wo brothers - Larry Miller of Omaha and Roger Miller of South Sioux City, have big dreams. They envision turning the current Sioux City Marina into one 'class act' that other marina owners and operators on the Missouri River will envy.

Their vision does not come without a hefty price tag, however. The brothers estimate it will take around $10 million to turn the old facilities into an upscale marina. Their plans call for reconstructing the marina basin, replacing all the old docks, opening a new river-side restaurant

	Sioux City Iowa's Midlands Marina - (pic circa 2000) - Located on the Missouri River at MM732.6.

and hotel and offering a convenience store/gas station for boaters. They would also like to build new trails and fountains around the area.

Because the land is located in an urban renewal area, the city council held public hearings on the plans. They did vote to accept the proposal on November 3rd. The council also agreed to enter a 40-year lease agreement with the brothers under a company called Midwest Franchise-Iowa L.L.C. on November 10th. The lease agreement requires Midwest Franchise to pay the city $18,000 a year.

The Millers estimate the project will take four years to complete and plan to develop the marina in three phases.

The first phase could begin any time and requires that all the old docks and any other structures be removed. A storm drainage line will also need to be moved to help eliminate current silting problems in the basin

The engineer in charge of the project plans to dig eight deep wells around the perimeter that will help lower the water table. All the water will them be drained from the marina so that the excavator can begin digging. Plans call for the marina to be made more than twice as deep as the current three to four foot depth. A rubber boot will be installed at the entrance of the marina underwater to prevent silt from drifting into the basin and settling on the bottom.

Phase one will also include building 218 new docks, with room to add up to possibly 50 more. The Millers hope to have the first phase complete in time for a spring opening.

A restaurant with outdoor seating is planned in Phase Two. The riverfront restaurant will open in 2005.

Sometime in 2006, construction will begin on a new hotel near the public boat ramp. The hotel will probably contain 80 to 100 rooms and will open in 2007.

The city has agreed to help pay for relocating the storm sewer and construct parking lots. They will also pay for other improvements associated with the hotel.

Sioux City has big plans for developing its riverfront property and this project seems to fit well with the city's vision of the future.