For months, KELOLAND News has showed you the back and forth battle over the City Administration Building. Now, it looks like the petition drive to get the issue to a public vote suffered a set back.
At this point, petition organizer Bruce Danielson says he's collected 52-hundred valid signatures. He wants to get about 13-hundred more to get the issue to a vote. It looks like it could be too little to late, but Danielson says there's still a way the council can help buy time for petition collectors.
The City Council discusses a wide variety of topics, but it didn't include the Stop The Funding petition drive. The campaign missed the Thursday deadline to get the issue on the council's agenda. The next meeting, isn't until September, making it extremely difficult to approve the signatures in time for a public vote before October 1st. Bruce Danielson says with how much support he's getting from the community, he isn't giving up hope just yet.
"I feel like I know Sioux Falls better than I've ever known," Danielson said.
Danielson goes in front of the council and talks about a state statue that says just because the ordinance says the city can sell bonds in October to fund the project, doesn't mean it has to happen.
"There is no requirement for the mayor to sell those bonds. Those bonds, that ordinance for the bonds can actually sit on the shelf for 2, 3, or 4 months," Danielson said.
Now the debate is whether the council should help push back the date to give the petition drive more time. Council member Michelle Erpenbach says even though the project continues to meet resistance, she doesn't want to wait any longer to start the construction on the building.
"You know that something is right and when I know the citizens are backing those folks that are in favor of this building it's one of those times when you go yeah sorry this is how leadership works. It's not always a big happy party," Erpenbach said.
Council Member Greg Neitzert says you can't ignore the voice of the citizens, and if the community shouts loud enough, the council should listen.
"This really comes down to whether the administration chooses to bond or not. If enough signatures are presented and I think that we are morally obligated to honor the voice of the people and let them vote if enough signatures are presented," Neitzert said.
Danielson says he's still waiting for more signatures. He says if you have any signatures to drop them off at his office he has set up at the 300 Building in downtown Sioux Falls.
At this point, petition organizer Bruce Danielson says he's collected 52-hundred valid signatures. He wants to get about 13-hundred more to get the issue to a vote. It looks like it could be too little to late, but Danielson says there's still a way the council can help buy time for petition collectors.
The City Council discusses a wide variety of topics, but it didn't include the Stop The Funding petition drive. The campaign missed the Thursday deadline to get the issue on the council's agenda. The next meeting, isn't until September, making it extremely difficult to approve the signatures in time for a public vote before October 1st. Bruce Danielson says with how much support he's getting from the community, he isn't giving up hope just yet.
"I feel like I know Sioux Falls better than I've ever known," Danielson said.
Danielson goes in front of the council and talks about a state statue that says just because the ordinance says the city can sell bonds in October to fund the project, doesn't mean it has to happen.
"There is no requirement for the mayor to sell those bonds. Those bonds, that ordinance for the bonds can actually sit on the shelf for 2, 3, or 4 months," Danielson said.
Now the debate is whether the council should help push back the date to give the petition drive more time. Council member Michelle Erpenbach says even though the project continues to meet resistance, she doesn't want to wait any longer to start the construction on the building.
"You know that something is right and when I know the citizens are backing those folks that are in favor of this building it's one of those times when you go yeah sorry this is how leadership works. It's not always a big happy party," Erpenbach said.
Council Member Greg Neitzert says you can't ignore the voice of the citizens, and if the community shouts loud enough, the council should listen.
"This really comes down to whether the administration chooses to bond or not. If enough signatures are presented and I think that we are morally obligated to honor the voice of the people and let them vote if enough signatures are presented," Neitzert said.
Danielson says he's still waiting for more signatures. He says if you have any signatures to drop them off at his office he has set up at the 300 Building in downtown Sioux Falls.