Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation Gets Donation Of $100,000
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation recently was given a boost to
their fundraising efforts for the Community Betterment Projects. A donation of
$100,000 was made by Kyle and Joann Black. Vice chairman of the Le Mars Area
Betterment Foundation Jerry Reardon, and father of Joann Black made the
announcement during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Reardon informed the city council the foundation is getting closer to its goal of
raising $2.5 million dollars on the matching challenge grant from Wells
Enterprises.
City Officials Request Support From Plymouth County For Community Betterment Projects
(Le Mars) — Speaking about the Community Betterment Project, Mayor Dick Kirchoff
and City Administrator Scott Langel appeared before the Plymouth County Board of
Supervisors on Tuesday morning to formally request the county governing board for
its support of the program. Langel informed the county board of supervisors the
city is applying for a “Vision Iowa” grant that will go to help with the funding
of the community betterment projects. Langel says based upon past experiences
when Le Mars actively sought similar grants, state officials said it is best if
the city can also obtain the support from the county. Langel and Kirchoff were
requesting the county to committ to $2000 over a period of seven years. Mayor
Kirchoff says it is not just the city of Le Mars, but all of Plymouth County.
Kirchoff says that tourism had seen a dramatic increase in Plymouth County over a
duration of 14 years. According to statistics provided by the Iowa Economic
Development Authority, Kirchoff says Plymouth County generated a little more than
$12 and a half million dollars through tourism in 2002. The Le Mars mayor
reported the number nearly doubled in 2015 with a figure of $24,480,000. Kirchoff
cited some recent examples involving bus tours sponsored by banks where Plymouth
County has witnessed an increase of tourism.
Supervisor Craig Andersen said he would prefer to perhaps allocate the entire sum,
as opposed to taking action for future years that would not be fair to future
county supervisor boards. The supervisors did not take any formal action on the
measure, but did give a general consensus of support.
County Supervisors Approve Library Contract And Allocate Funds
(Le Mars) — In other action during the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors
meeting, the supervisors approved $85,000 for funding of the county library
contract. The Remsen Public Library will receive $27,222 …Akron is to get
$24,495…the Kingsley Public Library has been allocated $20,754…and the library
at Merrill is to receive $12,529. The Le Mars Public Library opted out of the
county contract two years ago, and no longer participates in the contract, and
will not receive any funding from Plymouth County.
Wells Enterprises Seeks Iowa Economic Development Grant For Future Expansion Project
(Le Mars) — Wells Enterprises is looking to expand its production facilities at
its South Ice Cream Plant, and it is seeking a tax abatement grant with the Iowa
Economic Development Authority to help offset the anticipated expenses. Leslie
Bartholomew serves as the Communications Manager for Wells Enterprises. She says
the expansion project will cost an estimated $40 million dollars.
The city council approved the request by Wells Enterprises, allowing for the grant
request to proceed. Bartholomew says residents will begin to see the expansion
sometime next spring.
Supervisors Proclaim October As Domestic Violence Awareness Month
(Le Mars) — October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness month, and Cathy
Van Maanen with the Council of Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence appeared before
the county supervisors to share with them some alarming information regarding
domestic violence in Plymouth County. Van Mannen informed the supervisors that
the Council of Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence serves a 19-county region. Van
Mannen says physical scars left from a domestic violence incident can heal, but
the emotional scars go deep, and often times leaves the victim to never fully
recover emotionally.
The local advocate says Plymouth County is no different than any other place in
our nation, and she shared with the county supervisors some startling statistics.
Van Mannen says what has changed is the severity of the reported abuse.
Saying, it takes a community to make changes, Van Mannen told of how the town is
turning to the color of purple.
Sporting the color purple, Cathy Van Mannen, the Plymouth County advocate for the Council of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence is seated in the center and is surrounded by the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors, and Plymouth County Auditor Stacy Feldman.
Following Van Mannen’s testimony, the county supervisors approved a proclamation
declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness month in Plymouth County.
Cedar Rapids Businesses Look To Sell Property Following Floods
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – In the wake of recent flooding, some Cedar Rapids
property owners have shown interest in moving quickly on flood buyouts.
Cedar Rapids television station KGAN reports (https://bit.ly/2dcqmuf ) that
the city’s Flood Control Committee heard recommendations Tuesday morning to buy
the Best Western Hotel and Cooper’s Mill Restaurant, both located just hundreds of
feet from the Cedar River that overran its banks last week.
City real estate manager Rita Rasmussen says Cedar Rapids has been in
negotiations with the property owners since last year.
She says the city has a signed purchase agreement with the owners for more
than $5 million. She expects the transfer of title to be complete by the end of
October.
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Polk County Supervisors Give Second Approval For Raising Minimum Wage
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Polk County supervisors gave second round approval to a
proposed minimum wage increase to $10.75 an hour even as citizens attending the
board’s meeting called for a larger wage increase.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2dQTrjl ) the board of
supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to approve the increase, starting with $8.75 an
hour in April and climbing to $10.75 by January 2019.
Some speakers sought a $15 hourly minimum, but Supervisor Tom Hokensmith
argued such a high wage would prompt cities in the counties to opt out of the
increase.
The board will consider a final vote next week.
If approved, Polk would be Iowa’s fourth country to raise the minimum wage,
following action by Johnson, Linn and Wapello counties. Polk County has the
largest population of Iowa’s 99 counties.
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