Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) City officials on Tuesday pitched the new $22 million city administration building project for downtown, just hours before Sioux Falls City Council was scheduled to take a key vote.
Many council members seem reluctant to move forward at this time, apparently preferring that the next council after the April 12 elections take up the project.
City Finance Director Tracy Turbak told Council that the project is a prudent use of tax dollars, will solve overcrowding in other city buildings, and will provide better, more centralized customer service.
"We could look for another 50 years and not find a better location than what is being recommended". said Turbak. The new building would go up in the parking lot across from the downtown library.
Councilman Greg Jamison, who is not running for re-election this month because of term limits, worries that the city is moving so quickly that Minnehaha County will have trouble joining a possible partnership to share costs.
"In this project, you have already left the station on the train and you are asking the county to kinda jump on as we're going." Jamison told city officials.
Mayor Mike Huether has suggested that leaving the decision on the project to the next council would show a lack of leadership.