Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: It's not lookin' great for fireworks
A quick programming note: There won't be a newsletter Friday morning because of the holiday, but if you're missing me, you can swing by Sioux Falls Simplified's booth at the DTSF Open Streets event and play a little local trivia!
This week, it's a lot of news packed into one email, so stick with me. First, you'll hear from Superintendent Jamie Nold about how he's approaching his new job. Then, you'll get a look at how Mayor Paul TenHaken wants the city to spend money over the next five years. Plus, in the Independence Day spirit, you'll get a closer look at Lennox's historical celebrations, find a ton of events and plenty of Super Simplified Stories to carry you through the long weekend.
And now, news:
EDUCATION
Sioux Falls' new superintendent wants to hear from you
Simplified: The Sioux Falls School District has a new leader as of this week, but he's a very familiar face around town. Superintendent Jamie Nold started his career with the district in 1995 and held a variety of roles including math teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent before taking the helm of the district.
Why it matters
- Nold is the first superintendent in a decade – since Pam Homan left the position in 2015 – who brings a background working in the Sioux Falls School District. Previous superintendents Jane Stavem and Brian Maher were hired from out-of-state.
- Nold also takes leadership in the district at a time when budgets are tight, a challenge of which he's well aware. The district cut $3 million this year, and is looking to cut another $3 million in next year's budget, Nold said. But he wants the public to know the district has been fiscally responsible, and "we can show that."
- As he starts his new job with the district, Nold is coming in with an open mind and plans to look to the community for feedback, support, partnerships and advocacy in the coming years.
"I've lived in this community for 30 years now, and I love this community ... Our community wants to have good public schools," Nold said. "We want those high-quality amenities here in Sioux Falls, and part of that is our public schools, so absolutely I want our community to be involved in that."
Tell me more
CITY
What's in the mayor's $1B five-year spending plan?
Simplified: Mayor Paul TenHaken unveiled a $1 billion capital improvement plan detailing investments the city will make over the next five years. Here's a look at what the 10-figure price tag includes.
Why it matters
- TenHaken's annual capital improvement plan has exceeded $1 billion for three years now. This annual five-year plan has also more than doubled in the time TenHaken's been in office.
- This year's plan comes in at about $23 million less than last year's proposal, and in his letter to the City Council, TenHaken noted upcoming financial challenges including slowing sales tax revenue, uncertainty in federal funding and less property tax revenue due to changes at the state level.
- That said, the mayor's plan prioritizes spending on roads, infrastructure, a new fire station, new pools and ensuring that Sioux Falls has a reliable water supply long into the future.
"Growth is a good thing in a community, signaling a strong economy and a great quality of life,” TenHaken said in a statement releasing the plan. “Our proposed capital program truly reflects our vision statement, ‘taking care of today for a better tomorrow,’ by addressing our community’s immediate needs while planning for the future.”
Tell me more about what's in the plan
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
What to know about Lennox's legendary July 4 celebration
This is a paid piece from Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.
Simplified: About a 20-minute drive from Sioux Falls is the city of Lennox – a perfect example of quiet, quintessential small-town living. But on July 4, that town of about 2,500 people welcomes between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors for its legendary Fourth of July celebrations.
Why it matters
- This year marks the 42nd Annual Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration in Lennox, which includes the firecracker fun run, municipal band concert, parade, and, of course, fireworks.
- Part of what makes these festivities so appealing is the experience of small-town life and traditions. Lennox City Councilor Lauren Van Driel – who also participates in the Lions Club and in the Municipal Band – sees it as a way to take a break from the busyness of life and just be a part of something fun.
- The holiday fun is also an economic boon for the small community, City Administrator Nate Vander Plaats said. Any money visitors spend in Lennox contributes to overall sales tax revenue, and those funds are then reinvested into the community.
"This is our chance every year to show off Lennox," Vander Plaats said.
Tell me more about this year's celebrations
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- The people want parks. City Councilors got a look at survey results related to a citywide five-year plan for parks, and the big ask folks have is to improve existing neighborhood parks. Other priorities include more connections to the existing trail system, more adult wellness programming, more indoor and outdoor recreation space and more special events in parks.
- What happens next? The city is working with consultants who are now going to bring a draft report and recommendations to the council in September.
- What to watch: Councilors had questions about how this broader plan will relate to individual master plans for Falls Park, Family Park, golf courses within the city and more.
- A new, indoor Farmers Market. The Falls Park Farmers Market now has a winter home at Mosaic Sioux Falls. More than a dozen businesses have signed up to participate, and more details will be released on specific dates throughout the winter. See the vendors and specifics here.
More Super Simplified Stories
- City to consider passing card fees on to customers. The City of Sioux Falls has been absorbing the cost of credit card fees for folks paying the city for various things from utility bills to public parking, but that could change with a vote from City Council in the coming weeks. Last year, the city paid more than $820,000 in credit card fees, and this proposed change would just tack those fees onto the folks making the payment instead.
- Calling all muralists. The city put out a call for artists to paint a mural on the historic Orpheum Theatre downtown. You can attend an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the downtown library and find more details here.
- Another big new playground in the works. The Sertoma Club is raising money for new, inclusive playground equipment at Sertoma Park. The fundraising started a few years ago, but it's restarting in earnest, according to a story from Keloland. You can learn more about the project here, and here's a look at what that new playground equipment could look like:
EVENTS
Stuff to do: July 2-8
- Walk around downtown.* Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. is hosting its next Open Streets event Friday evening and opening up a block of Phillips Avenue just for pedestrians. This month's Open Streets theme is "Red, White and Downtown," and between 6th and 7th Street you'll find live music, food trucks, face painting, kittens, family games, free watermelon and more. Get the details here.
- Celebrate the Fourth. There's a lot of ways to celebrate Independence Day in the city this weekend – including a free lunch downtown, a cornhole tournament, free pool admission and a performance from the municipal band. And while there's no parade in Sioux Falls this year, we're only a short drive from Lennox, where there's a huge one.
- See some fireworks. There are a number of fireworks displays in the area, including at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, in Garretson, in Lennox, and in Harrisburg. And if you're willing to pay an entrance fee, there's also fireworks Wednesday night at Catfish Bay and at Friday's Canaries game.
- Celebrate plastic-free July. The folks at Terra Shepherd are making it easy for you to make sustainable swaps this plastic-free July with their Refill Happy Hour event Wednesday evening. You can get discounts on bulk refill items, gifts with purchase and mocktails in shop. More details here.
- Chuck some watermelons. Bring your watermelons to Tuthill Park and roll them down the hill starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. There will be prizes for the watermelons that roll the farthest and shortest. Details here.
- To see, or not to see. See, obviously. This week kicks off Bare Bodkins' performance of Hamlet at the Queen Bee Mill ruins in Falls Park. The show runs starting at 7 p.m. July 2-3, 5-6, and 10-13. It's free to attend, you'll just want to bring a blanket or lawn chairs to sit on. Details here.
*Denotes a paid partnership
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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