Home News Wednesday News, July 20th

Wednesday News, July 20th

City Council Sets Two Public Hearings On Proposed Projects

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council approved two public hearings to be scheduled for August 2nd. The first public hearing deals with a request from Avery Brothers Outdoor Advertising to erect two more billboard standards. One to be placed near Highway 75 and County Road C-38, and the other to be built along Highway 75 on the north side of town. City Administrator Scott Langel reminded the city council that they have the final say on whether any additional billboards are to be constructed, regardless whether or not the billboards are to be located on city owned property.

In other action, the Le Mars City council approved the bid of $385,155 from RP Contructors LLC of North Sioux City, South Dakota to begin work on the Dogwood Second Addition. The bid is to install utilities within the area. A public hearing has been scheduled for August 2nd.

City Administrator Scott Langel informed the city council that Knife River, the contractor that has been applying asphalt on many of the city’s streets is scheduled to return to Le Mars this coming Thursday to finish their work. Langel informed the city council that he believes Knife River will be able to complete their work by the weekend. Langel also reported to the city council that the dredging of the Municipal Park pond has resumed this week, and Langel believes it will be completed within the next few weeks.

 

Supervisors Approve Plan To Relocate Natural Gas Pipeline Ventilation Due To Construction

(Le Mars) — During the Plymouth County Board of Supervisor meeting held Tuesday morning, county engineer Tom Rohe informed the county governing board that the construction on county road C-60 will need to cross four separate natural gas pipelines. Rohe told the supervisors he has been in contact with officials of Enterprise Products, a company that contracts work on the natural gas pipelines for MidAmerican Energy. In his report, Rohe says Enterprise Products have indicated there are four ventilation pipes within the construction zone which will need to be moved and relocated to the outside of the new proposed county road. Rohe says the estimate he was given by Enterprise Products to relocate the natural gas pipelines and ventilation pipes would cost the county approximately $55,604. The supervisors briefly discussed the expense of the project, before voting to approve the action. Rohe indicated to the supervisors that he believed Enterprise Products was offering Plymouth County some reductions for the project, and the estimated costs could have been a higher figure.

 

Protesters Oppose Pipeline

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Opponents of a crude oil pipeline under construction in Iowa continue to fight the project and plan to protest next week after a land condemnation hearing for a central Iowa landowner being forced to allow a Texas oil company to cross his farm.
Polk County officials are expected to condemn property Monday on Dan Higginbottom’s farm under eminent domain laws the Iowa Utilities Board authorized Dakota Access to use for its $3.8 billion pipeline cutting across Iowa diagonally.
Higgenbottom argues the Iowa Utilities Board lacks legal authority to use eminent domain for a private pipeline. Historically, such authority was given to public utilities. The board is defending five lawsuits challenging its decision.
Organizations including Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Bold Iowa promise to risk arrest in civil disobedience demonstrations.

 

Soybean Association Gives Money To Counties For Legal Fund

(Des Moines) — The Iowa Soybean Association’s board of directors has voted unanimously to spend 150-thousand dollars to help Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties defend themselves against a federal lawsuit brought by the Des Moines Water Works. Association C-E-O Kirk Leeds says the organization supports the three northwest Iowa counties because the suit could impact farmers statewide and this will bring a quicker end to the case.
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[wnax19a] :15 “working together”
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He says the court action takes away from the cooperative and proactive approach farmers have taken on water quality and nutrient management.
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[wnax19b] :13 “nitrogen management”
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He says the suit is also hurting efforts by farmers and the utility itself from implementing programs and practices to address water quality.
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[wnax19c] :17 “legal fees”
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That’s money he says could have been invested in improving the water works’ facilities and in helping farmers to make the needed changes. The lawsuit filed in March of 2015 charges the county supervisors allegedly allowed nitrates coming from 10 drainage districts to pollute the Raccoon River, a primary water source for 500,000 customers in Des Moines. The case is scheduled to go to trial in June of 2017.

 

Vilsack On Short List For Clinton’s Vice President Choice

MT. PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) – Tom Vilsack’s political story already reads like a modern Horatio Alger tale: a humble beginning at an orphanage in Pittsburgh followed by a rise to governor of Iowa and then to the nation’s secretary of agriculture.
Back in Iowa last weekend, Vilsack declined to acknowledge whether he’s being considered for another celebrated chapter – as running mate to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
With his Midwestern ties, experience in elected office and policy record in Washington, Vilsack could bring some key advantages to the Democratic ticket. His family ties to the Clintons date back to 1972 when his late brother-in-law worked with Hillary Clinton.

 

Iowa DNR Investigates Fish Kill

RYAN, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating the cause of a fish kill in northeastern Iowa.
The department says in a news release Tuesday that someone fishing in Buck Creek near Ryan reported the fish kill over the weekend.
Upon investigation Monday, staff found both dead and live fish in the stream. The kill affected mostly minnows, shiners and chubs, but also suckers, rock bass and sunfish. The department estimates there could be thousands of dead fish.
The fish kill is spread over about 8 miles of stream.
No source of the kill has yet been identified, but it appears the fish died around the middle of last week.

 

Boyden Woman Charged With Fraud

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman who duped dozens of people into buying non-existent tickets to the Super Bowl and other high-profile events has been charged with fraud.
The federal charges of mail and tax fraud against Ranae Van Roekel of Boyden, Iowa come four years after her alleged scheme became public.
A document filed Monday charges Van Roekel with fraudulently obtaining more than $531,000 from customers between 2008 and 2012.
Prosecutors say Van Roekel falsely claimed to have access to tickets, hotel rooms and VIP passes at deep discounts due to personal connections, once claiming she was on the Super Bowl planning committee.
After collecting money, she told customers she couldn’t fill most of the orders. She often targeted customers that she had contact with through youth sports.
Her attorney declined comment.