COMM CENTER SUPPORT
Plymouth County’s Board of Supervisors approved per capita rates to support the county Communication Center for the next fiscal year. Sheriff Jeff Te Brink requested a one dollar per capita increase in 2023-24, from 8 to 9 dollars. Similar 1-dollar increases were approved for the last two fiscal years. The Board approved the request. These charges are billed to each community in the county. The amount billed depends on the community’s population.
MAIN STREET PROGRAM
The Le Mars City Council approved a funding request from the Chamber of Commerce, to provide financial support for the Le Mars Main Street Program. This program has been paid for through the Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation budget, but that entity was dissolved when a new position of Economic Development Director was created. City staff recommended 25-thousand dollars for the rest of the fiscal year, based on a review of how similar-sized communities supported the Main Street Program. The Chamber asked for full funding of 49-thousand dollars, to carry them through the rest of the fiscal year. Then the matter of funding this program can be solved through the normal budget process. The council approved the request of the Chamber. Main Street is a program of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and includes support from the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Le Mars.
WEATHER NOTICES
Three Weather notices are out for Plymouth and surrounding counties through the weekend. The National Weather Service has placed a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from noon today to midnight tonight. Look for snow, accumulating up to two inches, and winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour. There’s also a Wind Chill Warning in effect from midnight tonight to noon Saturday. Dangerously cold wind chills are expected, down to 45 below zero. There is also a Winter Storm Watch in effect from late tonight through Friday afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 miles per hour.
The Weather Service says plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Those with holiday travel plans will want to monitor the forecast closely and adjust plans as necessary. Any person that becomes stranded or trapped outdoors could encounter a life-threatening situation in a short amount of time.
The Le Mars weather forecast calls for temperatures to drop to 15 below zero tonight, with temperatures remaining below zero through Saturday night.
Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
Slow down and use caution while traveling. Carry an emergency kit in your car, in case you become stranded.
Prepare for possible blizzard conditions. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
LE MARS CITY COUNCIL
The Le Mars City Council will hold three public hearings on January 3. One concerns a proposal to extend a lease of airport hangars to Wells Enterprises for another ten years. The second public hearing will plans for a watermain replacement project along Plymouth Street. The project will replace a 4 inch watermain with a 6 inch water main between 4th Avenue West and 5th Avenue West. The estimated cost of the project is 267-thousand dollars. American Rescue Plan Act funds may be used to pay for construction. The third public hearing will consider amendment of the city’s sidewalk ordinance. A portion of the ordinance concerning snow and ice removal was omitted from the publication of the city code last year, and is to be included in the amendment.
SUPERVISORS
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard the annual report of the county Conservation Board. Conservation Director Nick Beeck gave an overview of the past fiscal year to the Supervisors. Revenues for the year were some 50-thousand dollars from camping fees, down 8-thousand dollars from the previous year, but above the annual projection. Cabin rentals at Hillview Park were up over last year, as were attendance and revenues from programs and clinics held by the county Naturalist. The conservation board used America Rescue Plan Act funds for two projects – dredging Hillview Pond, and an electrical upgrade in the Deer Ridge Campground at Hillview Park. Two other projects in the past year were a playground project at River’s Bend, and a new firewood shed at the Deer Ridge Campground.
Rebeccca Socknat, the Plymouth County Emergency Services Director, informed the Supervisors about an update to the multi-county Hazard Mitigation Plan. Plymouth County and four others are applying for a 140-thousand dollars grant to help develop the plan. 75% of the funds would come from the federal government, 10% from the state of Iowa, and 15% from the five counties involved – 7-thousand dollars each from Plymouth, Woodbury, Ida, Cherokee, and Monona counties.
CHRISTIAN NEEDS CENTER
A Le Mars aid center is seeing great community response this holiday season. Susan Van Driel is the coordinator at the Christian Needs Center.
This trend has been going on for some time now.
Christian Needs Center makes regular appeals to the community, and there has been a consistent response.
Donations have been food items and cash. The Christian Needs Center collects food and clothing for distribution to people in need of them.
The current need is food, especially for after the holidays…
The Christian Needs Center is open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can call them at 546-9428.
MUSEUM NATIVITIES
Nativities at the Plymouth County Historical Museum will be open for viewing this Sunday, Christmas Day.
All five floors of the Museum will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is by freewill donation. Proceeds will be dedicated to the continuing operation of the Museum, housed in the former “Old Central” High School.
The Museum serves all parts of the county with its exhibits and programs. It is primarily supported by members, but it also receives donations from Plymouth County, the county’s communities, and grants.
