Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Dangerously hot
This week, you'll learn about a new public art policy coming in front of the council in the coming weeks, as well as how The Banquet has been feeding the hungry for four decades. Plus, get smart about staying safe online with local IT pro Andy Ott.
And now, news:
CITY
Why Sioux Falls is creating policies for public art
Simplified: Work is well underway on a set of policies that will set the framework for how the city approaches public art, murals, receiving gifts, and how it works with artists in general in the future, according to Arts Coordinator Maren Engel.
Why it matters
- Engel recently celebrated one year in her role with the city – one that was approved by the City Council in late 2023 after several months of back-and-forth and some tension between the city and the arts community.
- Now, she and the city Arts Commission are getting ready to present the Sioux Falls City Council with a draft policy that sets a framework for how the city works with artists in commissioning projects, maintaining art and, when needed, removing artwork from the city's collection.
- Overall, the policy aims to more clearly define the role of the city's Visual Arts Commission – and the importance of public input – in decisions around public art.
- In addition to the new policy, Engel and the commission are working on some potential changes to city ordinances related to murals as well as a document making it easier for folks to understand what the rules are around murals on both publicly and privately owned buildings.
"It's really finding ways – of course to protect the city and the decisions were making – but also, I think, creating much more transparency," Engel said. "There is a lot in the policy about community engagement and making sure we’re doing our due diligence to engage the public when we make decision about art."
Tell me more about what's in the policy
COMMUNITY
How The Banquet has been feeding the hungry for 40 years
Simplified: As The Banquet celebrated its 40th anniversary this week, Executive Director Tamera Jerke-Liesinger sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified to talk about the nonprofit's history, as well as how it's grown and adapted to address the needs of the community over the years.
Why it matters
- On June 17, 1985, The Banquet served its first meal and began its mission to nourish the community. It initially began at the prompting of Bishop Paul Dudley, the then-bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls (and namesake of the now across-the-street shelter the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House). Dudley recognized that as Sioux Falls population grew, there was also a need for some type of ministry to help feed the hungry.
- The Banquet started by offering meals once a week, and today, folks have 16 different chances to get fed. Last year alone, The Banquet served about 180,000 meals, and, on its busiest days, the organization has served as many as 1,000 meals in one day.
- Jerke-Liesinger said it's a misconception that everyone served by The Banquet is homeless. A lot of the guests are what she describes as the "working poor."
"They're just working relatively low-paying jobs, and we all know how expensive food is right now," she said. "I think there may be a misconception of laziness and those types of things, but the majority of our folks are legitimately doing the best that they can every day."
How have things changed over time?
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- There's still time to sign your kid up for camp.* It's not too late to sign up for YMCA Camp Leif Ericson. Kids ages 4 to 15 can participate in these two-week camps, and scholarships are available to ensure all families are able to participate. Learn more and sign up here.
- Wheel tax going up – but only for the big trucks. Minnehaha County Commissioners this week voted to increase the wheel tax on vehicles that weigh 6,000 pounds or more. It's the first increase in 30 years, and the price will go from $4/wheel to $5/wheel – maxing out at $60. The increase will be effective Jan. 1, 2026. The Dakota Scout has more.
- New art on storm inlets. There's some new art on storm drains around town as part of the city's ongoing storm drain art project. Want to see what's out there? Here's a map of all of the art with info from each artist.
GET SMART
Get smart about staying safe online with Andy Ott
Andy Ott is the founder of Verity Networks, a cost-effective, expert IT solution helping small businesses in Sioux Falls. Ott sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified to talk about the importance protecting your information online and the bare minimum you should be doing – especially if you're a small business owner.
Answers are edited for length and clarity.
How did you 'get smart' about IT and helping folks stay safe online?
I actually have a degree in aviation, and I was a firefighter on the field in La Crosse, Wis.
- I did that for five years. Then I left aviation and switched to IT, basically, because I could get a job, and I like computers.
- As it comes to security, a lot of things that are considered commonplace today had just started to become a thing four years ago. I had the odd experience of never knowing anything different – I was taught what is now considered best practice.
My family moved to Sioux Falls so I could work for a bank that needed an IT guy and a Bitcoin guy – and I could do both.
I worked there for about a year and a half before I switched to working at Co-op Architecture.
- Shortly after I started at Co-op, I remembered how much I loved solving problems and making systems work. I cleaned up a lot of things there, and I wanted to do it for more companies – which led to starting Verity Networks in May 2023.
- Co-op was very supportive, and they encourage their employees to do what they want to do, even if that means leaving Co-op. Today, they're a client of mine, and I don't think I could've managed to go full-time with Verity (starting Jan. 1, 2025) if I hadn't been working there.
Ok, we're all about simplicity here. Can you, in 10 words or fewer, describe what people should know about protecting themselves online?
If you're online, you're a target – you're not too small.
Can you expand on that?
Many companies say, "I'm too small to be a target," and technically they're right. Sioux Falls Simplified is not getting targeted the same way Avera is – small businesses are getting targeted simply because they exist.
- About 60% of small businesses who go through a cyber attack are out of business within six months of the attack. If anything happens, the odds are strongly against you that you'll be able to make it through.
Internet security is like an insurance policy. The goal of IT is that you retire in 30 years and think, "well, that was a waste of money," but you can't afford the risk if you don't have it.
See the full interview here
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Encompass Mental Health, Live on Stage, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
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