ROAD BUDGET AND CONSTRUCTION
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved their road construction budget and plan today. This plan includes a total of 15.7 million dollars in construction, of which the county will spend 4.7 million for bridge and culvert projects. Another 6 million dollars in federal bridge and resurfacing projects are in the plan, and some 4.1 one million dollars in state funding for bridge and repaving projects. The 2025 projects are part of a five year plan for road and bridge replacement construction in Plymouth County.
TAX LEVY HEARING
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved a new general fund tax levy for the county’s 2024-25 budget, after a public hearing this morning.
The new levy was reduced to $3.43 per thousand in Fiscal year 2024-25, down from the current $3.50.
While the levy was reduced from the current budget year, tax dollars increased, because tax valuations increased. Property values this year totaled 1.92 billion dollars in Plymouth County, while for next year, they will increase to 2.07 billion. Tax dollars raised in the next fiscal year will be 7.12 million, compared to the current 6.86 million. The Additional General Fund dollars bill be put toward salaries and insurance premiums. The increased Rural Fund dollars will be put toward secondary road use.
AIRPORT PROJECT
A consultant has been hired for a paving project at the Le Mars Municipal Airport. Bolton and Menk was hired by the city as a consultant on a project to pave a taxiway to two new hangars at the airport. Bid opening on the project is April 29, and an environmental assessment has already concluded. Construction will begin in September of this year. The project is to be finished by May 2025. The consultant’s fee is 146-thousand dollars.
BIKE CENTRAL CHANGES HANDS
A Le Mars bike shop has changed hands. Bike Central has a new owner – Corey Cunard of Le Mars, purchased the business from Kevin and Dawn Richards.
To Cunard, Bike Central is as much a hobby as it is a business.
He’s finding out the learning curve in adjusting to the bike business.
Cunard is forming his vision and mission for Bike Central.
Corey and his wife Jill have four children, all under the age of seven. He wants to promote families cycling together.
ROLLOVER ACCIDENT NEAR ALTON
An Ames man was injured Saturday afternoon in a one vehicle rollover accident southeast of Alton. The Sioux County Sheriffs Office says 19 year old David Copley was driving a small pickup north on county road L14, four miles southeast of Alton, when he lost control of the vehicle, entered the west ditch and rolled. Copley was transported to Orange City Area Health and was later flown to Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls for further treatment of injuries. Copley was cited for failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle. The sheriff’s office was assisted by Orange City and Alton Police, Fire and Ambulance.
29 IOWA COUNTIES ARE BOTTLE BILL ‘REDEMPTION DESERTS’
A coalition that supports Iowa’s long-standing “Bottle Bill” says 29 counties are now “redemption deserts” where there is nowhere to take an empty beverage can or bottle and redeem the deposit fee. Iowa lawmakers changed the Bottle Bill in 2022. Retailers that sell pop, beer and other beverages can opt out of the requirement to accept empties and pay deposits if there’s a redemption center nearby. The Cleaner Iowa coalition surveyed hundreds of Iowa retailers that sell beverages and collect the nickel deposit. It found only 18-and-a-half percent of Iowa grocery stores that responded continue to accept empties and pay back the deposits. Cleaner Iowa’s survey did connect with 143 retailers that were not allowed by the new law to opt out — and just eight were still accepting empty containers.
CONSIDER FILING FOR AN EXTENSION ON YOUR FEDERAL TAXES
Federal tax returns are due next Monday, and Iowans who think they’re not going to have their forms filled out by then should file for an extension. I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says it’s a simple process to file an extension request at i-r-s-dot-gov, and you don’t even need to give the agency a reason to file for an extension. Miller says the first request you make for an extension is automatically granted. You get six more months to finish your taxes, which takes you all the way through October. If you owe taxes, be sure to make a payment before next week’s deadline, because Miller reminds — an extension on filing is not an extension on paying.
