The 2025 year is winding down, and this time of year typically has lots of news pieces detailing how the year went for varying entities, plus exploring how 2026 might look.
For this show, we dig into those exact topics with Bob Scott, the longtime mayor of Sioux City, to air ongoing issues fot the city of 80,000 people.
Scott, who owns several businesses, including heading an accounting firm, has been mayor over two stints that first began in 1990, for a combined 21 years.
Asked to assess a grade to year 2025, he said, "C-plus is the highest I could go," then detailed reasons why.
The mayor reviewed the big changes from results of the November election, which will result in three longtime council members departing, as Dan Moore, Alex Watters and Matthew O’Kane all chose not to seek re-election.
The only Sioux City Council holdover is Julie Schoenherr, and the three new members are Rick Beretrand, Ike Rayford and Craig Berenstein.
Scott discussed the major reworking of the Sioux City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant project that could cost $470 million by an estimated 2036 completion.
He also spoke of how quality of life pieces such as riverfront recreation are important to the city.
Looking at the 2026 budget process that is imminent, the mayor said state budget cuts could hamstring the budget, so keeping it lean will be a goal. Scott said fire and police protection encompasses 80 percent of the city of Sioux City's operating budget, and does not foresee cuts.
As for 2026, Scott said ensuring federal funding for the runway at the Air National Guard 185th Refueling Wing will be critical.
"We need new runways to keep them," he said, which could cost $200 million.
*Click on the audio link above to hear the entire show.
What's The Frequency, Episode 88.
