'Significant regret': Councilors to revisit Sioux Falls' $22M bridge vote

Sioux Falls city officials say they were given inaccurate information prior to accepting lone bid

Jan 25

Mayor Paul TenHaken listens as Sioux Falls Finance Director Shawn Pritchett during a special City Council meeting Tuesday discussed the need for backfilling the city’s street budget after councilors last week signed off on a $22 million bridge reconstruction project. (Joe Sneve/The Dakota Scout)

Sioux Falls city councilors say they were misinformed by Mayor Paul TenHaken’s administration prior to accepting a bridge construction bid nearly double the project estimate.

And that 6-2 vote to spend $22 million on the Sixth Street bridge that took place last week is likely to be reconsidered when councilors convene for their next regular meeting on Feb. 6 at Carnegie Town Hall.

“I have significant regret about how I voted last week,” Councilor Sarah Cole said during a special meeting Tuesday that had the council “playing mental gymnastics” — as Councilor Rich Merkouris surmised — to get on board with a budget request coming from the mayor’s office not directly related to the bridge project.

NEWS: Federal data cast doubt on safety concerns of Sixth Street Bridge

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