Le Mars City Council Selects Mike Wise As New Ambulance Director
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council chambers had standing room only as people gathered Tuesday afternoon to see the outcome of the naming of the new Le Mars Ambulance Director. Many of the people were there to show support for Greg Gengler, the Assistant Ambulance Director. Six people approached the podium to offer testimonials supporting Greg Gengler, beginning with the Merrill Ambulance Director.
Next up was the Remsen Ambulance Director, Kevin Rollin, as he approached the podium.
Councilman Rex Knapp voiced his opinion and said he would go against the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee decision, and would throw his support behind Greg Gengler. Councilman Clark Goodchild was scolding those Le Mars EMT’s who have quit, and walked away from their positions.
Goodchild reminded the gathering that when the city was searching for a new police chief, there were some applicants that had a higher rank than Kevin Vande Vegte, and they were not selected, but there were no police officers that had quit due to the naming of Kevin Vande Vegte as the new police
chief. Goodchild suggested the EMT volunteers to give the new director, who ever that would be, a chance. Goodchild also made the motion to not follow the Public Safety Committee’s recommendation, and to instead name Greg Gengler as the new Director of the Le Mars Ambulance Services. The motion
by Goodchild failed on a 3 to 2 vote. Councilman Ken Nelson then offered the motion of the recommendation to have Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise named as the new Director of the Le Mars Ambulance Service. The vote passed 3 to 2 with Nelson, Wick, and Donlin voting affirmative, and Goodchild and Knapp voting against having Mike Wise as the appointed ambulance director.
Of the six people who spoke, five were from neighboring communities from Merrill and Remsen. Three are volunteer EMT’s. Following the vote, Greg Gengler then approached the podium to announce that he would no longer continue as the Assistant Ambulance Director. He encouraged his fellow EMT
volunteers to “keep the team going, and informed his colleagues that “we’re a team.”
Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Schipper, who was absent during the voting of the new director due to responding to an emergency accident, attended the council meeting later, and
thanked Mike Wise for his service as the Assistant Fire Chief. Schipper says Wise has done an “outstanding job” for the city, and he will continue to do an outstanding job in his new position.
Near the end of the council meeting, Mike Wise was then invited to the podium. He thanked the council members for their approval and support, and promised he would visit with the Le Mars Ambulance Service volunteers, and he
assured the community, he would work on their behalf.
Republican Legislative Leaders Say They Won’t Hold Special Hearings On Glenwood Resource Center
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Republican legislative leaders say they aren’t planning to hold oversight committee meetings about problems at an Iowa care center for people with intellectual disabilities. Incoming House Speaker Pat Grassley says lawmakers are waiting to hear results of federal
and state investigations into Glenwood Resource Center issues before acting.
Grassley says House leaders were told last year by Iowa human services officials there was no need for an investigation. The federal inquiry announced in November appears focused on whether the state violated federal rights of residents through unnecessary experiments. Lawmakers and Gov. Kim
Reynolds spoke about the issue Tuesday during the AP’s annual legislative forum.
Ankeny Adopts Human Rights Commission
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – Ankeny leaders are taking steps to form the city’s first human rights commission and bring the Des Moines suburb into compliance with state law. The Des Moines Register reports that City Council members on Monday discussed a draft ordinance for a commission that would include five volunteer members. Iowa requires cities with more than 29,000
people to have such a human rights agency. Ankeny’s population passed that mark more than 15 years ago and now stands at around 65,000. City Administrator David Jones said city officials learned of the oversight only a few months ago.
Private Utility Company Finds Contaminants In Water Wells That Serve Amana Colonies
MIDDLE AMANA, Iowa (AP) – A private utility providing water to 850 customers in east-central Iowa’s Amana Colonies has stopped using three wells because tests show a nitrate level above federal safety standards. The Amana Society Service Co. instead is using water from three other wells that have tested as safe. The Gazette reports that the company has warned
customers to avoid giving tap water to infants or nursing mothers. Nitrate in drinking water has been linked to blue-baby syndrome. Officials don’t know why the nitrate levels rose in late fall. Spring usually is the season for elevated nitrate as melting snow washes fertilizer off farm fields.
Webster City Council Rejects Idea To Sell Park
WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) – The City Council in Webster City has rejected a plan to sell a portion of a city park, heeding the pleas from residents who filled the meeting chamber at City Hall. The vote Monday night deflated a proposal to sell 1.25 acres of East Twin Park to a developer that wants to build a Dollar General store at the site. The Messenger reported that some
people who lined the sides of the council chamber held signs that said “Save the park” and “Webster City is not for sale.” Nearly 30 people spoke against the sale; no member of the public rose in favor.
