Hanson leaves his mark on the city
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Jerry Hanson stands outside City Hall in Sioux City where he has worked for more than 38 years. He will retire as community development director Monday. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
When Jerry Hanson started working for the city of Sioux City in 1967, he didn't imagine he would spend his entire career at City Hall.
Now, almost 39 years later, Hanson's fingerprints can be found all over a city map -- from new streets to subdivisions, from riverfront development to shopping centers. Even the trees along the riverfront owe their existence to him.
He is quick to point out those accomplishments have taken place because of a team of city officials and those in the private sector. Next Monday will be his last day at work. His resignation is effective Tuesday as community development director.
"I had actually planned to retire at this age," said Hanson, 58. "It was a very, very difficult decision for me. I love this job. I love this city. I will miss everyone I have worked with. But, sometimes you need to move on with your life."
In retirement, he will do some consulting work and may assist with specific projects at City Hall.
He and his wife, Bev, plan to remain in Sioux City, his hometown. After graduating from East High School in 1966, he continued to work at his family's hardware store, Hanson & Son, located on the corner of Morningside Avenue and South Lakeport Street where Walgreen's now sits.
His family's claim to fame was his grandfather William's design of the Hanson's Flood Gate, which was manufactured in the hardware store's basement. It was used for years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was considered the gold standard of flood gate design.
After working at the Wincharger plant for a little more than a year, he saw an advertisement for a planning technician's position at the city.
"I always had been interested in planning, so I applied and got the job. I started July 5, 1967."
He learned on the job -- handling junked cars, street vacations and rezoning requests. He was named planning director to succeed Gary Dumas. He was promoted again following the resignation of Community Development director Roger Caudron in August 2000, when he was named executive director of Downtown Partners.
Hanson oversees 42 full-time employees, a $10.9 million budget and four divisions -- inspection services, housing assistance, neighborhood services and planning.
Most often residents see Hanson in his more public role -- dealing with neighborhood zoning and subdivision plans or negotiating deals between neighbors and developers. This week, for instance, he helped broker the deal that brought two sets of builders together to split 94 lots in Woodbury Heights so both could build new homes there.
Behind the scenes, he has worked on more visionary projects through the retooling of the city's Comprehensive Plan. The council adopted the revised document last August.
Construction of the Anderson Dance Pavilion, built with funds from the estate of the late Mildred Anderson, was the catalyst that started the riverfront's renewal.
"I was involved with that from the beginning," he noted. "We had a wonderful City Council that supported that development. It's a wonderful door to the community."
One example of Hanson's hands-on approach can be seen growing along the Missouri River. In 1991, he and David Ciaccio, a landscape architect from Omaha whom the city hired to develop the riverfront master plan, walked along the Missouri.
"We staked where the hiking trail should go and noted where every tree should be and what kind it should be -- like crab apple."
He worked with the public works, finance and economic development departments on transportation projects, the most notable being construction of Singing Hills Boulevard, the Outer Drive Extender, Wesley Parkway extension and the Highway 75 bypass. Along with other city officials, he made yearly trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for federal funding for those projects.
"The current planning and design work under way leading toward the reconstruction of Interstate 29 through Sioux City is one of the most important transportation projects that our community has witnessed in many years. The changes being considered have the potential to drastically improve the gateway to our community," he predicted.
Neighborhoods have been revitalized using federal community block grant dollars.
In particular, he has enjoyed his working relationship with Sioux City School Superintendent Larry Williams and Mel McKern, director of operations.
"We look at what is the potential for development that would be created by a new school at a particular location," Hanson noted. "Right now, we're working on the new Grant school site. The school district is looking at moving dirt from that site to a valley to the east, east of Logan Street. That land is in private ownership, but it will open the opportunity to build 100 to 200 new homes there."
He was involved in the early planning stages of the Perry Creek Flood Control Project. When done, acres of land along the creek will be removed from the flood plain, opening that land for development.
"I had hoped to see that project completed before I retired," he noted. "However, it is satisfying to see that project nearing completion."
His tenure hasn't been without controversy.
"If I didn't propose controversial projects, I figure I wasn't doing my job," he explained.
While Hanson will leave City Hall, the name will remain. His son, Jeff, is the city's transportation planner. The Hansons also have two daughters, Jennifer Stubbs and her family in Sioux City, and Jessica Meinen and her family in Akron, Iowa.
Since he won't have to punch the clock at City Hall anymore, Hanson will spend more time hunting and fishing. And, he figures he will have more time to do woodworking and riding his Harley-Davidson Road King.
Hanson encouraged residents and city officials to continue to seek well-planned, sustainable growth.
"You have to make those controversial, bold decisions as a community," he said. "You either grow or you die."
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
Now, almost 39 years later, Hanson's fingerprints can be found all over a city map -- from new streets to subdivisions, from riverfront development to shopping centers. Even the trees along the riverfront owe their existence to him.
He is quick to point out those accomplishments have taken place because of a team of city officials and those in the private sector. Next Monday will be his last day at work. His resignation is effective Tuesday as community development director.
"I had actually planned to retire at this age," said Hanson, 58. "It was a very, very difficult decision for me. I love this job. I love this city. I will miss everyone I have worked with. But, sometimes you need to move on with your life."
In retirement, he will do some consulting work and may assist with specific projects at City Hall.
He and his wife, Bev, plan to remain in Sioux City, his hometown. After graduating from East High School in 1966, he continued to work at his family's hardware store, Hanson & Son, located on the corner of Morningside Avenue and South Lakeport Street where Walgreen's now sits.
His family's claim to fame was his grandfather William's design of the Hanson's Flood Gate, which was manufactured in the hardware store's basement. It was used for years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was considered the gold standard of flood gate design.
After working at the Wincharger plant for a little more than a year, he saw an advertisement for a planning technician's position at the city.
"I always had been interested in planning, so I applied and got the job. I started July 5, 1967."
He learned on the job -- handling junked cars, street vacations and rezoning requests. He was named planning director to succeed Gary Dumas. He was promoted again following the resignation of Community Development director Roger Caudron in August 2000, when he was named executive director of Downtown Partners.
Hanson oversees 42 full-time employees, a $10.9 million budget and four divisions -- inspection services, housing assistance, neighborhood services and planning.
Most often residents see Hanson in his more public role -- dealing with neighborhood zoning and subdivision plans or negotiating deals between neighbors and developers. This week, for instance, he helped broker the deal that brought two sets of builders together to split 94 lots in Woodbury Heights so both could build new homes there.
Behind the scenes, he has worked on more visionary projects through the retooling of the city's Comprehensive Plan. The council adopted the revised document last August.
Construction of the Anderson Dance Pavilion, built with funds from the estate of the late Mildred Anderson, was the catalyst that started the riverfront's renewal.
"I was involved with that from the beginning," he noted. "We had a wonderful City Council that supported that development. It's a wonderful door to the community."
One example of Hanson's hands-on approach can be seen growing along the Missouri River. In 1991, he and David Ciaccio, a landscape architect from Omaha whom the city hired to develop the riverfront master plan, walked along the Missouri.
"We staked where the hiking trail should go and noted where every tree should be and what kind it should be -- like crab apple."
He worked with the public works, finance and economic development departments on transportation projects, the most notable being construction of Singing Hills Boulevard, the Outer Drive Extender, Wesley Parkway extension and the Highway 75 bypass. Along with other city officials, he made yearly trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for federal funding for those projects.
"The current planning and design work under way leading toward the reconstruction of Interstate 29 through Sioux City is one of the most important transportation projects that our community has witnessed in many years. The changes being considered have the potential to drastically improve the gateway to our community," he predicted.
Neighborhoods have been revitalized using federal community block grant dollars.
In particular, he has enjoyed his working relationship with Sioux City School Superintendent Larry Williams and Mel McKern, director of operations.
"We look at what is the potential for development that would be created by a new school at a particular location," Hanson noted. "Right now, we're working on the new Grant school site. The school district is looking at moving dirt from that site to a valley to the east, east of Logan Street. That land is in private ownership, but it will open the opportunity to build 100 to 200 new homes there."
He was involved in the early planning stages of the Perry Creek Flood Control Project. When done, acres of land along the creek will be removed from the flood plain, opening that land for development.
"I had hoped to see that project completed before I retired," he noted. "However, it is satisfying to see that project nearing completion."
His tenure hasn't been without controversy.
"If I didn't propose controversial projects, I figure I wasn't doing my job," he explained.
While Hanson will leave City Hall, the name will remain. His son, Jeff, is the city's transportation planner. The Hansons also have two daughters, Jennifer Stubbs and her family in Sioux City, and Jessica Meinen and her family in Akron, Iowa.
Since he won't have to punch the clock at City Hall anymore, Hanson will spend more time hunting and fishing. And, he figures he will have more time to do woodworking and riding his Harley-Davidson Road King.
Hanson encouraged residents and city officials to continue to seek well-planned, sustainable growth.
"You have to make those controversial, bold decisions as a community," he said. "You either grow or you die."
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
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