The Sioux Center City Council approved an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan in a public hearing at Monday’s city council meeting. The amendment includes several projects including the library, future water tower project, and land purchases among others. In addition, the council approved three separate General Obligation bonds in a public hearing to fund the 20th Street water and sewer project, the Highway 75 project, and the purchase of a new fire truck. All three projects total $4.9 million.
Chris Shires, Principal of Confluence Consulting Firm presented a comprehensive land use plan to the council. Sioux Center’s Planning & Zoning have been working with Shires to create the plan and recommends council approve it. The previous land use plan was created in 2014, and Shires says it’s typical to create a new one every 10 years. The plan is used to justify zoning decisions for the city.
A public hearing has been set for September 16 to get public input on the plans and specs for the new diesel electric generation plant. The facility will be located along 4th Ave. NE near the substation. Missouri River Energy Services, who provides Sioux Center with electricity will fund the project over 30 years, and the council approved a capacity letter agreement with them spelling out the details of the funding plan.
In another public hearing, the council approved plans, specifications, and cost estimate for the 20th St. SE utility improvement project. The project includes installing 4000’ of 8” force main line and nearly 4400’ of 8” water main along the north side of 20th St. SE. Along with that, council awarded the contract to Sioux City Engineering who submitted an $827,959 bid for the project, well below the engineer’s estimate of $1.3 million.
Sioux Center Municipal Utilities will join Dakota Mainstem RWS, an organization based in South Dakota in the beginning stages of looking at long term water supply. Sioux Center is eligible to join because of its membership in Lewis & Clark Regional Water. Lewis & Clark is expanding their system in the distant future, and if the Lewis & Clark expansion would ultimately happen, Sioux Center would likely not participate in the Dakota Mainstem project.
The city council approved a final payment of $10,000 and authorized the execution of the Engineers Statement of Final Completion and Owner’s Acceptance of Contract Construction for the West Branch Renewable Natural Gas project. It is possible that natural gas will start flowing as soon as this week.
