Anthonys Ask Supervisors For An Apology Over Comments Made
(Le Mars) — At yesterday’s Plymouth County Board of Supervisors meeting,
discussion focused again on a requested paving project located on Lake Avenue from
County road C-38 extending south for approximately 470 feet. The county governing
board, by consensus, agreed to spend money to widen the radius of the intersection
of County road C-38 and Lake Avenue to better accommodate the large volume of truck
traffic that uses that intersection. The supervisors did not take any action to
approve the requested paving project, saying they hope by grading and widening the
radius of the intersection it will help trucks be able to make turns easier.
The request to pave the small stretch of roadway has been made by Anthony Trucking
firm. Immediately following discussion about to widen the intersection, Denise
Anthony addressed the supervisors asking for a public apology from the county
board, and county attorney Darin Raymond, for what she says were negative comments
directed at the Anthony Trucking firm business.
The supervisors said they didn’t ever recall using the term “hazardous materials”
when discussing the proposed paving project, and if it was used, it was a
misinterpretation. Never-the-less Anthony insisted on getting a public apology
from the supervisors.
Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond and the Anthony’s than had an exchange of
comments. Raymond was attempting to clarify his comments.
Denise Anthony asked how long ago were those complaints, and Raymond responded by
saying “about ten years ago or more”. Anthony said that she and her husband have
been on the property for 26 years. Raymond says the issue is the drainage on to
the lots and how the drainage would be addressed if the area were to be paved.
The exchange between the Anthony’s and the county supervisors and county attorney
Raymond lasted for nearly 20 minutes. Supervisor Mark Loutsch was the only county
official to speak publicly and formally apologized for any misunderstandings.
Supervisors Hear Report About Two-Way Radios
(Le Mars) — In other action, the county supervisors heard a report from County
engineer Tom Rohe and County I-T Manager,Shawn Olson speak about a new two-way radio communications system. The supervisors approved action to upgrade the communications radios used by the county secondary roads department. The estimated cost for the two-way radios is at $25,566. The county supervisors also heard a report from Tom Rohe regarding the weight limit ratings for bridges.
Northwest Iowa Research Farm To Hold Field Day
(Le Mars) — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host its annual
Northwest Iowa Research Farm Field Day this morning. The farm is located near the
Cherokee-O’Brien county line at 6320 500th Street near Sutherland. Registration is
at 9:00 a.m. with the program to begin at 9:30 a.m. Joel DeJong, Iowa State
University Extension crops specialist offers a preview of the topics that will be
covered at today’s field day.
DeJong says the research farm field day will also examine plant pathology, an
outlook for the agricultural economy, and a new tile study project.
There is no charge to attend the annual research farm field day. The research farm
is located one-quarter of a mile east of Highway 59 on county road B-62, or about
two miles south of Calumet.
Iowa DOT To Close Seven Maintenance Garages And Two License Stations
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Transportation says it is closing
seven maintenance garages, one which is located in Plymouth County, and two
driver’s license stations because of reduced budget funding from the Iowa
Legislature.
The department announced the closings Tuesday. An agency spokeswoman says the
changes do not include layoffs, but 67 open positions will be permanently removed.
The closings will affect 28 employees, but those workers will be given the
option to relocate to other DOT locations.
The department sought $9.7 million in additional dollars from the Iowa
Legislature for the budget year that began in July. Lawmakers approved half the
money, despite the department predicting it would affect agency services.
The driver’s license stations are in Spencer and Carroll. The maintenance
garages are in Akron, Sabula, Soldier, Corning, Gowrie, Rock Valley, and
Centerville.
Sioux City Issues Fewer Parking Tickets Since Introduction Of App
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City has issued fewer parking tickets following the
release of an app that lets people pay with their smartphones.
The city issued about 1,100 fewer parking tickets between Sept. 21, 2015, and July 6 of this year than it did during the same period a year earlier. There were nearly 10,600 app
transactions between Sept. 21, 2015, and July 6.
The app is available for iPhone, Android, Windows and Blackberry phones. The
app lets people pay meters by phone app or computer and alerts people when time on
their meters is about to expire.
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Park Ranger Save Two Lives
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa park ranger is being credited for saving two
Council Bluffs men whose boat on Lake Manawa filled with water because of high
winds.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says in a news release that 72-year-
old William Buchholz and 54-year-old James Tanga were fishing on the western Iowa
lake around 10 p.m. Monday when winds kicked up. The men were about 100 yards from
a boat ramp when the boat became swamped.
Lake Manawa State Park Ranger Aaron Johnson, who had been monitoring the boat
because of the weather, went to the men’s rescue. Johnson and Council Bluffs
firefighters were able to pull the men, who were treading water, to safety.
Authorities say there were life jackets on board the boat, but the men were
not wearing them.
Des Moines Airport To Offer Service Animals Restroom
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines airport officials will have to spend up to
$100,000 to build a room for service dogs to relieve themselves inside the
terminal.
The “service animal relief area” will be built in a boarding area and will
require removing about 10 seats.
Airport Executive Director Kevin Foley told board members Tuesday that the
bathroom is required under an update of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The
update requires all airports with more than 10,000 passengers a year to have a
service animal relief area inside their terminals.
The Des Moines facility will have artificial turf and a sink for animal owners
to wash their hands and a system for washing down the turf afterward.
