By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
2012 Sioux City Top Ten Accomplishments
Sabre Industries, Inc. Expansion with 532 Jobs & $28 Million Investment
Sabre Industries, Inc., one of the leading tower, pole and shelter manufacturers in the United States, has begun construction on a $28 million multi-phased expansion on 150 acres of land. The first tenant in Sioux City's Southbridge Business Park, Sabre's initial phase will include 400 jobs and an $18 million capital investment. Additional phases anticipate a total investment of $28 million and 532 jobs. Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) is partnering with Sabre to provide customized welding training for nearly 200 new jobs.
Completion of New 10 Million Gallon Per Day Southbridge Water Treatment Plant
A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony was held for the new $35 million Southbridge Regional Water Treatment Plant in May. The state of the art micro-membrane filtration facility is a remote operation that treats 10 million gallons of water per day (mgd) and is expandable to 30 mgd. Membrane filtration, a new technology, is extremely well suited to protect against pathogens passing thru the filtration system. This allows the new plant to be operated remotely from the Zenith Water Treatment Plant on Tri View Avenue.
Planning for the Southbridge Regional Water System began in 2006. This system is comprised of the Southbridge Regional Water Treatment Plant, well field, raw and finished piping, paving of 225th Street, relocation and paving of Harbor Drive and improvements to the Harbor/Ogden connection and the Port Neal/225th Street intersection.
Wilbur Aalfs Library Renovation Offers Revitalized Learning Spaces
The renovated Wilbur Aalfs Library opened to rave reviews on January 5 with new furnishings in beautifully blended colors, aisles up to current building code with directed lighting at half the wattage, upgraded computer cabling and double the number of public-use computers to help bridge the digital divide, and revitalized learning spaces for groups and individuals of all ages. An average of 700 visitors per day come through the doors. This $1,700,000 project was funded with $1,100,000 in City capital dollars and $600,000 of state program grants and private dollars raised by the Library Foundation.
Sioux City Art Center's Leonardo da Vinci Blockbuster Exhibition
July through October 2012, The Sioux City Art Center was pleased to present its new Blockbuster exhibition, Leonardo da Vinci: Man Inventor Genius & Man Artist Genius. This massive celebration of the mind of the original "Renaissance Man" brought to life many of Leonardo's most remarkable ideas and inventions while taking visitors on a journey that featured nearly two dozen carefully rendered reproductions of his artistic masterpieces. As part of the celebration of this extraordinary exhibit, the Sioux City Art Center hosted a da Vinci Family Fun Day, a special promotion "Mona is Missing!" with admission prize packages, and a free event featuring Renaissance-era costumed characters courtesy of Riverssance. The Art Center also featured a restaurant during the exhibition: The Arté Bistro, a café provided by the culinary talent at Distinctive Gourmet. From Sioux City, Leonardo da Vinci: Man Inventor Genius & Man Artist Genius traveled to China. The Sioux City Art Center is pleased to have hosted a world-class exhibit for the enjoyment of Siouxland.
Completion of Wesley Parkway (15,000 vehicles projected) & Southbridge Drive
The new Wesley Parkway connector and Bluff Street/Perry Creek Bridge improvements were completed providing a more efficient corridor for traffic from I-29 and downtown to Hamilton Blvd. and creating an opportunity for new investment. The area's flood zone restrictions have been reduced and the City is extending commercial urban revitalization benefits to offer tax abatements for up to 10 years. The new route creates excellent opportunities for new commercial development as traffic counts will increase to 15,000 vehicles in the next decade. The Wesley Parkway work also provides additional connections and extension to the Perry Creek Trail system.
Southbridge Drive, the new major north/south entry road to Southbridge Business Park, opened in October and was made possible through a partnership between the City, the Iowa 185th Air National Guard (ANG), and the Iowa Department of Transportation. The road allows for improved interstate access and turning movements by large trucks accessing businesses in Southbridge and provides improved security for the 185th ANG.
Renewed Focus on Downtown with Economic Development Study
The City partnered with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Downtown Partners and MidAmerican Energy to conduct an economic development study of downtown Sioux City. The purpose of the plan was to focus on generating economic development and job growth. A 3-day site visit in March provided the opportunity for IEDC panelists to visit with businesses, property owners, real estate and economic development professionals and cultural organizations to develop an economic assessment of downtown Sioux City.
Recommendations and overall goals for downtown redevelopment, including the encouragement of new investment and job creation, additional market-rate housing, the re-use of historic and vacant spaces, strengthening of downtown marketing efforts, and building on the success of current cultural and event based facilities, were outlined in the final report. The recommendations have been incorporated into the City's 2012-2015 Strategic Plan with all action items in progress.
Largest Single Donation of Sioux City Artifacts to Public Museum
A life-long Sioux Cityan's passion for collecting local history over several decades has turned into the single largest donation of Sioux City artifacts in the Sioux City Public Museum's history. Earlier this year, Ron Millage Sr. contacted the Sioux City Public Museum in regards to donating an estimated 2,000-3,000 three-dimensional artifacts such as souvenir bottles, containers, and dishes. In addition, approximately 4,000 photographs and paper artifacts such as calendars and brochures were donated. The new collection is featured in the Museum's current exhibit, "Collecting ‘Sioux City'" which represents just a sampling of the rare memorabilia with an emphasis on Leeds. Acquisitions like the Millage Collection are made possible by the increased storage space and temperature controlled environment of the Museum's new facility.
Partnered with The Siouxland Initiative on Additional Development of Bridgeport West Industrial Park
The City and the Siouxland initiative/Chamber Foundation (TSI) took action to purchase land in Bridgeport West Industrial Park to enhance available "shovel-ready" industrial sites in Sioux City. The City purchased the original 109-acre Phase I site from the Chamber Foundation and TSI exercised its option to purchase the adjacent 150-acre site. The 259-acre site received "site certification" status from site selection consultants at CH2MHill in 2008 and meets established industrial criteria for size, location, zoning, environmental and soil conditions, and utilities.
Sioux City Showcased as Host of Iowa League of Cities Conference
Sioux City hosted the Iowa League of Cities September 26-28, 2012 at the Sioux City Convention Center. More than 750 Municipal Leaders from across Iowa gathered in Sioux City to review best practices, network and promote excellent government and effective public policy. Sioux City showcased best practices from Police, Fire and Downtown Development with tours of the new History Museum, Historic 4th Street, Pearl Street and downtown loft apartments.
Reduction of Residential Taxes for Fourth Consecutive Year
Sioux City's property tax rate has declined in the past four years. As a result of economic investment, new efficiency measures, and an emphasis on cost effective provision of services, the City Council approved a Fiscal Year 2013 budget which lowered the City's portion of the tax rate by $.67 per $1,000 of valuation or 4%. Since the 2009 Fiscal Year, the total reduction in property taxes rates collected by the City are $2.72 per $1,000 of valuation or over 14.5%.
