THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN APPLICATION TO THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR A JOB CREATION TAX CREDIT TO ASSIST SABRE INDUSTRIES IN AN EXPANSION.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARTY DOUGHERTY SAYS SABRE INDUSTRIES WILL BUILD A NEW FACILITY IN THE SOUTHBRIDGE BUSINESS PARK CREATING MANY NEW HIGH PAYING JOBS FOR THE CITY:

SABRE INDUSTRIES MANUFACTURES CELL PHONE TOWERS AND RELATED COMPONENTS. THE COMPANY HOPES TO START CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR NEW 192-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN THE SPRING.

RECONSTRUCTION OF HAMILTON BOULEVARD BETWEEN WEST 8TH AND WEST 15TH WILL TENATIVELY BEGIN ON APRIL 2ND.

THE CITY COUNCIL GAVE THE GO AHEAD TO START THE PROJECT AND CHOSE AN OPTION THAT WOULD KEEP TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION.

THAT MEANS THE PROJECT WOULDN'T BE COMPLETED UNTIL AROUND SEPTEMBER 1ST, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE TRAFFIC ACCESS TO SEVERAL BUSINESSES LOCATED IN THE AREA.

THE PROJECT IS PART OF THE WESLEY PARKWAY RECONSTRUCTION. A NEW, DEEPER SEWER LINE WILL BE BUILT AS PART OF THE PROJECT.

THE SGT FLOYD RIVERBOAT WELCOME CENTER AND THE PERRY CREEK LIBRARY BOTH SURVIVED THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS BY THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL.

THE WELCOME CENTER'S 137-THOUSAND DOLLAR BUDGET WAS BEING CONSIDERED AS A CUT FROM THE PUBLIC MUSEUM'S OPERATING BUDGET.

CITY COUNCILMAN JOHN FITCH WAS AMONG THE 4-1 MAJORITY VOTING TO KEEP IT OPEN AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR:     

THE COUNCIL ALSO  HAD SUGGESTED CUTTING 150-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE LIBRARY'S OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH WOULD HAVE PLACED THE BRANCH LIBRARY IN JEOPARDY.

BUT TOM PADGETT MOVED TO REDUCE THAT AMOUNT TO 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH PASSED ON A 3-2 VOTE.

MAYOR BOB SCOTT THEN MADE A MOTION TO REDUCE THE CUT TO 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS:

THE COUNCIL ALSO MANDATED FEE INCREASES FOR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC BE ENACTED BY CITY POLICE AND FIRE AS WELL AS BUILDING PERMITS.

INVESTIGATORS SAY A GREASE FIRE ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO A SIOUX CITY APARTMENT BUILDING.

THE FIRE AT THE VALLEY PARK APARTMENTS WAS REPORTED AROUND 2PM AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE MAIN ENRTRANCE OF THE FIVE UNIT BUILDING WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED.

ALL THE RESIDENTS ESCAPED SAFELY WITH NO INJURIES REPORTED.