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The city of Sioux City and the owner of a popular summer hangout are working together to try and come up with a resolution over a campground.
Recently, the Ickey Nickel received notice that camping on the property isn’t allowed according to city zoning laws.
Several supporters of the Ickey Nickel appeared at yesterday’s City Council meeting to keep the campsite open.
City Council Member Rhonda Capron is one of them.
“I’m on the Ickey Nickels’ side. I know they deserve to have that campground. And, we all know for years it’s been a campground. We all realized. Then we have a person or organization that decided to make it an issue. I believe we need to do the right thing.”
City officials say a couple of weeks ago they received a complaint about people camping at the Ickey Nickel. That’s when they discovered the property isn’t zoned for camping.
Owner Mick Verzani.
“It’s a great summertime venue to keep going. But, the winter is rough. Without the big events, it’s hard to keep it going. In the summer I employ 40 people.”
Verzani says camping is usually only done during big events to help attract people from out of town.
Mayor Bob Scott says the city could even allow a temporary permit for camping to still happen until a zoning change is officially approved.
Last night, the Sioux City Community School Board approved a 2 percent raise and a three-year contract for Sioux City school superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman.
The school board said Gausman succeeded beyond their metrics, gaining a positive evaluation by the board in the six required leadership standards for Iowa school administrators.
