SIMPCO offices undergo transformation
By Dave Dreeszen | Posted: Tuesday, December 09, 2008
The Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council and the Siouxland Regional Transit System will show off its newly renovated offices at 1122 Pierce St. with a holiday open house from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday. (Photo submitted)
SIOUX CITY -- With a facelift of its building now complete, the Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council wants the public to check out its new digs.
The quasi-governmental body, serving cities and counties in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, hosts a holiday open house from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at its new offices, 1122 Pierce St.
The 16-member staff of SIMPCO and its sister agency, Siouxland Regional Transit System moved into the one-story building in October 2007. The organizations, which previously rented space in the Insurance Exchange Building downtown, acquired the Pierce Street building for $325,000, said SIMPCO co-director Dwight Lang.
Another $100,000 was spent for renovations that included new carpeting, paint and equipment.
"The building was kind of needing a little TLC to get everything up to par for our long-term future," Lang said.
More recently, the agencies touched up the exterior of the building, a project that Lang said not only improved the look of SIMPCO's property, but also the overall neighborhood.
SIMPCO co-director Jane Gilbert said the project also included adding a new front entrance, as well as a back entrance, which is regularly used by SRTS drivers.
Lang said most of the money for the building's purchase and renovations came through borrowing, which the agencies will repay through future membership dues and other funding sources. SRTC also devoted some of its capital funds toward the project, he said.
The 5,200-square-foot office building allows the agencies to operate on one floor, Gilbert noted. In the Insurance Exchange Building, staff were located on the fourth and fifth floors.
By moving to the Pierce Street site, the organizations continue to be close to downtown, but also have their own adjacent surface parking lot. Gilbert noted there is enough parking for staff and visitors, along with SRTS's 40 small transit buses.
With added office space and parking, SIMPCO also can hold its board of directors meetings on site. Due to too little space in its former offices, the agency was forced to hold its meetings at different city and county government offices around the region.
"We would meet in a lot of different places," Gilbert said.
Refreshments will be served during the holiday open house.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., conducted by the Siouxland Chamber Ambassadors and the South Sioux City Chamber Ambassadors.
Following Thursday's open house, SIMPCO's Council of Officers and Board of Directors will have its semi-annual meeting. The board meets in the Meisner Conference Room, named for longtime SIMPCO director Donald "Skip" Meisner.
The quasi-governmental body, serving cities and counties in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, hosts a holiday open house from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at its new offices, 1122 Pierce St.
The 16-member staff of SIMPCO and its sister agency, Siouxland Regional Transit System moved into the one-story building in October 2007. The organizations, which previously rented space in the Insurance Exchange Building downtown, acquired the Pierce Street building for $325,000, said SIMPCO co-director Dwight Lang.
Another $100,000 was spent for renovations that included new carpeting, paint and equipment.
"The building was kind of needing a little TLC to get everything up to par for our long-term future," Lang said.
More recently, the agencies touched up the exterior of the building, a project that Lang said not only improved the look of SIMPCO's property, but also the overall neighborhood.
SIMPCO co-director Jane Gilbert said the project also included adding a new front entrance, as well as a back entrance, which is regularly used by SRTS drivers.
Lang said most of the money for the building's purchase and renovations came through borrowing, which the agencies will repay through future membership dues and other funding sources. SRTC also devoted some of its capital funds toward the project, he said.
The 5,200-square-foot office building allows the agencies to operate on one floor, Gilbert noted. In the Insurance Exchange Building, staff were located on the fourth and fifth floors.
By moving to the Pierce Street site, the organizations continue to be close to downtown, but also have their own adjacent surface parking lot. Gilbert noted there is enough parking for staff and visitors, along with SRTS's 40 small transit buses.
With added office space and parking, SIMPCO also can hold its board of directors meetings on site. Due to too little space in its former offices, the agency was forced to hold its meetings at different city and county government offices around the region.
"We would meet in a lot of different places," Gilbert said.
Refreshments will be served during the holiday open house.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., conducted by the Siouxland Chamber Ambassadors and the South Sioux City Chamber Ambassadors.
Following Thursday's open house, SIMPCO's Council of Officers and Board of Directors will have its semi-annual meeting. The board meets in the Meisner Conference Room, named for longtime SIMPCO director Donald "Skip" Meisner.
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