Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - No discussion on the proposed $25 million city administration building was on the docket for Tuesday's city council meeting. At least - not on the formal agenda anyway.
Citizens of Sioux Falls had other plans.
Much of the 20 minute public input session was devoted to the topic, and the people of the town left no doubt that they felt left behind by recent votes to raise funds for the building through the sale of tax bonds. The session was interrupted twice, once by Council Chair Rex Rolfing and once by Mayor Huether, to remind those in attendance to behave themselves as well.
Stop the Funding petition drive leader Bruce Danielson provided an update on his group's efforts, saying over 5,200 signatures are already accounted for as of Tuesday afternoon. He quoted state laws regarding such petition drives and issued a challenge to Huether to listen to the people. "The decision is solely in the hands of you Mr. Mayor, you can choose to honor the work, the effort, and the clear voice of the people and let an election take place. Or you can affirmatively choose to actively ignore the will of the people and bond over their clear objection." In regards to the bonding process, Danielson stated "Let me make this clear, this process and election are completely legal, and until you act to make it illegal, the process should continue."
Immediately following those comments, Council Chair Rex Rolfing took a moment to remind Danielson and subsequent speakers that the Council's policy states that input should be directed to the council as a whole, and not directed to any one councilor or the Mayor.
Other speakers made it clear that they feel their elected leaders are ignoring the outpouring of support for a city wide election on the issue. Resident Manny Steele said "I think the people have made it very clear, they would like to have a vote on this issue." Steele went on to say that any council members that support the building should be questioned as to if they are representing the people who elected them.
Five speakers in all gave the council a piece of their mind about the project, all of them supporting a public vote.
Mary Scheel-Buysse of Sioux Falls said the Mayor's veto of the council's hold on the project back in July could be seen as "a veto of the will of the people" given a recent poll about the issue by the Argus Leader. She went on to paint the building in a positive light, saying the cost and need for the building can be justified in some ways while calling on Huether to "recognize the vote of the council and the will of the people. Stop the sale of the bonds, and allow this proposal to go to a vote of the citizens."
During the beginning of Steele's comments, applause and shouts could be heard from the gallery. Mayor Huether interrupted Steele to remind those in attendance to show respect to those addressing the council by not interrupting them. After the Mayor's comments Steele may have summed up the feelings of the gallery in one statement. "As far as the city council, you represent your district. You represent the people that have put you there. I think the people have made it very clear what they would like, they would like to have a vote on this issue."
Only time will tell if those voices are heard.