Le Mars Receives $450,000 Grant From Iowa Economic Development Authority
(Des Moines) — Good news was given to the city of Le Mars Wednesday, when the Community Attraction and Tourism Board, as part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority approved a grant to Le Mars for the Community Betterment Project 2.
Le Mars was one of five recipients of the state grant. The CAT committee approved a grant of $450,000. City officials had requested $480,600. Mayor Dick Kirchoff says he is pleased about the city receiving the grant, and it will help
with the quality of life in Le Mars.
Kirchoff says city officials were in Des Moines on various occasions to submit the proposal and to negotiate with the Community Attraction Tourism board about the amount of the grant.
Although the city requested a larger amount, Kirchoff says he is not disappointed with the amount the Iowa Economic Development Authority ended up giving to Le Mars for the Community Betterment Project.
The Le Mars mayor says the city will use the grant money for continued improvements to the city’s Municipal Park, improvements to the BMX bicycle track, and the relocation of the skateboard park.
The total amount of money given to Iowa communities by the Iowa Economic Development Authority was more than $2.2 million dollars.
Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Issues Quarterly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has issued its quarterly report. During the last three months, the fire and rescue department responded to 39 fires…32 rescues…29 investigations….eight mutual aid calls, and 55 requests for services, for a total of 163 calls.
McGinnis Honored As Chamber “Employee Of the Month”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce honored its December “Employee of the Month” during a Chamber coffee held at Northwest Bank. The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Employee of the month is Rebecca McGinnis. Rebecca is the Wealth Management Assistant for Northwest Wealth Management in Le Mars. Rebecca has been employed with Northwest Bank since 2003. She has dedicated her time
and provided wonderful customer service to the clients and customers of Northwest Bank. She has been a wonderful employee who has also volunteered for additional duties helping fill in at Northwest Wealth Management home office and
other locations within the organization. Rebecca McGinnis recently dedicated many hours outside of work to study and prepare herself to take and pass the series 65 exam. This allows her to become an investment adviser representative
and to provide investment advice to clients. The Le Mars staff of Northwest Bank and Northwest Wealth Management congratulates Rebecca on this honor and thank her for her continued excellent service to the clients and customers of
Northwest Bank and Northwest Wealth Management.
Byrne Elected As President of Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
(Des Moines) — The Chief Executive Officer of Plymouth Energy, the ethanol processing plant located in Merrill, has recently been elected as president of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Eamonn Byrne was elected to president’s position during the annual meeting of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association held December 8th in Des Moines. After being elected to the top position, Byrne says he looks forward to working with Donald Trump’s administration to implement a robust Renewable Fuels Standard that ensures greater consumer choice at the
pump. Byrne says, “here in Iowa, we will be working to extend the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, the very successful public-private cost share grants that have been instrumental in making higher ethanol and biodiesel blends more accessible to more Iowans”. Iowa is nation’s leader in renewable fuels
production. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4 billion gallons annually, including nearly 55 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce more than 315 million gallons annually.
Casinos Say They Don’t Want Audits To Be Public
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A group of Iowa casinos wants to make their annual audits confidential and stop releasing them to the public.
16 of the 19 state-regulated Iowa casinos have joined a lawsuit challenging the release of those financial records.
Wes Ehrecke, president of the Iowa Gaming Association, says the audits include trade secrets that shouldn’t be released publicly.
But the reports have long been public in Iowa, and they are relied upon to gauge the health of the industry. Last year, Iowa’s casinos paid over $312 million in gambling taxes and contributed nearly $40 million to charities.
The groups that rely on charitable contributions from casinos or gambling taxes have a particular interest in the financial reports.
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Legislative Services Anticipates Budget Shortfall
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Legislative Services Agency estimates Iowa faces a shortfall of about $132 million in its current budget. The estimate follows another panel’s forecast of $7.2 billion in revenue for the current budget year, down $96 million. The legislative agency tacked on an extra $22 million in
additional Medicaid costs. A separate group previously determined the Medicaid shortage, which includes a decision by officials to pay about $33 million more to three insurance companies that oversee the program.
Linn County Supervisors Approve Minimum Wage Increase
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Linn County plans to enact a new higher minimum wage on Jan. 1, despite a request from one supervisor to delay the move until summer.
Supervisor Brent Oleson requested the delay until July 1 because he believes state lawmakers will throw out all county wage ordinances in the upcoming legislative session.
Oleson thought he had the support of two supervisors to approve the delay. But when the formal vote came Wednesday afternoon, Supervisor James Houser said he had changed his mind based on new information.
Linn County supervisors voted in September to raise the $7.25 minimum wage by a dollar each Jan. 1 until 2019, when it will reach $10.25.
The vote Wednesday to keep the county minimum wage hike passed 3-2.
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Death Of Man Falling From Tree Ruled As An Accident
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – The death of a Mason City man found in the street in August has been ruled an accident.
Mason City Police Lt. Rich Jensen said Wednesday that 65-year-old Dennis Mertz was trying to free a tree branch when he fell on Aug. 11.
Mertz fell from a ladder onto the street in the path of tractor-trailer truck, and the back tires of the truck’s trailer ran over him.
The truck’s driver, 54-year-old Kevin Casad of Kincaid, Illinois, told police he saw Mertz fall and stopped to help.
Jensen says no charges will be filed against Casad.
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