Proposed Gill Hauling development causes a stir in South Sioux City

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU) — Gill Hauling has been looking for new land to create offices and parking space for its 98 garbage trucks.

South Sioux City residents expressed their worries over the possible development at last week’s city council meeting. Some of these people explained those worries to KCAU 9.

Maureen Knecht, who created a “Hobbit House” Airbnb , The Koffie Knechtion, and the Treehouse Bed and Breakfast, said she’s worried about her businesses if the development were to be approved.

“We learned about it from a county commissioner who came to our house asking if we were ever spoken to about this,” Knecht said. “Nobody wants a hundred garbage trucks backed up to their bedroom window and nobody wants to see somebody stolen, get taken away, 83-year-old couple ,oh, I know. It’ll impact my business. There’s no doubt it will impact my business.”

Private property owners would also be affected by the Gill Hauling development. The company would require a portion of the land for the project.

“When they were building across the street at the College Center last summer, there was nothing but a dust storm,” Knecht said. “That’s going to happen when they try and build this. It’s going to happen when the garbage trucks go up and down Golf Road all day long. My customers sit outside. That’s what we created here, an environment to get away.”

Previously, Gill Hauling said there are other locations they could consider for the buildings.

“I just hope the mayor and the city council are truly looking at our concerns and addressing them and asking in this, asking themselves why would we want this in our backyard? And do we really want to possibly hinder a very small business?” said Knecht.

KCAU 9 reached out to Gill Hauling about these concerns. They said they’ve been in South Sioux City for a long time and that the location is outside of town but still close enough for the workers. They said they want to be good neighbors at their new location and will attend the city council meeting to answer any questions people will have.

The South Sioux City Council will vote on the measure on August 12.

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