Home News KLEM News for Wednesday, February 5

KLEM News for Wednesday, February 5

MENTAL HEALTH REORGANIZATION

Not much is known about the state mental health delivery system that’s being formed for the state of Iowa.  So says the CEO of Sioux Rivers Regional Mental Health and Disabilities Services.

Brenna Koedam told the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that Sioux Rivers and all the other regional mental health agencies will be dissolved at the end of the fiscal year.

What is to replace it is still being shaped.  Koedam says it will be replaced by one centralized behavioral health administrative organization based in Des Moines.  Instead of the 13 regional agencies now in force, there will be 7 Behavioral Health Districts.  Four of the Sioux Rivers member counties – including Plymouth, Lyon, Sioux, and O’Brien – will be in District 1.  The others – Emmet and Dickinson counties – will be in District 2.

The Iowa Primary Care Association will be the administrative organization in each district.  Each district will have an advisory council made up of law enforcement, local governments, providers and individuals representing the people served.

What’s not known is what will become of the Mental Health Advocates, employees who work directly with mental health clients.  Their contracts will expire at the end of the fiscal year, but it’s uncertain whether they will be part of the new system.

 

LE MARS STREET PROJECTS

The city of Le Mars will apply for a federal transportation grant for two portions of 4th Ave SE.  One portion extends from Plymouth St. to 2nd St, and another from North lynn Drive to 12th St.

The total cost of the projects are 2.15 million dollars.  80% of this cost can be applied to the Surface Transportation Block Grant program.  If approved, the federal grant will cover 1.4 million , and local sources will cover 472-thousand.  If approved, construction would take place in 2029.

There are two other STBG projects that have already been approved in Le Mars.  One is reconstruction of 12th St SE, between 2nd and 4th Ave.  It will take place this year.  The other,

Repaving 7th Ave SE between 12th and 18th St., will take place in 2028.

 

ELDERLY TAX CREDIT

Plymouth County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann, wants to remind individuals of a tax credit for elderly homeowners and homeowners with disabilities. Those who qualify, must sign up before June 1st for credit on their 2025-2026 property taxes.

To qualify and receive the credit on your real estate taxes, Iowa residents who own their own homes must:

  • be 65 or older as of December 31, 2024, OR be totally disabled and at least 18

AND

  • have total household income under $26,219 for 2024

If you are 70 or older but have a household income greater than $26,219, in 2024, and are still at 250% of the Federal poverty level, you may still be eligible for a credit on your property tax. For income guidelines contact the Treasurer’s office or go to the Plymouth Co website.

You may fill out an application at the Treasurer’s office in the Courthouse. Bring your 2024 social security statement of earnings, any 1099’s you may have, and any other income that you received in 2024. The Treasurer and her staff will help in getting you signed up for this credit. June 1st is the deadline to sign up for credit on your 2025-2026 property taxes.

If you need additional assistance or have any questions, please contact the Treasurer’s office at 546-7056.

 

FLU CLOSES SIOUX CITY SCHOOL

Sioux City’s Blessed Sacrament School will be closed today (Wednesday), due to a high number of student and staff illnesses.
School officials say they made the decision after consulting with Siouxland District Health and neighboring school entities.
The closure will only affect the students, faculty, and staff of Blessed Sacrament School.

Blessed Sacrament school currently has a 24% student absentee rate, not including the faculty and staff who are also out due to illness.

The building is being closed to allow time for thorough cleaning and disinfecting.
The school asks that students do not return to school if they are experiencing any symptoms of illness. to help prevent its spread.

While Blessed Sacrament is the only metro school to close because of illness today (Wednesday), the flu bug is currently affecting many people around the region.
Tyler Brock, deputy director of Siouxland District Health, says most schools are reporting cases:

He says while influenza “A” is affecting many people, it’s not just that strain of illness they are dealing with:

There’s so much illness going around the area, many stores are reportedly running short of over the counter products to help treat the symptoms:

Brock says most of us just have to “ride it out” and let the illness run its course:

Brock says right now we are in the peak time for flu season.
He says the number of cases should tail off in a few weeks.

 

BEWARE AND BE PREPARED FOR ICY ROADS LATER TODAY

Forecasters say wide sections of Iowa may see a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain later today and driving could quickly become treacherous. Pete Hjelmstad, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Transportation, says people will need to be ready — and cautious — when they hit the roads.

Also, take your cell phone with you, make sure it’s charged, and make sure you’ve got a charger. Hjelmstad says the D-O-T has changed its road conditions website to better show ice-covered roads.

Before heading out this morning, Hjelmstad reminds you to check the forecast as well as the current road conditions through 511ia.org.