friends support network is high. What about those that were taken in from the streets? Where do they go post triage? Do we want The Link to become a revolving door?

While I support The Link, and think this facility is long overdue in our community, I believe the public needs to hear a real plan on how it will operate, who will fund it, and most importantly what we are doing with the clients after they leave.

“Do your thoughts continue and repeat a cycle Seed, growth, bloom, and seed again”
― Richard L. Ratliff