SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Is the citizen input compromise at City Council unraveling?
KELO.com News reported Friday that a compromise is in the works that would leave public input at the beginning of the meeting but shorten it to 30 minutes.
Councilor Theresa Stehly indicates on her Facebook page that there is some doubt that the compromise will be enacted.
"We are dealing with public input vs public putdown," she writes. "The needs/concerns of the average citizens are growing..we should not be limiting public input and silencing their voices."
Stehly also asked for a "prayer chain" for Mayor Paul TenHaken over the issue.
Councilor Rick Kiley says he supports the compromise.
"Despite what Councilor Stehly’s Facebook page may or may not say this Councilor, regardless of how things may go Tuesday evening, firmly supports the compromise," Kiley wrote in an email to KELO.com News.
The Mayor's office says it looks forward to a "healthy discussion" Tuesday night.
"Conversations have been productive over the past several days between the administration and individual councilors," the Mayor's deputy chief of staff T.J. Nelson wrote KELO.com News. "The mayor looks forward to a healthy discussion on Tuesday night and is confident the majority of the council will put in place a plan to make public input productive, relevant and impactful."
The Council considers the compromise measure Tuesday night at their meeting. An ordinance proposed by Councilor Marshall Selberg that would move public comment to the end of the meeting passed first reading last week and is still pending for tomorrow's meeting.