BrandonInfo.com

The city has received about 50 applications for the new job of assistant administrator.

The last time we talked about this job on this blog, it appeared as though most folks were for it.

Let’s hope there are some good candidates among the 50 applicants.

According to a recent news story, city administrator Dennis Olson is quoted as saying about 15 applicants have degrees in public administration but lack experience; about 15 have job-related experience. “And some,” he said, “Have never ev en been to a city hall.”

That last part is scary, yes? Presumably, those applicants won’t make the final cut.

About 10 to 12 applicants will get interviews next month. The person hired would start working in six to eight weeks.

So maybe by , say, the time school starts, the new person will be on board.

The recent news story didn’t say what kind of salary range the city is prepared to pay. What do you think an assistant city administrator is worth in a growing town of about 8,000 people?

What do you think about people buying donkeys just to tick off their neighbors because the neighbors don’t want them to breed dozens of dogs?

That’s what Randall and Vicki Eggert, who live a mile and a half northwest of Corson, did. “We did it to irritate the neighbors,” Vicki Eggert said.

The Minnehaha County Commission recently rejected the Eggerts’ request for a conditional-use permit for a kennel, after their neighbors, Bruce and Debby Lund, complained about the noise it would cause.

What do you think about puppy breeders? What do you think about donkeys? What do you think about intentionally upsetting your neighbors? What do you think, if anything, the Lunds should do now?

July 4 is in the middle of the week this year. Will you get the day off work? How will you celebrate?

Do you have plans to go out of town? Will you try to take additional days off next week so you can have a short vacation?

What are your plans?

The Brandon Area Soccer Association wants kids to register this year through them instead of through the Sioux Falls Soccer Association, so the BASA can get a better idea of how many Brandon-area kids are playing soccer.

That will help justify new soccer fields at McHardy Park, organizers say.

The city already has budgeted money toward fields, but the state Game, Fish and Parks Department has to approve the fields before they can be built.

Do you think soccer fields are a good idea for McHardy Park? There are some practice fields at Pioneer Park, and some games are played at Brandon Elementary. But the fields at McHardy Park would be big enough to play regular games on.

Do you think the change to a June Brandon Arts & Crafts Festival was good? Did you attend? Which vendors were you most interested in? Did you like the entertainment?

How did this year’s festival compare to years past? What was your general impression?

If you are a Brandon business owner or work at a Brandon business, would you say that you do extra trade on Sundays from Huset’s customers? I know it’s hard to pin down firm numbers, but it would be interesting to have at least anecdotal information.

Huset’s draws thousands of people to Brandon each week. Because the race track is outside the city limits, the city does not get any sales tax or property tax income from the track. The city probably gets secondary income from sales tax as Huset’s customers spend money at other Brandon businesses. But how much?

Can you provide some insight?

The poll question on brandoninfo.com right now is “Would you support a $20 million bond for new school facilities? With 106 votes in, 66 percent say yes and 34 percent say no.

How much money per year would you be willing to put toward such a project? $100? $200? $500?

As one person put it, “How do people think this will be paid back? Magic…..Existing tax Levi….Raise Taxes….”

The school board election is today. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Be sure to get out there and vote. There are two seats open, and three people are running. You can find out all about the candidates on this Web site.

Todd Neuberger is an incumbent. He is being challenged by Renee Ullom and Jay Rasmussen.

Whom will you choose?

The Brandon Comumunity Foundation is up to a quarter of a million dollars in less than two years. By February, the foundation could be ready to take applications for grants.

The foundation’s president, George Gulson, has said that 5 percent will be given out annually in grants. That’s $12,000 a year or better.

I suspect the money will be divided up among several grants each year. What kinds of things would you like to see the money go for?

The annual fishing derby in Brandon is a great way for kids and grownups to do something together. That’s how it started, in fact. A decade ago, Tom Johnson and my dad conceived of the event as a way for generations to hang out together. Dad died in 1999, but Tom continues to coordinate this event. Thanks for all your work and dedication, Tom!

Do you plan to participate? Have you participated in the past? If so, what was your experience like?

These days, lots of events are geaered toward particular age groups. But intergenerational activities can help kids learn good social skills by example, and can help adults keep their skills sharp.

This year’s derby will be Saturday at McHardy Park.

Each team may have up to four anglers. One member must be at least 18 years old. Only two members of a team may be 18 or older. Last year there were about 80 participants, and planners are hoping for about 100 this year.

To learn more or to donate toward this event, call Tom Johnson at 366-7596 or Diane Anderson at 582-3222.

Contractors in Brandon say people are putting garbage into their dumpsters — garbage that the landfill won’t take or the trash collectors won’t take.

Hey, gifts are nice, but not if they cost the recipient money and make more work for him.

Why would someone try to sneak their garbage into someone else’s dumpster? Or are people just innocently thinking that a contractor’s dumpster, at a construction site, is for public use?

Any suggestions on how to stop this? Any advice on how to dispose of this stuff instead?

The flower gardens are really starting to look nice in front of the houses. My neighbor has a nice rose bush.

This year I am trying to grow some herbs. I have rosemary, basil and peppermint. I’m not sure I should have planted the peppermint right next to the basil. The mint leaves sort of smell like basil.

Have you had any luck with herb gardens? Can you give me any advice? Right now the herbs are outside in a pot, but I’d like to bring them indoors for the winter.

Here is the latest news from City Hall on the Holly Boulevard project:

“The Holly Reconstruction Project is underway.  The Project Manager is Jim Olsen.  Jim’s e-mail is jolsen@cityofbrandon.org.  His cell phone number is 359-1999.

There will be a construction update meeting every Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Sunshine Foods deli. The public is welcome.

Holly Boulevard will be closed from 1st Avenue to Maple Avenue for two weeks.  Access to the Middle School, the Lutheran Church and the tennis courts will be through the 4th Avenue intersection.

We advise no pedestrian traffic on Holly Boulevard.

The intersection of Holly and Sioux will have a 4-way stop with signs for the next few days while the existing traffic lights are moved to their new location.”

With road construction in full swing on Holly Boulevard, a detour now takes drivers through the residentail neighborhoods of Brandon and away from the business on Holly Boulevard.
It will be interesting to see through the summer how many people make their way to those businesses and how many people simply find somewhere else to shop.

Recreation programs began in Brandon today and the Siouxland Libraries has begun a summer reading program at the Brandon Branch Library.
Do those programs serve the needs of Brandon’s young people through the summer or is more needed.