SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

The Daily Planet’s (ArgusLeader.com) headline online says, “Pool forum draws strong turnout.” in reporting Thursday night’s forum on the Drake Springs Pool. Interestingly the print edition’s headline on Friday morning screams. “Pool forum elicits heated debate.” The print edition was far closer to catching the mood of what became a rather contentious forum.

Argus local government reporter Jonathan Ellis whose reporting is generally very good but always carries a certain edge, in his report on the meeting left out the more interesting exchanges between Councilmen Kermit Staggers and Vernon Brown.

Both Staggers and Brown are passionate about their positions but while they were civil perhaps came pretty close to showing their feelings about more than just their positions. For just a moment there seemed to be no love lost between the two.

The proponents and referendum petition circulators essentially want to keep Drake Springs as an outdoor pool and Nelson Park as a neighborhood park. The proponents of the indoor pool believe that Sioux Falls would benefit by having one pool that is a year round facility. The indoor supporters are supported by the strong recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board belief that an indoor Drake Springs facility because of its central city location would serve the entire City.

The outdoor factions bolsters its claim by marshalling the tax and spend arguments and the playing to the folks that just don’t like Government telling them what to do. Staggers who probably doesn’t support any expense on recreation or the so-called quality of life issues is working with the unhappy petitioners to push his political agenda.

Sidebar - With all of the talk from the outdoor proponents of the need for being out of doors and the need for fresh air, why not design and construct a facility that opens to the outside or have some floor to ceiling windows that open on nice days. (a removable roof was mentioned and apparently had been discarded with agreement by both sides). Why not employ the underutilized Downtown Trolley and incorporate Drake Springs and Terrace Park pool into its summertime route to shuttle swimmers (the Trolley is already free) from the Drake Springs location to the Terrace Park Aquatic Center (outdoor pool).

Sidebar 2 – The petition circulators state their 5200 some odd signatories support an outdoor pool (and they may) but my observation is that when petition circulators are rejected they go the second signature request. Don’t you agree that this issue at least ought to be voted on by the People rather than by just the few in Power? Of course this almost always works. This brings up the Representative Democracy question but that can be discussed another time. Thank goodness we do have the referendum process.

Simply put Staggers hates all taxes, fees and government spending. Kermit at best accepts the civic status quo and has little vision for civic improvement. You can count on Staggers to almost always oppose most spending matters. In a growing City like Sioux Falls (growing at 2 to 4 percent each year) it is difficult not to increase municipal expenses.

On the other hand Brown is all about a growing and vibrant City but has not met many projects that he is not enamored with. Brown and Staggers are polar opposites in vision and government spending.

Both have their place. Staggers is right government can do a much better job in it’s management and spending. Brown is right that a growing city must be pro-active address needs and Act.

Straight Talk Commentary – There must be a balance but of course that is the Trick. And then politics and posturing get in the way.

The Forum became heated when Brown stated the Council had approved the Indoor Pool project with a 7 to 1 vote in favor. He then, chiding Staggers said to the effect that there were many votes that were 7 to 1. Obviously this must have agitated Staggers because at the very next opportunity Staggers retorted in reminding “my colleague” Vernon Brown about the facts that the outdoor pool would three times more expensive to operate and was not wanted by the local neighborhood. Brown at one point in the Forum stated that Drake Springs was his neighborhood too.

At another point in the debate Kermit almost came unglued in what was a misstatement by Park Board member Michelle Erpenbach who used the word indoor instead of outdoor when talking about future calendared plans to refurbish and renovate the other existing pools. Mrs. E. corrected herself and apologized. (In all other respects she had a great facility with the facts and understanding of the Big Pictures of Sioux Falls’ Parks.)

There are differences of opinions on the pool but the issue of the role of Government runs much deeper. Regardless of passion in the interest of our Government neither party should let this become personal.

Besides the Forum there has not been much of a campaign. There has been a fundraising letter on behalf of the indoor campaign but so far little activity beyond Community Coffees to explain the indoor proposal to the public. Perhaps there will be a more active campaign by both sides before the May 15th election.

The election is being held in conjunction with a School Board election but turnout should be relatively low. At this time I wonder where beyond the City Council where are the indoor supporters? The general public seems to have an attitude, especially among Seniors, if I am not going to use it, why do we need it. Unfortunately those affected are the children who cannot vote.

This vote is about adults and their passions, but ask any 10 year old if they would like a place to swim in January?