Home News Wednesday News, December 19th

Wednesday News, December 19th

City Council Approve Skateboard Park Contracts

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council approved the contracts for the design and construction of the new skateboard park which is part of the Community Betterment Project. The city council approved the action during its Tuesday meeting. The new skateboard park will be located at the O’Toole Park
situated on the north side of town. The project has an estimate cost of $265,000 of which will be financed through private donations. The city has allocated up to $275,000 from the Community Betterment Project.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2019. City councilman Clark Goodchild inquired if the new skateboard park would be completed in time for Le Mars Sesquicentennial celebration. City Assistant Administrator Jason Vacera told Goodchild and the other council members that would depend
on the weather conditions. Vacera says from talks with the contractors, it is predicted the skateboard park would take at least three months to complete. The contracts were awarded to the Sioux City Skateboard Association and to Artisan Skateparks.

 

 

City Council Approves Action To Demolish Old Police Station

(Le Mars) — In other city council action, the council approved of the demolition of the old police station, which may take place as early as February, along with the paving of the area for a new city parking lot. The parking lot is expected to be completed by June. The city council approved action for city staff to begin proceedings to work with Dorsey and Whitney L.L.P. to expand and amend the Le Mars Highway 75 Bypass Urban Renewal Area
to include several public buildings along 12th Street south. Potential projects using the tax increment financing could include: the Wellness Center (YMCA) expansion and renovation, the outdoor pool upgrades, the convention center upgrades, the expansion of the Fire Station #2 and the 12th Street South Corridor reconstruction. Councilman Rex Knapp says by
having these projects fall under the urban renewal development area, it will mean “more options are available to the city for funding sources.”

 

 

County Supervisors Hear Salary Recommendations From Compensation Board

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard today from Larry Petersen, the chairman of the Plymouth County Compensation Board, as he delivered the salary recommendations as proposed by the Compensation Board
for the county elected officials, and for the county board of supervisors.
Peterson says the compensation board received emails and letters from each of the county officials explaining their financial salary requests. They also heard from each elected official during the compensation meeting.

The county supervisors will take the salary suggestions under advisement when they begin the budget process for the fiscal year 2019-2020.

 

 

Supervisors Hear Budget Funding Requests 

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard from various groups and organizations on Tuesday request funding for the next budget fiscal year. Judy Bowman appeared before the county governing board on behalf of the Plymouth County Historical Museum. She made a request of the
same amount that was granted last year of $15,000. Bowman says an immediate need for the museum is a new roof over a portion of the facility.

Supervisor Craig Anderson asked about the museum’s storage dilemma.

The Plymouth County Library Association appeared before the county supervisors to make a request for $100,000 to be divided evenly among the five libraries within the county. Last year, the Plymouth County Library Association was given $95,000. Cathy VanMaanen with the Council on Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence appeared before the county supervisors and
requested $20,000. VanMaanen informed the supervisors the money is critical for the welfare of the served clients, organization, and community. She says the emergency financial assistance is essential saying there are many times
when an abused victim suddenly finds themselves without the financial means to make payments for food, clothing, a car, or even a home. A year ago, Plymouth County Supervisors awarded the CSADV organization with $18,500.
The last person to appear before the county supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting to make a request for funding was Dick Sievers of the Mid-Sioux Opportunity organization. Sievers had requested $11,500, which is the same amount given
last year. Mid-Sioux Opportunity serves five counties, and extends financial assistance to lower-income households.

The Mid-Sioux Opportunity official informed the county supervisors how the allocated funding is used.

The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will consider all the funding requests when it prepares the next fiscal year budget.

 

 

Senators Comment On Farm Bill

(Washington) — Both houses of Congress have passed the long-awaited farm bill. Now the bill will go to President Trump. U-S Senator Joni Ernst is a member of the U-S Senate Agriculture Committee, and she served on the
conference committee to find a compromise between the Senate version and the House version for the farm bill legislation. Ernst visited with KLEM news about the farm bill, and was asked if the passed farm bill is a good bill?

Ernst says the new farm bill has many components, including conservation measures, as well as food and nutrition programs for the under privileged.
Many farm and commodity organizations had pushed Congress to retain the crop insurance provisions as part of the new farm legislation. Ernst says Congress recognizes the need to have a strong crop insurance program for America’s farmers.

The Iowa Republican Senator says the crop insurance provision helps protect farmers against production yield loss, as well as with revenue losses.
Although the farm bill did pass both Congressional chambers, Iowa’s other U-S Senator, Chuck Grassley, a farmer by profession, voted against the measure. Grassley says the over-all bill is a good bi-partisan measure, but he offers an explanation as to why he voted against the 2018 Farm Bill.

Grassley’s provision to limit payments was not included in the final farm bill version. Grassley says the new farm bill will make it more difficult for young and beginning farmers to get established.

The farm bill now goes to the president, and it is expected President Trump will sign the farm bill sometime this week.

 

 

340 Iowa Schools Are Struggling

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State education officials say more than 340 Iowa schools have been identified as struggling.
The Iowa Department of Education said in a report released Tuesday that 34 schools need comprehensive improvement for all students and 307 need targeted support for some student groups.
The department says the schools’ students are not meeting state
benchmarks for learning and growth.
The new Iowa School Performance Profiles ranking meets federal
requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which is succeeding the No Child Left Behind program.
The state’s new searchable online database includes data on student performance and academic growth in math and reading, high school graduation rates and proficiency of students learning English.
Struggling schools are required to create an improvement plan, and about $6 million a year in federal funding will be available to help the Iowa schools.

 

 

Dubuque Teacher Arrested After Being Intoxicated At School

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have arrested a teacher suspected of being drunk at her school in Dubuque.
Dubuque County court records say 38-year-old Erin Ellerbach, of Asbury, was taken into custody Monday afternoon at Jefferson Middle School. A Dubuque officer sent to the school reported that she had slurred speech, red and watery eyes and smelled of alcohol. A subsequent test showed she had a
blood alcohol level of nearly three times the legal limit for driving.
Ellerbach’s charged with public intoxication. She didn’t immediately respond to a phone message Wednesday from The Associated Press. The court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.
The records also say school officials found cans of flavored alcoholic beverages in her office.
School district spokesman Mike Cyze says Ellerbach has resigned her position.