City Council Decides To Keep Alley Closed

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council voted 3 to 2 to keep an alley closed. A proposal was brought before the council for their consideration to open the alley at the 800 block between 3rd Avenue southeast and 4th Avenue southeast. The alley is only partially open with part of it having been closed for more than 20
years. City code ordinance officer Greg Smidt reported to the council that the south half of the said alley has been closed for probably 20 years, but Smidt did not know the exact date for the alley to have been closed. Smidt informed the city council the reason for the alley to have originally been closed was due to a
large “dip” in the middle of the stretch of alley and young drivers would use the alley to speed through, and see if they could get their vehicles to be airborne.


Smidt reported to the city council he had sent a survey letter to ten residences adjoining the alley, asking for their opinion whether or not the alley should be re-opened. Smidt estimated the costs to the city at about $5,000 if the city were to re-open the closed alley. Smidt says the results were evenly split with
five residents saying they wanted the alley to remain closed, four residents saying they wanted the alley to be open, and one resident not responding. Smidt says when he spoke to one of the “no” residents, he indicated he didn’t care one way or the other. At Tuesday’s city council meeting, four residents living within
the area indicated they did not want the alley to be re-opened citing more traffic, dust, noise, and other factors for their opposition. Councilman Ken Nelson said he would have preferred to table the issue, allowing city staff to conduct more research into the specific alley.

 

City Administrator, Scott Langel cautioned the city council to use careful consideration when making their decision. Langel cautioned the council that it would need to be consistent with future related rulings. However, city councilman Clark Goodchild insisted the council take a stand on the issue, saying all the information that was needed for the decision has already been gathered. Goodchild made the motion calling for the council to kill the proposal opening the alley, and to leave the situation alone. Goodchild quoted a cliche’ saying “if its not broke, don’t fix it.”
Councilman John Rexwinkel seconed Goodchild’s motion. When the votes were taken; Goodchild, Rexwinkel, and Wick voted to keep the alley closed, and Knapp and Nelson had voted the opposite.