Le Mars Receives A Lower ISO Rating
(Le Mars) — The city of Le Mars was given some good news on Tuesday during the weekly meeting of the city council. According to a recent study by the Insurance Survey Organization, (ISO) Le Mars
now ranks among the top four percent of Iowa communities for being safe as per the public
protection classification. The lower the rating, the better for the community in terms of lower insurance premiums. Due to many improvements that were conducted through the years, Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper told the council that Le Mars now has an enviable rating.
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The Le Mars Fire Chief believes the improved insurance rating will lead to lower insurance costs for home-owners, business owners, and the city itself.
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Schipper sees the new improved insurance rating as an economic development tool for the city.
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City Council Approves Hy-Vee Requests For Street Improvements
(Le Mars) — The City Council approved a request by Hy-Vee officials to grant the supermarket chain the opportunity make improvements on Lincoln Street Southwest in anticipation of the location for the new store. Construction would not begin until 2014 and is expected to be completed by 2015. The council agreed to widen Lincoln Street to provide a left hand turning lane. The city will provide better drainage along Lincoln Street, and the city will extend a sanity sewer line along Lincoln Street. The expected cost of the improvements will be between $100,000 and $125,000 and will be funded through the Le Mars Urban Renewal T-I-F or the Joint T-I-F.
Plymouth County Receives Nearly $19,000 From Insurance Company
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County was given a check for nearly $19 thousand dollars from its insurance company. Rob Bixenmann of Le Mars, who serves as the county’s insurance agent, presented the check to the County Board of Supervisors.
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A total of 77 Iowa counties make up the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool. Clarence Hoffman, the president of the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool also attended today’s Supervisor meeting. He says the association formed in 1986, mainly because of an insurance carrier that pulled out of the state.
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Also today, the supervisors heard from Brian Chamberlain of Warrior Entertainment who shared information regarding the possible casino license in Sioux City. Chamberlain is seeking a letter of support.
Voters Can Retain WITCC Tax Levy
(Sioux City) — Voters have the opportunity to cast their ballot today for the continuation of a tax levy that benefits Western Iowa Technical Community College. Dr. Julie Stolik serves as the Dean of External Relations for Western Iowa Tech, and she says the tax levy has been on-going for a number of years.
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Stolik says the tax levy remains the same as it has been, and it will be for a ten-year duration. She says the levy is quite minimal for tax payers.
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The Western Iowa Tech official says the tax levy supports many vocational programs offered by the area community college.
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Before voting, you may need to contact the Plymouth County Auditor’s office to see where voting polls are located, since there are only a few locations established.
Remsen-Union Holding Special School Election
(Remsen) — Residents living within the Remsen-Union community school district will have the opportunity to vote in a special school election today. At issue is whether voters will want to change the school board representation to be elected from an at-large position, instead of a specific district. School officials say that at times a district may not have anyone wanting to pursue a position on the school board, while another district may have multiple candidates.
Northwestern College’s Enrollment On the Increase
(Orange City) — Northwestern College’s spring enrollment is 1,170, that’s an increase of 41 students from last year and the highest figure since 2008 Kenton Pauls, dean of enrollment management, says the increased enrollment resulted from strong retention of current students and growth in online learners. The retention rate of freshmen who returned for the spring semester was over 92 percent. He cited as an example the new first-year seminar, which was taken by 38 percent of freshmen.
Of them, 94 percent came back to campus after Christmas break.
