Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether has refused to sign off on the pilot program for free bus rides for children this summer unamiously approved by city council last month.
Huether says the idea itself has merit but council moved too fast without prudent due diligence. He says there are many examples of government moving too swiftly on potentially good ideas and then it's the citizens who have to suffer the unintended consequences.
Counciler Greg Jamision says council did due diligence and maybe the mayor just was not aware of how much time they put into the process. Jamison also thinks that maybe Huether was "asleep at the switch" on the free rides idea and didn't have the chance to come up with it on his own and now is trying to find a way back in.
The free rides were supposed to kick-in toward the end of June but since city officials need to write the guidelines, it's unclear how the mayor's vocal opposition will effect the timing.
City council believes free bus rides for children will improve bus ridership overall and encourage the kids to ride buses when they grow up.