LE MARS BUDGET
The Le Mars city council gave approval to the city’s 2023-24 budget. Next year’s budget is planned to spend 18.1 million dollars on city government, a million dollars more than the current fiscal year. Property taxes levied under the new budget is 5.9 million dollars, some 300-thousand dollars less than the current budget, with a mill levy rate of 11 dollars, 90 cents per thousand. This leaves a projected ending balance of 15.1 million dollars, a million less than what is expected at the end of this fiscal year.
FARM BILL
Congress must reauthorize the five year Farm Bill this year. US Senator Chuck Grassley, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told KLEM News his top priority for the bill.
There are several priorities, as well
Grassley has been pressing for a measure which provides more price transparency in the beef markets. He also advocates for a stricter rule over who should receive farm program payments.
DRUG SENTENCE
A Minnesota man ha sbeen sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison for gun and drug convictions.
32 year old Shawn Gaston of Fairmont, Minnesota, pled guilty in July, 2022, to distribution of meth, possession of meth, and two firearms charges, all felonies. The plea and sentence came in Federal Court in Sioux City.
Evidence presented in the case showed that over a 20 month period in 2020 and 2021, Gaston distributed 27 pounds of methin three states, including Iowa. He was captured after Clay County Iowa Authorities attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle Gaston was driving. This led to a high speed chase into Dickinson County. Gaston was captured after he crashed his vehicle into a creek. Gaston has multiple prior felony convictions, including drug possession and possession of stolen property. US District Court Chief Judge Leonard Sterand sentenced the defendent to 295 months in federal prison, followed by five years’ supervised release.
IOWA SENATE BUDGET
Senate Republicans say their overall target for state spending in the next budgeting year matches the one Governor Kim Reynolds proposed in January — but they’re still working on the details. Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee have voted to advance four bills with a general outline of WHERE money might be spent in dozens of state agencies, but no mention of HOW MUCH money should be spent. Senator Tim Kraayenbrink, a Republican from Fort Dodge, says the goal is to come to some agreement on these bills with House Republicans, who are proposing slightly more spending in certain areas. Democrats say with the governor’s major realignment of state government operations underway, the public deserves to weigh in before votes are taken. House Republicans released more detailed budget numbers last week and have held some public meetings with state officials to discuss government operations
WOTUS
The Environmental Protection Agency is near a final rule which defines federal control of waterways in Iowa and across the US. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, in an interview with KLEM News, says he’s pressing for a definition to the rule which gives the state more control over Iowa waterways.
As it stands now, EPA would define almost all of Iowa’s waters as under EPA control under the Clean Water Act.
YEAR ROUND E-15
The CEO of a Marcus-area ethanol producer says the expansion of E-15 blended gasoline won’t occur until retailers are able to do so. Steve Roe CEO of Little Sioux Corn Processors of Marcus says its difficult for many retailers to switch back and forth between E-10 and E-15.
As a result, there aren’t a lot of retailers who sell E-15 year ‘round.
Roe says by allowing year round E-15, retailers would be encouraged to sell the fuel, because it’s always available.
LCSD FOUNDATION BANQUET
Plans are shaping up for the Le Mars Community School District Foundation annual banquet. The celebration honors the district’s Teac her of the Year, Employee of the Month recipients, district employees of 25 years, the top 5% of the 2023 graduating class, and the Distinguished Alumni award receipient. The banquet is Wednesday, April 26, at 6-30 pm at the Le Mars Convention Center. Tickets can be purchased through Friday, April 21, at the Superintendent’s office, or by calling 546-4155.
MANURE SPILL
Staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Field Office 3 are investigating a manure discharge from the Kim Conover cattle feedlot three miles south of Holstein in Ida County.
The discharge occurred during land application of liquid waste from a runoff control structure when the hose broke at the pump, causing manure to flow about a quarter-mile before reaching Battle Creek.
A fish kill has not been observed. An investigation into the situation is ongoing.
