SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) The 'Stop the Funding' campaign says it has delivered nearly 6,700 petition signatures to the City of Sioux Falls to try to put the $22 million city administration building up for a public vote. It may be an exercise in futility, even if a sufficient number of signatures are validated.
Just hours after the petitions were turned in, the city issued a press release, saying the petition initiative does not prevent the already authorized bond sale to fund construction from taking place October 1. Furthermore, city officials say the law prohibits a petition initiative from being used to stop the purpose for which the bonds are sold.
But Sioux Falls City Councilor Christine Erickson says that while the city is authorized to sell the bonds October 1, it doesnt have to do it. She says the city could delay until it's determined whether the petition drive collected enough valid signatures for a special election.
Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether says opponents of the new downtown building were aware of the "rules of engagement" months ago.
The 'Stop the Funding' group argues that a new city building is a waste of taxpayer dollars. The group says city voters should have the right to directly decide such an important issue, as they did with the Sanford PREMIER Center. The Huether administration says that a new complex to handle the growing needs of the growing city is the most prudent way to go, and that the issue was decided after nearly two years of discussion.