SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Sioux Falls City Councilor Pat Starr explains why he walked out of Tuesday night's big Council meeting on the downtown parking ramp project.
He accuses Mayor Mike Huether of "abruptly" cutting off public testimony on the $50 million project.
"To cut that debate off and to not value the opinions of citizens is wrong."
After about an hour of public input, the Mayor decided to not take any further comments.
The Council went on to approve the financing deal for the city's part of the project 6-to-1, without Starr. But Starr says how could he vote when the voice of the people was shut off.
"The public's voice wasn't being heard, and my voice wasn't being heard, and I left the room."
He says that Tuesday night was the public's one and only opportunity to weigh in on the complicated mixed-use development known as 'Village On The River'.
"I could not in good conscience sit in the room with the public silenced and stopped from being heard by their elected officials."
Starr admits that there was probably a better way to handle his concern than walking out of the meeting. Perhaps, a vote could have been called to give more time for public testimony, but in "the heat of the moment", he did what he did.
Starr is calling on Mayor Huether and Council Chair Rick Kiley to apologize to those citizens who were not able to speak.