'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

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.

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