2 weeks Ago
NORTH SIOUX CITY — It's busy work transitioning from one form of government to another. Which is why it should come as no surprise that the city of North Sioux City had a series of meetings Tuesday evening that ran for several hours total. In three back-to-back-to-back meetings, North Sioux City welcomed in a new form of government, said goodbye to another, approved canvas results for election recounts, had discussions about McCook Lake flood mitigation and Northshore/Penrose reconstruction, and more.
A good deal of the action is an outgrowth of the municipality deciding in December to change from an alderman style of government to a commissioner style where candidates are allowed to run for any seat, regardless of where they live in town. One driver of the desire for change was the town's response to historic flooding of McCook Lake in June 2024. Canvassing First up was a canvass of the results from recounts in two North Sioux City commissioner races which were held on Tuesday, April 8.
On that day, residents went to the polls to decide who would lead the new form of government as mayor, four-year-commissioner, three-year commissioner, two-year commissioner and one-year commissioner. The night of the election, David Wilch clung to a two vote lead (401-399) over Vincent Tucker in the one-year commission race. The April 15 recount then swung things so that Tucker had a two-vote lead of 400-398.
Initial results for the four-year commissioner seat showed Lynn Hoffman defeating Kodi Benson by an unofficial total of 15 votes (399-384). The recount yielded a margin of 397 for Hoffman and 383 for Benson. As members of the outgoing council, Benson and Hoffman both abstained from voting on the agenda item for the canvass.
With the canvassing board measures approved, all five races from the April 8 special elections have now been settled. Following the canvass was a final meeting of the old city council which shares one member with the new body: Hoffman. Outgoing members Bob Davis and Greg Meyer lost their respective bids for seats on the new city commission.
Mayor Patricia Teel and Ward Members Lonnie Green, Gary Bogenrief, Jim Christenson and Joan Christiansen did not run again. The proposed agenda for the old city council was brief, just eight items total: "Call to Order," "Roll Call," "Pledge of Allegiance," "Approval of Agenda," "Approval of Minutes," "Agenda Items," "Approval of Bills," "Adjournment." Before the meeting wrapped, Teel addressed those gathered at city hall.
"I think we worked really hard," she said. Green gave a reminder to the incoming commissioners that despite the results of the election or disagreements about approaches to flood mitigation or any other municipal matter, "It's one city." Before being sworn in as the new mayor, Bogenrief thanked the outgoing members for their service on the council.
"I think everyone in this room should join in giving a round of applause," he said. Chris Bogenrief Mason Dockter, Sioux City Journal The meeting for the new city commission was the longest of the three Tuesday evening and lasted nearly three hours. The first matter under agenda items that the commission had to hear about was deciding on how the commission and city staff would operate.
For the listed terms of office, a mayor will be elected for a term of four years in the 2030 election and for the same term every subsequent four years. North Sioux City residents chose NAI United President Chris Bogenrief over Meyer in the early April special election for mayor. As the commissioners were all elected to serve terms of varying lengths, a tentative ordinance lays out the electoral schedule for the coming years: A commissioner at-large shall be elected for a four-year term in 2026 and for the same term every four years thereafter, a commissioner at-large shall be elected for a four-year term in 2027 and for the same term every four years thereafter, a commissioner at-large shall be elected for a four-year term in 2028 and for the same term every four years thereafter, and a commissioner at-large shall be elected for a four-year term in 2029 and for the same term every four years thereafter.
Commissioners can still decide on a different cycle for election of officers. The first reading of ordinance changes is set for May 5. Each commissioner is slated to receive $5,500 per year for their work and $25 for each special and adjourned meeting attended.
The mayor will receive $8,000 per year as well as the $25 for any special or adjourned meeting. Regular meetings are slated for the first and third Monday in the evening at 6 p.m.
at North Sioux City Hall but pay could be altered if commissioners decide to do so. Jeff Dooley crouches on a permanent levee between the Missouri River and the Dakota Dunes County Club in June 2021. The former manager of the Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District, Dooley is the new city administrator in North Sioux City.
Tim Hynds, Sioux City Journal file North Sioux City Administrator Jeff Dooley told the commissioners that as city staff works through codes, there may be other things that need changed or refined. "As we get later into the year, we'll be bringing other ordinance changes to you for consideration," he said. Andrew Nilges, North Sioux City Economic Development Director, talks about the 87-acre Union Crossing development.
Tim Hynds According to a memo from Dooley, the city has been working with Stockwell Engineering on "model supported concepts that will mitigate against flood waters that the cross the interstate." Dooley's memo, found in the city meeting packet, also spelled out flood mitigation alternatives Stockwell will study including "evaluations of diverting flood waters that overtop I-29 to the Missouri River at different locations." The financial consideration listed was $313,230 but action wasn't needed Tuesday evening.
Bogenrief asked about financial splits for overall work on flood mitigation infrastructure and Dooley said the city could see a 10% cost share (75% would be covered by FEMA and 15% by the state). "This is a big project," Dooley said. He said more would need to be looked at with funding designs and that physical work on certain mitigation efforts could take years to complete.
Stockwell Engineering is also looking to advertise and bid work on Penrose Drive from Northshore Drive to 600 feet north. The city's memo states there will be work on storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, curbs and gutters and asphalt surfacing. "The project will also include the demolition and restoration of the temporary access road on Bruning property and Dakota Valley School District property," the memo said.
As for finances, the city memo stated there is a 90% FEMA reimbursement for the Penrose Drive work. Crews perform work along the Iowa bank of the Big Sioux River in preparation to rebuild a railroad bridge connection Sioux City with North Sioux City that was destroyed in historic flooding last summer. Tim Hynds With its first meeting, the new city commission heard the "2024 Annual Report.
" For its major funds assets, North Sioux City had about $6.75 million in total governmental funds through Dec. 31, 2024.
That included funds from "cash and cash equivalents," "investments," "special assessments," and more. Total governmental funds revenue through Dec. 31, 2024 came to about $9.
02 million while expenditures for total governmental funds was listed at about $20.03 million (a difference of more than $11 million). Under the "Proprietary Funds" section of the report, total assets for the city (both current and noncurrent) were given to be about $18.
02 million. Liabilities, both current and noncurrent, were $7.02 million.
Giving the city a net position of a little less than $11 million. The commission's next listed meeting is 4 p.m.
, Monday. Malcom and Morgan Speichinger tell how they escaped the flood with their kids and they describe the flood damage to her home near McCook Lake in North Sioux City, South Dakota. Jesse Brothers.
