Fire Department Issues August Monthly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 54 calls during the month of August. Of those 54 calls, ten were fires, nine rescues, 13 inspections, three mutual aid requests, and 19 requests for services. Fire Chief Dave Schipper reports that all of Le Mars Fire pumper trucks recently passed an annual pump testing, and all gas monitors passed the annual testing.
Plymouth County Farm Bureau To Hold Annual Meeting
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Farm Bureau organization will hold its annual meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 6th beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the meal, and the meeting to follow at 7:00 p.m. The annual meeting will be held at Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Hill is the featured speaker.
City Fall Clean Up Week Scheduled For September 12-17
(Le Mars) — The city of Le Mars has announced the week of September 12th through September 17th as the 2016 Fall Clean Up Week. The city is declaring an amnesty from the landfill disposal cost, therefore, up to 1,000 pounds per household of “throw away” material delivered to the landfill will be paid by the city. Disposal of such throw away items are the responsibility of the resident, as the of Le Mars city will not be picking up the items. Each residential household must make their own arrangements for hauling waste to the Plymouth County Landfill during the amnesty period. Only residential properties can participate. Industrial and Commercical entities are not eligible for the program. Items that qualify for the amnesty disposal include: furniture, construction and/or demolition items such as windows, doors, sinks, toilets, storm and screen windows and doors, scrap lumber, and fence posts. Metal items that include bikes, mowers, metal posts, wire, swings, gutters, bed springs, and bed frames are eligible for disposal. White goods can be disposed. There is a $10 fee per items for the demanufacturing of white goods. The list includes air conditioners, microwaves, washers and dryers, refrigerators, freezers, fluorescent lights, hot water heaters, furnaces, dish washers, dehumidifiers, ranges, ovens, trash compactors and other cooling units. Items not eligible for the amnesty city clean up program include: normal household garbage and yard waste, tires, and hazardous waste.
Property Taxes Now Due
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann, reminds property owners that the first-half real estate and mobile home taxes are now due and can be paid in the office, online, or through the mail.
The last day to pay is Friday, September 30, 2016. After September 30, it is considered delinquent.
Online payments may be made until midnight September 30.
Mail must be postmarked on or before September 30, 2016 to avoid being late. Mailing your payment on September 30 does not guarantee a September postmark, so mail your payment before the last day to avoid being late.
Delinquent interest of 1.5% per month, rounded to the nearest dollar, is added to all unpaid taxes on October 1, 2016, and an additional 1.5% penalty is added on the first of each month thereafter. There is a minimum $1.00 penalty on all taxes.
Candidates Announced For County Elected Positions
(Le Mars) — Candidates seeking a county elected position have been announced by the Plymouth County Auditor’s Office. In each of the county races, there are no challenges. Republican Mark Loutsch is seeking re-election as a county supervisor representing District 2. Gary Horton is running unopposed as he seeks a position on the county board of supervisors. Horton is looking to represent District 5 constituents as Jim Henrich has decided to retire from the county governing board. Stacey Feldman, a republican, is unopposed, and is seeking another term as the County Auditor. Mike Van Otterloo is seeking another term as the Plymouth County Sheriff. Van Otterloo is running as a Republican. Jerry Reuter will be the only name to appear on the ballot as a Fredonia township trustee candidate. Voters will have the opportunity to cast their vote for four people seeking a position with the Plymouth County Extension Council. The four candidates include: Ronald Rohlena, Rebecca Easton, Alex Popken and Doug Martin. Three candidates are running for three positions with the Soil and Water Conservation Board. The candidates include: Joe Cain, Steve Tonsfeldt, and Tony Schroeder.
Volunteers Needed For Plymouth County Drug Court
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Drug Court is looking for a few good volunteers. Jeff Neary serves as a judge for District 3 Judicial District which cover Plymouth County. Neary oversees the action on the county drug court. He says Drug Court is a means of offering probation to individuals that have been arrested for various substance abuse drug and/or alcohol charges.
Neary says Drug Court consists of community people that help the offenders try to get their lives straighten out, and back on track, and off the dependence of drugs and or alcohol.
The Plymouth County District judge says those individuals that remain in Drug Court over the long term are more likely to succeed.
Neary says those people who want to volunteer for Drug Court need to hold offenders accountable for their actions if they fail to meet the goals or standards set forth for their recovery efforts. He says offenders are at times do face consequences.
