(LE MARS)–The value of property in Plymouth County is up in a new report from Auditor Stacey Feldman.
The total is one-billion 192-million 677-thousand 676 dollars ($1,192,677,676) in taxable valuation. According to Feldman, the 64-million dollar increase is divided between rural and urban property.
The valuation of urban property increased twenty-eight-point-two-million dollars ($28,281,664). The valuation of rural property increased 36-million dollars ($36,051,641).
The new figures will be used by local governments to determine what property tax levies they’ll use for the 2011-2012 budgets for taxes payment in the fall and also in the spring of next year.
Henrich chairs Plymouth County Board of Supervisors
(LE MARS)–An Akron man is chairing the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors for a third year.
Supervisors Monday elected officers for 2011. Auditor Stacey Feldman was temporary chair when the motion by Don Kass was seconded by Craig Anderson to appoint Jim Henrich as chair.
Listen here
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Supervisor Mark Loutsch seconded a motion by Anderson to appoint Kass as Vice Chair for 2011.
Henrich and Kass had held the offices in 2010.
Judge Jeffrey Neary administered the oath of office to new District 1 Supervisor Jack Guenthner who said he’d support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Iowa.
Listen here
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Guenthner said he’d visited with Gordon Greene of Le Mars prior to beginning his work Monday. His comment about a talk with the retiring supervisor came during appointments of supervisors to various committees and boards for 2011.
For photos of the reorganized board of supervisors and the oath of office , click on the county’s website www.co.plymouth.ia.us
Council considers assignments, fees
(LE MARS)–Fees and charges and assignments are agenda items for the Le Mars City Council meeting at noon today.
According to the agenda, the 2011 Mayor, Council, and Staff assignments reflect two changes. The new listing of appointments places Fire-Rescue Chief David Schipper’s name rather than retired chief Wayne Schipper on the city assignments.
The other change is the addition of Public Works assistant superintendent Brad Eppling to the Le Mars Parks and Recreation Committee
The fees, charges and licenses are also before the Council during the public meeting this afternoon. They cover everything from ambulance charges to building permits and utility rates.
The water rates section includes a note that new rates will be coming after a study is completed.
The property where the Can Farm is located has been recommended for a zoning change after a review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The change is from general industrial to a general business district and allows someone to live on the property. The change was requested by the new owners of the beverage container redemption business. The Council considers the change for a second time today.
NOTE: AGENDA ORDER SUBJECT TO CHANGE
LE MARS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2011, 12:00 P.M.
AGENDA
A. CALL TO ORDER – MAYOR
ROLL CALL – CITY CLERK
COUNCILMEMBERS: NELSON_____, KNAPP_____ REXWINKEL_____,
LEONARD______, IHRKE_______
B. GENERAL DISCUSSION
1.Citizens
2. “Thumbs Up” Award
C.CONSENT ITEMS
All items listed under “Consent” Agenda will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on those items unless a request is made prior to the time the Council votes on the motion.
1.Approval of December 21, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes
2.List of Bills for Period Ending 12/31/10
3.Transfer of Beer Permit (Pizza Hut)
4.Designation of Official Newspaper for 2011
5.Mayor/Council/Staff Assignments for 2011
D. ACTION ITEMS
1.Rezoning – Can Farm
2.List of Fees, Charges and Licenses
E.DISCUSSION
1.Council/Mayor
2.City Administrator/Public Works Director
3.Assistant City Administrator
F.ADJOURNMENT
Next Resolution No. 11-1
Next Ordinance No. 892
Le Mars City Council Meeting
Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 12:00 P.M.
Minutes
Mayor Kirchoff presided. Present: Ihrke, Rexwinkel, Leonard, Nelson, Knapp. Absent: None.
NOTE: A hearing was held to hear public comment regarding rezoning The Can Farm from I-2 (General Industrial District) to B-2 (General Business District) and no oral or written objections were received.
Nelson moved, Rexwinkel seconded the first reading of Ordinance No. 891 Amending Zoning Districts be approved. On Roll Call: Ayes: Ihrke, Leonard, Knapp, Nelson, Rexwinkel. Nays: None.
Nelson moved, Leonard seconded that the following items be approved under the “Consent Agenda.” On Roll Call: Ayes: All present. Nays: None.
-Regular meeting minutes of December 7, 2010.
-List of bills for period ending 12/17/10.
-Acknowledge receipt of November 2010 Financial Statement.
-Commercial Solid Waste Collection Licenses for 2011 to Gill Hauling, Orange City Sanitation, Waste Management and Van’s Sanitation.
Knapp moved, Ihrke seconded that up to $20,000 of City funds be authorized for improvements to the current Arts Center building as determined by City Staff or to relocate and update an alternate building. On Roll Call: Ayes: All present. Nays: None.
Nelson moved, Leonard seconded the revised Phase I Contract with DGR & Associates for the Iowa 3 Recreation Trail Project in the amount of $29,306 be approved. On Roll Call: Ayes: Rexwinkel, Leonard, Nelson. Nays: Ihrke, Knapp.
Knapp moved, Nelson seconded the replacement of audio equipment in the City Council Chambers at a cost not to exceed $6,000 be authorized. On Roll Call: Ayes: All present. Nays: None.
Knapp moved, Nelson seconded Resolution No. 10-49 approving application for Airport Improvement Program Assistance be adopted. On Roll Call: Ayes: Rexwinkel, Ihrke, Leonard, Knapp, Nelson. Nays: None.
Rexwinkel moved, Ihrke seconded the second reading of Ordinance No. 890 Amending Chapter 124 be approved. On Roll Call: Ayes: Knapp, Leonard, Nelson, Rexwinkel, Ihrke. Nays: None.
Knapp moved, Ihrke seconded the third reading of Ordinance No. 890 Amending chapter 124 be waived. On Roll Call: Ayes: Nelson, Rexwinkel, Leonard, Knapp, Ihrke. Nays: None.
Ihrke moved, Nelson seconded Ordinance No. 890 Amending Chapter 124 be adopted on its second reading. On Roll Call: Ayes: Knapp, Rexwinkel, Leonard, Ihrke, Nelson. Nays: None.
Ihrke moved, Nelson seconded to enter Closed Session under Iowa Code 21.5c concerning a matter that is presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation. On Roll Call: Ayes: Knapp, Rexwinkel, Leonard, Ihrke, Nelson. Nays: None.
Rexwinkel moved, Ihrke seconded to move out of Closed Session. On Roll Call: Ayes: All present. Nays: None.
Ihrke moved, Nelson seconded to enter Closed Session under Iowa Code Section 20.17 (3) concerning Collective Bargaining where negotiating sessions and strategy meetings of public employers shall be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 21, open meetings. On Roll Call: Ayes: Knapp, Rexwinkel, Leonard, Ihrke, Nelson. Nays: None.
Rexwinkel moved, Ihrke seconded to move out of Closed Session. On Roll Call: Ayes: All present. Nays: None.
Rexwinkel moved, Ihrke seconded the meeting be adjourned at 1:55 P.M.
_________________________________________________
Beverly Langel, City ClerkDick Kirchoff, Mayor
CITY OF LE MARS, IOWA
ConsentREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Date:
January 4, 2011
Description:
List of Bills for Period Ending 12/31/10
Item No.
C-2
Attached is the list of bills for the period ending 12/31/10
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED
Approval of bills for the period
ending 12/31/10
(No Roll Call)
CITY OF LE MARS, IOWA
ConsentREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Date:
January 4, 2011
Description:
Transfer of Beer Permit (Pizza Hut)
Item No.
C-3
Application has been received from the Pizza Hut for Permanent Transfer of their Class B Beer Permit from 785 Hawkeye Ave S.W. to 1255 Silent Prairie Road effective January 15, 2011.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED
Approval of Permanent Transfer of Class B Beer Permit for Pizza Hut, subject to final inspection.
(No Roll Call)
CITY OF LE MARS, IOWA
Consent
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Date:
January 4, 2011
Description:
Designation of Official Newspaper for 2011
Item No.
C-4
Each year the Council establishes an official newspaper for legal publication and printing. The Le Mars Daily Sentinel has again proposed to furnish this for 2011. (Letter attached)
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED
Motion establishing the Le Mars Daily Sentinel as the official newspaper for the City of
Le Mars for 2011.
(No Roll Call)
CITY OF LE MARS, IOWA
ConsentREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTIONDate:
January 4, 2011
Description:
Mayor/Council/Staff Assignments for 2011
Item No.
C-5
Information:
Attached is an update of the Mayor/Council/Staff Assignments for 2011.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends assignments to all Committees as shown on the attached.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED
Motion approving the Mayor/Council/Staff Assignments for 2011 (or as amended).
(No Roll Call)
CITY OF LE MARS, IOWA
Action
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Date:
January 4, 2011
Description:
Rezoning – Can Farm
Item No.
D-1
Information:
At its December 21, 2010 meeting, the Council held a public hearing and approved the first reading of an Ordinance regarding rezoning The Can Farm from I-2 (General Industrial District) to B-2 (General Business District). The Planning and Zoning Commission considered the rezoning at their November 30, 2010 meeting and the Commission is recommending the rezoning. A map is attached showing the area under consideration.
Staff Recommendation:
Approve the rezoning ordinance.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED
Motion approving the second reading of Ordinance No. 891 Amending Zoning Districts.
(Roll Call)
(and, if desired)
Motion waiving the third reading of Ordinance No. 891 Amending Zoning Districts.
(Roll Call)
Motion adopting Ordinance No. 891 Amending Zoning Districts on its second reading.
(Roll Call)
CITY OF LE MARS, IOWA
Action
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Date:
January 4, 2011
Description:
List of Fees, Charges and Licenses
Item No.
D-2
Attached is a list of various fees, charges, and licenses, which show charges as follows:
1)Current 2010 Fees, Charges and Licenses
2)Proposed 2011 Fees, Charges and Licenses
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED
Motion adopting Resolution No.______ approving the recommended List of Fees, Charges and Licenses for calendar year 2011, (with or without) amendment.
(Roll Call)
Fire damages Kingsley home
(KINGSLEY) A fire fought by three departments damaged a home in Kingsley Saturday night.
Kingsley fire fighters were called to 414 Clarendon Street at 8:30 Saturday night. The fire was reported to be an electrical fire in the walls of the house.
Moville and Remsen Fire Departments were asked to provide manpower for the fire.
Kingsley fire fighters were out on the call for more than three hours. (HINTON)–Four people were injured in a head-on collision just north of Sioux City early Sunday afternoon.
The Iowa State Patrol reports 44-year-old Katherine McCarthy of Sioux City was driving east on South Ridge Road approaching the stop sign at county road K-22.
The Patrol’s investigation stated McCarthy’s S-U-V slid through the stop sign as she was attempting to turn south without stopping. McCarthy’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck an S-U-V on K-22 head-on.
The driver on K-22, 73-year-old Gordon Elliott of Hinton and his passenger, 73-year-old Mary Jane Elliot, were injured. McCarthy and her passenger, 16-year-old Ryan McCarthy of Sioux City were also injured.
All four were taken to Mercy Medical Center by Hinton Ambulance.
Smith travels to Jamaica for humanitarian help
(Cedar Rapids) Two University of Northern Iowa students took time out of a recent vacation to Jamaica to deliver school supplies and T-shirts to students who attend a school with dirt floors and no running water. Zach Riesberg from Carroll and Stephanie Smith from Emmetsburg were among a small group of college students rewarded with the trip to Jamaica by the Southwestern Company. Riesberg and Smith interned at Southwestern last summer. Smith says she was a bit shocked by the conditions at the New Vision School – located in Runaway Bay, Jamaica.
Riesberg expected the condition of school would make for a somber atmosphere inside.
Smith and Riesberg are members of UNI’s chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE), a student organization within the College of Business Administration. They gave the Jamaican school children UNI T-shirts that were left over from homecoming sales. Smith and Riesberg also spent time playing the children and both say the pre-Thanksgiving trip has inspired them to do more charitable work in the future.
“In fact, next semester, I’ll be traveling to Africa for a class…and I plan to do the same thing over there with all of our extra T-shirts from the spring,” Riesberg said. Riesberg, 21, is a junior at UNI majoring in marketing. Smith, 22, is a senior communication/public relations major. (News report by Radio Iowa)
Minnesota man gets prison for federal crimes in Iowa
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) A Minnesota man convicted of kidnapping and drug dealing in northwest Iowa has been given 50 years in federal prison.
A news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Stephanie Rose states 29-year-old German Robles-Garcia, of Minneapolis, was convicted in August and sentenced last month. Robles-Garcia must serve five years of supervised release after he leaves prison.
Trial evidence says Robles-Garcia conspired to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine from April 2009 through about February 2010 in the Sioux City area.
He also traveled to Iowa to collect about $100,000 in sales proceeds owed him by a fellow drug dealer. Prosecutors say Robles-Garcia and two accomplices kidnapped another man, held a gun to his head and demanded to know where the other drug dealer was.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Culver orders $83.7 million spending cut
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Democratic Gov. Chet Culver has ordered $83.7 million in cuts to balance this year’s budget, exercising authority given to him last year by the Legislature as it sought to streamline state spending.
Culver did restore some funding to crucial agencies, including the departments of corrections, human services and public safety. Culver says he’s using $5 million from the state’s cash reserve to restore some of the funding.
The governor says the spending cuts were the final piece of a $300 million package of reductions lawmakers approved during last year’s session. Culver says he’s directed his staff to meet with Republican Gov.-elect Terry Branstad to discuss the cuts.
Branstad defeated Culver in the November election. He will be sworn in Jan. 14.
Branstad says he’s working on preschool plan
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov.-elect Terry Branstad said his staff is hammering out details of a plan to expand preschool offerings in Iowa, but he says parents who can afford the programs will be asked to pay for their children.
Branstad discussed preschool education Monday during a meeting with education and budget aides. The education system is one of the biggest parts of the state budget.
During the campaign, the Republican Branstad criticized Democratic Gov. Chet Culver for expanding preschool to most 4-year-olds. Branstad says he supports preschool but that the state couldn’t afford the current program.
Branstad added at the meeting that he wants to examine mandates that are required of local districts but not funded by the state. He says those requirements can prove costly to taxpayers.
Schultz sworn in as Iowa secretary of state
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Council Bluffs Republican Matt Schultz has taken the oath of office as Iowa’s new secretary of state.
Schultz was sworn in Monday during a brief ceremony at the Statehouse.
He defeated incumbent Democrat Michael Mauro in the November election.
Schultz served on the Council Bluffs City Council before seeking statewide office. In assuming the office, Schultz becomes the state’s top election official.
During the campaign, Schultz pledged to use the office as a platform to bolster the state’s economic development efforts, saying the mission of the office needed to be expanded.
Cause of deadly Iowa fire may remain mystery
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The cause of a fire that killed three people in a mobile home near Arlington in northeast Iowa may never be solved.
The Des Moines Register reports Iowa Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds says the cause is currently listed as undetermined, but there are at least three possible sources a wood-burning stove, unattended space heaters or smoking materials.
The fire broke out about 4 a.m. Saturday.
Seventy-three-year-old Gerald Rodenberg, and his grandsons, 6-year-old Henry Rodenberg and 5-year-old Ian Rodenberg, died in the blaze. The children’s’ parents and their 9-year-old son were injured.
Officials say the victims were in two adjacent trailers connected by a covered walkway.
Ex-Iowa football player faces sexual assault trial
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) A former University of Iowa football player is scheduled to stand trial next week on charges that he sexually abused a female athlete in a university dorm room in 2007.
Former Hawkeye Cedric Everson is charged with second-degree sexual abuse in the attack. Prosecutors say Everson had sex with the woman while she was asleep after his teammate, Abe Satterfield, had sex with her.
Satterfield has pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to inflict serious injury and agreed to testify against Everson.
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz and several current and former players also are expected to testify in the trial, which begins Jan. 10.
The 21-year-old Everson has pleaded not guilty. His attorney did not return phone messages.
Des Moines police investigate car fires
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Des Moines police are investigating two car fires at an apartment complex that officials say were started by homemade firebombs.
The fires started about 3 a.m. Monday at Deer Ridge Apartments.
Sgt. Jeff Edwards told The Des Moines Register that it appears three Molotov cocktails were tossed at the manager’s building. They bounced off and started fires on the ground. One of the devices rolled under a car in the parking lot and set it on fire. The fire then spread to another car.
Edwards says a worker was in the manager’s building at the time but was not injured. No arrests have been made.
Editor moving from Des Moines to Cincinnati
CINCINNATI (AP) The Cincinnati Enquirer has named Carolyn Washburn, editor of The Des Moines Register, as top editor of the Ohio newspaper.
The Enquirer announced the appointment Monday.
The 48-year-old Washburn has been editor at the Iowa newspaper since 2005. She will be succeeded by Rick Green, editor of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif.
She succeeds Tom Callinan, who has retired.
All three newspapers are owned by Gannett Co.
Washburn also has been an editor at the Times Union and the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y., and at the Idaho Statesman. She has been a reporter at the Lansing State Journal in Michigan, USA Today and the Times Union.
The Enquirer has a weekday circulation of about 158,000. The Des Moines Register has a circulation of about 109,000 on weekdays.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Submit your news release, confidential news tip or news idea by email klemnews@lemarscomm or by calling 712.546.4121 or 712.546.9672 fax.
