Residents Oppose Re-zoning Of Area Surrounding Nor-Am
(Le Mars) — Nearly a dozen people attended the Le Mars City Council meeting on Tuesday to share their concerns about a possible re-zoning of property owned and operated by Nor-Am cold storage located near 6th Avenue southwest. The current property is sub-divided into three separate zones including residential, business, and industry. The city is looking at re-zoning the property so the entire area would fall under one category, and be consistent. However, residents living near the Nor-Am facility oppose any change in zoning ordinances. They fear a change to naming the area as business or industrial would mean additional expansion by Nor-Am, which would mean more trucks, more noise, more dust, and less safety for children that play in the neighborhood. Several residents signed a petition that was submitted to the city council stating they opposed any zoning changes. Diane Huls who resides at 335 8th Avenue southwest, lives adjacent to the Nor-Am facility. She was the first to speak against the proposed zoning change.
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Councilman Rex Knapp tried to reassure the residents that Nor-Am has not given any indication to the city that they have any interest in expanding at the present location where the former Harker’s meats once operated. City Administrator Scott Langel informed the group that the facility was first constructed in the 1960’s, and since that time, nothing has ever changed. Still, some of the gathered residents from the area in question were convinced the packaging and cold storage plant intends to expand. The city council voted down an earlier resolution that would change the area to be classified as an Industrial 3 area. There was some consensus among the city council members to re-classify the area as a business 2 zone, which would essentially allow Nor-Am to continue as they have done so in the past. Since the original resolution was voted down, the council must now approach the city planning and zoning board and start the process over again, if they intend to change the zoning categories.
Compensation Board Recommends Salary Increases For County Elected Employees
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard from the County Compensation Board during Tuesday morning’s meeting as to the salary recommendations for county elected employees. Larry Petersen, a member of the Compensation board, gave the report for the supervisors to consider.
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Petersen informed the supervisors, the compensation board believes Plymouth County is fortunate to have the high quality county employees.
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Petersen says the county board of supervisors will have the last word on the issue, as they prepare the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Mid-Sioux Opportunity Request Funding From County Supervisors
(Le Mars) — In other action by the county supervisors, they heard a budget request from Dick Sievers, the executive director with Mid-Sioux Opportunity, based in Remsen. Sievers says that Mid-Sioux serves about 10,600 people. is seeking an allotment of $11,500. Sievers says $10,000 is for outreach programs, and the other $1500 is for family development on self-sufficiency. Sievers informed the Plymouth County Supervisors that all money from Plymouth County will stay in Plymouth County. He says the county gets back a return on its investment.
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Sievers reminded the supervisors that more than 55 people living in Plymouth County are employed by Mid-Sioux Opportunity.
Mid-Sioux Opportunity provides financial assistance to lower income families living in Ida, Lyon, Sioux, Cherokee, and Plymouth counties.
Community Foundation Distributes Ten Grants To Le Mars Agencies
(Le Mars) — The Community Foundation for Plymouth County handed out ten grants to various entities that serve Le Mars during the Le Mars City Council meeting on Tuesday. Carla Bohle of Kingsley serves on the foundation. She explains the foundation has been distributing grant money for the past ten years totaling to more than $909,000. This year, nearly $37,000 were awarded in Le Mars. Bohle says the grant money is from gaming revenue.
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Bohle listed those agencies receiving grant money this year.
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Bohle continues with the remaining five grant recipients.
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Half Of All Medicaid Contracts Now Signed
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa health officials say half of all potential contracts for Medicaid services have been signed ahead of the state’s switch to privatized care on Jan. 1.
The Iowa Department of Human Services says the four private companies taking over the state’s Medicaid program have signed a total of more than 62,000 contracts with medical providers.
Department spokeswoman Amy Lorentzen McCoy said Tuesday each company can secure nearly 30,000 contracts, which means there are just under 120,000 contracts available. She says the figures show just over half of all potential contracts have been signed.
Medicaid provides care to low-income people including children and disabled individuals. State officials, including Gov. Terry Branstad, say the privatization move will offer better care and save money. Some lawmakers have criticized the timeline for the switch.
Iowa DNR Considering Banning Alcohol On State Parks And Beaches
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials say they’re trying to figure out how to respond to excessive alcohol consumption at multiple state beaches.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday it’s collecting informal public comments on ways to reduce alcohol-related incidents on beaches at state parks and state recreation areas.
Iowa State Parks Bureau Chief Todd Coffelt says the inquiry is in response to reported cases of excessive alcohol consumption at multiple state beaches. He says the rowdy behavior threatens the safety of the public and personnel.
Coffelt says it’s too early to determine what could come from the public comment phase, which runs through Dec. 21.
The department initially issued a press release that referenced a proposed ban on alcohol use at state beaches. Coffelt says the release was sent in error.
Iowa State University Says Farmland Values Are Declining
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State University survey says state farmland values have dropped by nearly 4 percent this year, marking a second straight year of decline.
Farmland values dropped to a statewide average of $7,633 an acre, down from a recent 2013 peak of $8,716 per acre. Assistant economics professor Wendong Zhang says farmland value may not rebound soon because of declining farm income and stagnant commodity prices.
However, Zhang says this year’s decline was less severe than anticipated and farmland values are still almost 14 percent higher than 2011 values.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farm income in Iowa declined 39 percent last year to nearly $5.1 billion.
University Of Iowa President Apologizes For Remark
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa’s president has apologized to one offended employee for saying publicly that instructors who aren’t ready to teach their classes should be shot.
Bruce Harreld wrote in an email to librarian Lisa Gardinier that his statement to the UI Staff Council was “an unfortunate off-the-cuff remark.” He says he didn’t mean to offend anyone or imply that he supports gun violence in any form.
Harreld writes that he’s used the comment in many forums previously without drawing a complaint.
Gardinier says Harreld’s remark came during the Dec. 9 meeting, in response to a staffer’s question about instruction. Gardinier told Harreld the remark was “irresponsible and unprofessional.” She later welcomed his apology, saying she understood his remark to be rhetorical.
Gardinier shared the correspondence with The Associated Press.
