The people have spoken. A group looking to stop the process of a new city administration building in Sioux Falls successfully completed their first hurdle.
The Stop the Funding group gathered over 6,000 signatures to put the issue to a public vote. Now, they wait to see what happens next.
It's been debated in several city council meetings, even reaching the point where Mayor Mike Huether vetoed the council members' decision on the topic. Now, it may be up to the public.
"I've never seen anything like that. People were just clamoring to sign this," said Bruce Danielson with Stop the Funding.
"I as a city council member had people reaching out to me, that I never met, asking me where to find that petition," said Greg Neitzert, Sioux Falls City Council.
Bruce Danielson with Stop the Funding, says they were able to gather 60 signatures in less than an hour the first day they started the petition drive.
Tuesday, they have over 6,400 signatures they're handing into the Sioux Falls City Clerk to be verified.
"We don't even want to talk about the building itself. This is a vote to stop a bonding issue, and the people have a right to be involved in that," said Danielson.
In the past, Mayor Huether has argued the bonds needed to fund the new city administration building should be sold by October 1st.
Now, Stop The Funding wants to make sure a public vote on this matter is done before that happens.
They believe the law is on their side.
"State precedent from the Supreme Court already says that we have the right. We have state law that says we have the right. If the mayor wants to get involved in this battle, we believe that he would lose," said Danielson.
"When the people speak, we got to listen. And with those sort of numbers, it's very simple. It's no longer about a building, it's simply about whether or not we honor the voice of the people," said Neitzert.
If enough signatures are verified, this matter will be presented to the city council at either a special meeting or the next regular meeting on September 6th.
The Stop the Funding group gathered over 6,000 signatures to put the issue to a public vote. Now, they wait to see what happens next.
It's been debated in several city council meetings, even reaching the point where Mayor Mike Huether vetoed the council members' decision on the topic. Now, it may be up to the public.
"I've never seen anything like that. People were just clamoring to sign this," said Bruce Danielson with Stop the Funding.
"I as a city council member had people reaching out to me, that I never met, asking me where to find that petition," said Greg Neitzert, Sioux Falls City Council.
Bruce Danielson with Stop the Funding, says they were able to gather 60 signatures in less than an hour the first day they started the petition drive.
Tuesday, they have over 6,400 signatures they're handing into the Sioux Falls City Clerk to be verified.
"We don't even want to talk about the building itself. This is a vote to stop a bonding issue, and the people have a right to be involved in that," said Danielson.
In the past, Mayor Huether has argued the bonds needed to fund the new city administration building should be sold by October 1st.
Now, Stop The Funding wants to make sure a public vote on this matter is done before that happens.
They believe the law is on their side.
"State precedent from the Supreme Court already says that we have the right. We have state law that says we have the right. If the mayor wants to get involved in this battle, we believe that he would lose," said Danielson.
"When the people speak, we got to listen. And with those sort of numbers, it's very simple. It's no longer about a building, it's simply about whether or not we honor the voice of the people," said Neitzert.
If enough signatures are verified, this matter will be presented to the city council at either a special meeting or the next regular meeting on September 6th.
In press release sent out Tuesday afternoon, Sioux Falls city officials state:
"The existence of this possible initiative effort does not prevent the already authorized bond sale from taking place. SDCL 9-20-3 prohibits the use of the initiative process to nullify the purpose for which bonds have been sold."
"The existence of this possible initiative effort does not prevent the already authorized bond sale from taking place. SDCL 9-20-3 prohibits the use of the initiative process to nullify the purpose for which bonds have been sold."