TenHaken reflects on highs and lows of 2024 with push for continued vision

Managing growth while combatting numerous challenges is proving to be the theme for 2024 in the city of Sioux Falls.

Mayor Paul TenHaken offered a recap of the year at a media event today in which he touted successes, addressed some shortcomings and pushed for vision over politics going forward.

Held in the newly opened Canopy by Hilton hotel at The Steel District, TenHaken recognized the area and the broader downtown development as among the highlights of the year.

At the same point, he acknowledged the challenges 2024 brought downtown, particularly related to behavioral issues and homelessness.

“It’s been an exciting year, a fun year in Sioux Falls,” TenHaken said, while moments later adding that “the financial environment we’re in is tough.”

Sales tax revenue could end the year up 2 percent, below the city’s projection and less than the pace of inflation, which is demanding that government “do more with less, which is really hard,” he said. “We have so many competing interests in this community it’s hard to keep up with it all.”

Driving the decision-making is the continued desire to keep Sioux Falls a place where individuals want to live and businesses want to invest, he said.

That includes continued investments in roads — this year brought resurfacing of more than 630 neighborhood blocks and completion of big projects like the first segment of the South Veterans Parkway corridor and the diverging diamond interchange at 41st Street and Interstate 29.

Other infrastructure investments supporting growth include a major expansion at the city’s wastewater treatment facility — in year two of three — and continued growth and planning in water capacity.

“Because our growth is well managed, people want to continue to invest in Sioux Falls,” TenHaken said.

He also pointed to moves to address accessible housing, including the demolition of the 600 block of West 11th Street, scheduled to be replaced by a three-story building with Southeastern Behavioral Health on the first floor and 55 apartments designated for low-income residents on the floors above.

The year has brought its share of challenges to the city as well, TenHaken added.

Multiple 911 outages required public safety management, and June’s flooding meant a massive response effort, followed by an infestation of mosquitoes TenHaken compared to a plague.

Public safety saw its share of obstacles as well. After a near-record low of two homicides last year, there have been a record 14 so far this year, though other violent crime has held steady or dropped.

A large focus on recruiting police officers has resulted in an upward trend in applicants — at 450 so far this year versus 390 at the same time last year and 273 two years ago. TenHaken in part credited an advertising campaign urging applicants to “answer the call, be part of your community, give back.”

Continued visions

Approaching 2025, a number of TenHaken’s visions for the community have yet to be realized. A City Council vote on two swimming pool replacements has been delayed multiple times and now appears headed for early next year.

The Riverline District, an area east of downtown along 10th Street approaching Cliff Avenue that has been proposed as a potential convention center site, is being considered by its second committee, and the land hasn’t been purchased yet.

“Part of my job is to think big and move the community forward,” TenHaken said, adding that “bringing other people along with you is another challenge.”

He also expressed frustration at the turn government can take. When asked what the South Dakota Legislature could do to support the city of Sioux Falls, TenHaken responded: Stay out of “culture issues,” and focus on how to best provide services.

“Politics is gross. And people are mad,” TenHaken said. “Culture issues … take a lot of time, and the ROI isn’t there for the community.”