AIRPORT TAXIWAY PROJECT
The Le Mars city council this week awarded the contract for construction of the Airport Taxiway to New Hangars project at the municipal airport. One bid was received, from Vander Pol Excavating, LLC. Their base bid was for 785-thousand dollars. Three of the four bid alternates were also accepted at 440-thousand dollars. The total bid was 1.22 million dollars. This was 24% above the engineer’s estimate for the project. The consulting firm on the project, Bolton and Menk of Spencer, recommended the bid be accepted, and the contract awarded to the Orange City firm. Contract approval subject to grant approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
PRESIDENT APPROVES FEDERAL AID FOR 4 COUNTIES HIT BY TUESDAY’S TORNADOES
President Biden has approved federal disaster assistance for residents and businesses in four counties hit by Tuesday’s severe weather. Governor Kim Reynolds made the request Thursday, noting over 200 homes had been severely damaged or destroyed in Adair, Montgomery, Polk and Story Counties. The state’s initial damage estimate is 11 million dollars. In a written statement, Reynolds thanked Biden for expediting the assistance, which the governor says it critical to Iowa’s recovery process. Homeowners and renters in the four counties who were affected may seek federal assistance now to cover temporary housing, medical bills and other expenses. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has approved U-S-D-A disaster assistance for farmers in 29 counties that had damage from the tornadoes and severe weather that hit Iowa last month.
USDA DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR APRIL 26 STORM DAMAGE IN 29 COUNTIES
U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has approved U-S-D-A disaster assistance for farmers in 29 counties that had damage from tornadoes and severe weather on April 26th. Governor Reynolds says the move opens up federal loans and other emergency assistance to help farmers recover from losses. Reynolds intends to seek U-S-D-A disaster assistance for farms hit by this week’s storms, but damage assessments from rural areas are still being compiled. These counties are mainly in southwest, west central, and central Iowa.
FEMA TEAMS TO CANVASS GREENFIELD TO HELP TORNADO SURVIVORS
Federal Emergency Management teams will begin canvassing neighborhoods in Greenfield today (Saturday) to help survivors of this week’s devastating tornado.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will work in coordination with state and county emergency management.
FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs, medical expenses and other needs not covered by insurance.
DSA personnel help survivors apply with FEMA and address immediate and emerging needs. They also provide application status updates and referrals to additional community resources.
CITIES HAVE TO JUSTIFY SPEED CAMERAS BY JULY 1ST
A bill recently signed into law by the governor establishes state oversight of speed cameras that generate tickets for cities and counties. Department of Transportation director, Scott Marler says the law covers new requests for speed cameras and the ones that are already in place.
Marler says the D-O-T is required to have the reviews of the existing cameras done by October 1st.
The law also says fines from traffic camera tickets must be used on law enforcement expenses. Marler made his comments during a recent state Transportation Commission meeting.
IOWA LAW OFFICERS ARE ON THE ROADS IN FORCE FOR THE HOLIDAY
Memorial Day weekend is predicted to be one of the busiest travel holidays in many years, and law enforcement is already putting a stronger presence on Iowa’s roads. State trooper Paul Gardner, who’s based in Fort Dodge, says drivers need to keep their cool and use their heads.
The summer driving season is looming which means more traffic and the potential for more roadway deaths.
With kids out of school, those of driving age will be getting behind the wheel in greater numbers, which Gardner says can be a problem, since many aren’t very experienced drivers yet.
A report from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says 45% of traffic fatalities in Iowa last year were people who were unbuckled. That translates to 123 lives lost. A bureau survey of Iowans found 88% reported always buckling up in the front seat, while only 67% always buckle up in the back seat.
