News Flash

Sioux Center Municipal Utilities recently received a WattStar Award from Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) at Technology Days 2025 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Sioux Center Municipal Utilities was presented the “Utility that Never Stops Award” for the year-round work invested in system reliability, community growth, local involvement, and mutual aid. 

“We’re proud of all of our staff for providing the top-notch utilities that our customers expect, and their willing participation in the community is a testament to the quality of individuals they are,” said Utilities Manager Murray Hulstein.

The Sioux Center electric utility was recognized for proactive work to strengthen infrastructure to help prevent outages and for expanding the local system including 40,000 feet of new wire and 39 new services. The award honored Sioux Center Municipal Utilities’ community involvement with utility crews visiting classes, talking with students about utility career opportunities, and helping host Kinsey Community Day, and for mutual aid for several communities following natural disasters. 

This award was presented during Technology Days, MRES’ biennial conference on technology and the electric utility industry in Sioux Falls. 

Sioux Center Municipal Utilities provides power to more than 2,760 customers and is one of 61 members Missouri River Energy Services (MRES.) MRES is a wholesale power provider for these member municipalities like Sioux Center in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, which each manage and operate their own local utility.

Highway 75 construction will resume this spring, including in Sioux Center’s downtown, with a full closure for several blocks anticipated to begin sometime in April.

This will be the third year of construction on Highway 75 in Sioux Center, rebuilding the highway with two lanes of traffic in each direction, center turn lanes, medians, and sidewalks – focused on safety, function, and showcasing Sioux Center’s character. This is a joint project with the Iowa Department of Transportation and the City of Sioux Center.

The focus of 2025 Highway 75 construction will be from 5^th St. S (where it ended last year) and 4^th St. N, near Avenue Veterinary Supply downtown. Crews will put in new water mains, then remove pavement and old utilities, install new sewer and storm sewer, and grade and pave the roadway. Then crews will install new driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping. Highway work will likely start between 2^nd St. S and 2^nd St. N; because of this area’s lower elevation, utility work must begin there.

During most of the construction season, part or all of this stretch of Highway 75 will be fully closed to traffic. When the closure is in effect, local traffic will still be able to continue into Sioux Center on Highway 75 from the north and south.

There will be some side-street utility work that connects to Highway 75 on 2^nd St. SW, 5^th St. NW, and 7^th St NE. Also during this year, crews will be completing the sidewalks and landscaping work on the 2024 construction area.

Construction for the Highway 75 redesign, which includes 20^th St. S to 12^th St. N., will continue in 2026. Additional work is planned by the Iowa DOT north of 12th St. N for 2027 and 2028.

A meeting for property owners, residents and businesses along the 2025 construction area is slated for Thursday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Sioux Center Public Library. An update on the year's construction will also be shared at the March 12 Chamber meeting. For more information on this project, visit www.siouxcenter.org/highway75 or call (712) 722-0761.

The Sioux Center Police Department is welcoming Izaak Hoey as a new school resource officer to serve at Sioux Center Christian School. 

As a school resource officer (SRO), Hoey’s role will involve being a visible, positive figure at Sioux Center Christian School to proactively strengthen safety, security, and community relations. Hoey will work closely with Officer Kyle Munneke, who is the SRO serving the Sioux Center Community School District. Funding for Hoey’s position comes from Sioux Center Christian School. When school is not in session, Hoey will assist with regular Sioux Center Police Department patrol duties as well as Code Enforcement.

Police Chief Josh Koedam said Hoey is a great addition to the police department.

"It's exciting to get Izaak on board as another SRO in Sioux Center,” Koedam said. “I look forward to witnessing Izaak make the SCCS SRO position his, and he will be a great addition to the school, school district, police department and community."

Hoey is excited to begin serving Sioux Center in this role.

"I'm privileged to have this opportunity to return back to the area and serve not just the city of Sioux Center but also the SCCS community. I look forward to fostering a safe and welcoming environment within the school to students, staff, and the families of SCCS," he said.

Hoey most recently worked with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota, and prior to that, he worked with the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office as a correctional officer. A Northwestern College graduate, Hoey grew up in Paullina and Orange City and has served 8 years with the Iowa National Guard, currently out of Le Mars. 

Hoey lives in Le Mars and is looking forward to moving to Sioux Center. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and working on old cars.

The 2025-26 budget for the City of Sioux Center includes updates and improvements that range from emergency vehicles to pickleball courts. The City Council is considering a slight increase to the city’s portion of the levy rate to $11.2440 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, about a 1.16% increase. 

The council reviewed the general fund budget Feb. 17. The general fund includes:

• Police, fire and ambulance services.
• Public works including streets, streetlights, airport, snow removal, and street cleaning.
• Culture and recreation – parks, trails, library, rec facilities, and arts/recreation programs.
• Economic development.
• General government uses such as finance/accounting and elections. 

“For 15 years, we have kept the City tax rate even or decreased it, but recent state legislation has impacted the ability of thriving cities like Sioux Center to capture some of our growth to help pay for the infrastructure, services, and amenities as we grow,” said Sioux Center Finance Director Darryl Ten Pas. 

In addition, the City’s auto, fire and liability insurance has increased more than 30% between Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2024, and the City’s debt service levy increased by about $0.11 to purchase a new fire truck, Ten Pas said.

“Even with this increase, since fiscal year 2008, the city levy rate has decreased by about 19.5%,” Ten Pas said. “Ongoing cost control measures are happening throughout the organization to try to limit additional increases."

With the 1.16% levy rate increase, plus an increase in the residential rollback, set by the state, a residential property that retains the same value will see a 3.37% increase in taxes paid. This means, for example, that for a home valued at $250,000, the City’s portion of taxes will increase by about $45.

The City’s portion of a homeowner’s property tax bill is about 33%. The remaining 67% goes toward the Sioux Center Community School District, Sioux County, and Northwest Iowa Community College. 

The next steps in the City budget process include reviewing the utility budget and hosting a public hearing on the property tax levy on April 7. Following that, the council will decide whether to approve the 2025-26 budget.

Additional budget highlights:

Utilities contribution

Our municipally-owned utilities are not required by law to pay property taxes, but they still make an annual contribution to the city’s general fund. In this budget the electric, gas and water utilities will contribute 5% of utility sales to the general fund, which has been the typical practice.

 Highway 75

Highway 75 reconstruction continues in 2025. The City and the Iowa Department of Transportation are sharing the costs of this project, with the City covering utility improvements, street lights, engineering, and a portion of paving costs. City funds will come from various sources, including road use tax, local option sales tax, tax increment financing, and dollars previously set aside for this project.

Emergency Response

In 2025-26, the City is budgeting to add a school resource officer at Sioux Center Christian School, which will be funded by the Christian School, as well as ambulance equipment, a new police vehicle, a brush fire truck, and a final payment for a new fire truck. The City budgets for routine emergency vehicle replacement so emergency responders have reliable vehicles as they respond.

Parks and trails

Potential trail additions and connections are being considered for the 2025-26 year. Additional items in the budget include trees, rubber mulch for a play area, and equipment.

Streets & stormwater

An additional staff member for streets/stormwater is included in the budget to help maintain the 60+ miles of City streets and the stormwater system.

Local Option Sales Tax & pickleball

About $825,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) will go into the general fund as property tax relief and about $200,000 is slated to go toward trails. LOST funds also help pay for planned new pickleball courts, as part of a joint use project with Dordt University and the Sioux Center Community School District.