Commission Tables Charter Amendment

SIOUX FALLS, SD - After about an hour of public input and discussion, the Charter Revision Commission unanimously voted to table a possible amendment that would have given the mayor more power on things like contracts and employee discipline.

"Madame Chair, I'd like to motion to rescind since there is so much debate and we need time to take more public input on the section 3-01 about the executive power until later notice," Charter Revision Commission member Dennis Aanenson said.

According to Aanenson, the commission has plenty of time, about two years, to get more public input and and take the time to looking further into the issue.

Member Bob Thimjon seconded the motion, and told the people who attended the meeting that the commission was far from a decision. 

"The number of people in the community who assume the ballot was written who are out there and chastised us for trying to do a job and trying to work through a situation and jumping to the conclusion had been made.  That's disappointing," Thimjon said.

The possible amendment got the attention of several people who live in Sioux Falls, and even council members. Councilman Greg Jamison recommended tabling some of his own suggestions, including one re-forming language about city council terms and roles, to let the commission focus on this.

" As far as your first two proposals.  I'm very happy to work with you on those," Commission member De Knudson said.

Member Dick Gregerson, who has served on a commission says he has not seen this much public input about a topic. 

"We were begging for public input. We didn't have anything that really excited people. There are number of issues people care about. We need to start over and take off those issues that are controversial," Gregerson said.