County Supervisors Approve Zoning Fee Increases
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors took action during Tuesday’s meeting to raise several of the fees associated with the county’s zoning ordinances. County Zoning Administrator Alan Luckin appeared before the county board to review the zoning rates. Luckin says it has been several years since the zoning rates were last increased. The county zoning
administrator says the county board of supervisors raised the fees on six different zoning items.
Luckin says the county board of supervisors also addressed building permits for homes.
Luckin says there were a few categories the fees were left the same.
With the possibility of Plymouth County having a wind turbine farm located within the county, according to Luckin, the supervisors wanted to review the current rates and update the zoning fees to be more in line with other surrounding counties for what they charge. The county zoning administrator says once the supervisors wanted to look at the rates charged for windmill
turbines, they then decided to review all the zoning rates and fees. Luckin says when he researched the zoning fees of counties across Iowa, he saw those rates were all over the board.
The new zoning ordinance rates and fees will take effect on June 1st.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Named Among 67 Critical Access Hospitals To Know
(Le Mars) — This week is National Hospital Week, and Floyd Valley Healthcare was given some good news recently. Becker’s Healthcare survey announced that Floyd Valley Healthcare is among their list of 67 Critical Access Hospitals to know. In recognizing Floyd Valley Healthcare, Becker’s wrote:
“Floyd Valley Healthcare has its roots serving the Le Mars, Iowa community since 1966. In 2014, the hospital began a multi-million dollar project to complete three additions, the largest of which would cost $27.4 million and add 23,000 square feet of space. In 2019, the Chartis Center for Rural Health analytics named Floyd Valley Healthcare among the top 100 Critical
Access Hospitals in the nation. The year before, Floyd Valley earned the Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s best hospitals for Obstetrics.
Floyd Valley Healthcare is one of six Critical Access Hospitals in the state of Iowa that was recognized. Critical Access Hospitals have 25 or fewer inpatient beds and also offer 24/7 emergency care and are located in rural areas.
Hornick Residents Still Contending With Flooding Issues
(Sioux City) — It’s been nearly two months since floodwaters forced the residents of the Woodbury County town of Hornick to evacuate. Mayor Scott Mitchell says the clean up and rebuilding efforts on homes and businesses are continuing.
(photo contributed.)
Mitchell says the city is also looking to improve
infrastructure to prevent flooding of that magnitude in the future.
Mitchell made his comments Monday after being honored by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department as the citizen of the year.
Sioux City Approves Expo Center
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City officials have approved nearly $15 million for a new center featuring 80,000 feet of exposition space that they hope will attract events such as trade show and youth sports tournaments.
The Sioux City Journal reports that the City Council awarded the
contract to L&L Builders on Monday for the Siouxland Expo Center project. The contract bid was over $2 million higher than initial projections.
The multifunctional venue will be constructed on a plot of land near Interstate 29 and the Floyd River channel.
The Expo Center is part of the downtown Sioux City Reinvestment District , which includes three other projects that developers say could generate a total $13.5 million in hotel and sales taxes.
The facility is expected to start hosting events in 2020.
—
Fort Madison City Council Approves Action To Have City Featured On River Tour Stop
FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) – A southeastern Iowa city council has taken a step toward making the city a future stop for Mississippi River cruise ships.
The Fort Madison council approved further talks between city staffers and Viking Cruise Lines representatives. The Swiss-based company is planning seven-day cruises that would start in St. Louis and end in St. Paul, Minnesota. Viking also has talked to Dubuque about building a dock.
Viking would conduct its 11-stop cruises from July until October, with two weekly stops in Fort Madison where passengers could get off to see the local sights.
City Manager David Varley and Mayor Brad Randolph told the Fort Madison council last week that Viking has agreed to contribute $500,000 toward dock construction. The city would spend $1.2 million more.
Details Regarding Iowa City Officer Shooting Now Released
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the names of two officers and a burglary suspect they shot in Iowa City.
The shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. Thursday after the officers responded to burglar alarms at two businesses on the south side of the city.
The Iowa Public Safety Department said in a news release Tuesday that Officers Travis Neeld and Alex Stricker spotted 34-year-old Michael Caceres in the area and chased him on foot to a fenced area at Big Ten Rentals, where the shooting occurred.
Department Special Agent Ryan Herman said he could not yet comment on whether Caceres was armed or precisely what caused the officers to shoot him.
Both officers are on administrative leave.
The department says Caceres remains hospitalized in stable condition.
