Residents Receive Letter From City Regarding Snow Removal
(Le Mars) — Some Le Mars residents recently received a letter from the city reminding them of the city code regarding snow removal from sidewalks. City code enforcement officer Jason Vacera spoke before the Le Mars City Council on Tuesday about the topic.
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Vacera asked the council that if those sidewalks should be exempt, then the council may want to look at changing the language of the city code.
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Vacera says when he purchased his property twenty years ago, he was told that he wouldn’t need to clean the sidewalk.
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A few residents attended the city council meeting to share their opinions of the letter.
County Zoning Administrator Tells Supervisors Building Permit Revenue Has Dropped
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard a report from County Zoning Administrator Alan Lucken during Tuesday’s meeting. Lucken mentioned the value of building permits for the county has dropped over the last few years. In 2012, Plymouth County had revenue amounting to $29,089,000 with $11 million of the total from the construction of hog confinement units. During 2013, the county received $20,449,000, and last year the total collected from building permits was at $17,131,000 with only $3 million from hog confinement buildings. Luken is predicting there will be fewer machine sheds and grain storage facilities to be built in the county during 2015, partially due to the falling agricultural economy. Luken informed the county supervisors that in 2014 only 16 homes were built within the rural areas of Plymouth County compared to the 26 that were constructed in 2012-2013. Luken suggested to the county supervisors there may be a need to revise some zoning areas within the county from agriculture to commercial business. He says there are a number of cases where the farmer has started a sideline business, be it trucking, seed sales, or even commercial fertilizer and crop protection product sales, and the sideline business has grown to the point where it has become a mainline business.
Fire Department To Benefit From Hometown Super Saver Discount Card
(Le Mars) — People around Le Mars may recieve a phone call asking them to participate in the “Hometown Super Saver” program which provides discounts to many local restaurants, hair salons, and service stations, and grocery stores. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says normally the fire department does not solicit funds through the phone, but this time, they are making an exception.
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The total value from the card amounts to over $1300 worth of discounts, with the card priced just under $40. Schipper says the offers and discounts from the super saver card are good until January 2016.
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Schipper says the Hometown Super saver card has a limited number of quantity to be sold.
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Sioux City’s Street Snow Removal Hampered By Parked Vehicles
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City will begin ticketing car owners who haven’t moved their vehicles since a weekend snowstorm that dumped over 7 inches of snow in the area.
Mayor Bob Scott says the remaining cars have made it difficult for city crews to clear some areas. He says it’s hard for workers to maneuver snow plows through cluttered streets.
The western Iowa city has a policy that all streets have to be plowed within 72 hours after a snowfall ends.
Scott says he wishes the city declared a snow emergency during the snowstorm, allowing workers to tow abandoned or snowbound vehicles left on the street without notifying owners.
He says he expects road conditions to improve by Wednesday afternoon.
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Iowan To Receive Congressional Medal For Service In World War II
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 90-year-old West Des Moines man has traveled to the U.S. Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold Medal for his service in World War II.
John Tedore says he’s pleased to be awarded the medal and that he had tears a couple of times thinking about it.
He was recognized this month alongside others from his unit known as the First Special Services Force, or the “Devil’s Brigade.”
The unit has about 70 members still living from the original 1,800 soldiers. Around 40 traveled to Washington, D.C., with Tedore the only Iowa resident in attendance.
The award is the highest honor given by Congress to a civilian for their efforts in helping liberate Europe and end the war.
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Branstad Appoints Townsend As Workforce Department Director
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has chosen Beth Townsend to serve as director of Iowa Workforce Development.
Branstad announced the appointment Tuesday. Townsend has been serving in the role in an interim capacity since the previous director retired last month.
Townsend previously served as executive director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Branstad said in a statement that she will help employers find a “talented and capable workforce.”
The appointment must now be confirmed by the Iowa Senate.
Former director Teresa Wahlert retired last month. Last year, she was accused of mismanaging the department and creating a hostile work environment. A former chief judge said he was fired because he stood up to Wahlert.
Wahlert later defended her work in front of lawmakers investigating the agency.
Democrats Propose To Boost School Funding
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Democratic lawmakers are proposing a significant boost to school aid for the coming academic year.
Leaders in the Democratic-majority Senate said Tuesday they will try to increase funding by over $200 million for the next school year. That’s more than double the amount sought by Gov. Terry Branstad and Republican lawmakers who control the state House. Both proposals include dollars already dedicated to a teacher training program.
Democrats say schools need more money to provide good services. Senate President Pam Jochum, from Dubuque, says in a news release that this was a “serious, meaningful step.”
Republicans have said the state cannot afford a substantial increase due to other budget commitments. Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers said the governor’s proposal was fiscally sustainable.
House Panel Passes Bill To Forbid Minors From Indoor Tanning
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A House legislative panel has approved a bill that would prohibit indoor tanning for minors at commercial salons in Iowa.
Members of a human resources subcommittee agreed Tuesday to advance the bill. It now heads to a full committee for consideration.
The bill would ban people under age 18 from using a tanning device at a commercial salon, with or without parental consent. Current law has no restrictions.
A separate legislative panel in the Senate approved a similar bill last month.
There is no opposition listed for the bill. Eric Goranson, a lobbyist for the American Suntanning Association, says the group supports the legislation.
Lawyers Do Not Have To Pay Fee For Iowa Legal Aid
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawyers won’t have to pay a new $100 annual fee to help low-income people afford legal representation.
Chief Justice Mark Cady said Tuesday the Iowa Supreme Court will not assess the fee on lawyers to fund Iowa Legal Aid.
The nonprofit group recommended the idea to raise money to serve more low-income individuals and families who cannot afford attorneys in civil disputes.
Supporters said there was a great need for more low-income legal assistance. But critics said the fees unfairly singled out their profession and would hurt younger lawyers saddled with law school debt.
Cady said the court will continue to study a variety of options, including fees, “to achieve the best long-term solution.” He says the court will also seek state funding and encourage volunteer work.
