COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors and the Secondary Road Bargaining Unit agreed to a new contract for fiscal year 2025-26. The Secondary Road employees accepted what the Supervisors offered, a 2.5% pay increase, over the next fiscal year. The employees initially proposed a 5% increase, and the Supervisors proposed 2.5%. The two sides met three times to negotiate. The 2.5% increase is the same for all county departments in the next fiscal year.
FEDERAL ROAD PROJECTS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved a federal aid agreement for a bridge replacement project in sections 33 and 34 in Preston Township. The federal share of the project is 800-thousand dollars. This is one of three projects in which the county is seeking federal aid. The others include a bridge replacement project in sections 4 and 5 in Stanton Township, and a microsurfacing project on K42, between Iowa Highway 3 and county road C12. All of these projects are planned for calendar year 2026.
Also, letting of two farm-to-market road projects are to be let in March. These are C44, between Merrill and K49, and K42, between C49 and C60.
OLD COMMAND MOTORHOME BECOMES SURPLUS PROPERTY
An old motorhome that was used as a mobile emergency services outpost is now surplus property. Plymouth County Emergency Management Agency Director Rebecca Socknet and county Sheriff Jeff TeBrink asked the Board of Supervisors to declare the 1992 Winnebago motorhome surplus property for sale. The motorhome is replaced by a new Emergency Services trailer that is equipped to act as a mobile emergency headquarters. The old modified mobile home will be put up for sale.
WELLS CENTER ANNIVERSARY
The Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor is celebrating a major milestone – 25 years of serving the community and visitors from around the world. Since its grand opening, the center has become a staple of the Le Mars community, serving approximately 200,000 visitors annually. Originally located along Highway 75, the Visitor Center moved to its current location in downtown Le Mars in 2011. A significant renovation and expansion in 2019 transformed the space, adding a movie theater, an outdoor patio, and an event room, offering an even better experience for visitors of all ages. To mark the 25th anniversary, the Wells Visitor Center will be celebrating for 25 weeks, starting on Thursday, March 6, the date the Visitor Center first opened its doors in 2000. On that day only, visitors can enjoy single dip waffle cones and dishes for just $1.99, the original price from when the center first opened. The celebration will continue for 25 weeks with new menu items, throwback specials, exclusive discounts, gift card giveaways, and the launch of a new customer loyalty program.
QUICK MOVING BILL WOULD ELIMINATE GENDER IDENTITY FROM IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
A bill to remove gender identity protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act is eligible for debate in the Iowa House Thursday and will be considered by a Senate subcommittee today. All but one Republican on the House Judiciary Committee approved the bill late Monday afternoon. All the Democrats on the panel voted no. It’s possible the bill could pass both the House and Senate before the end of the week.
This matter was discussed Saturday at an open forum in Orange City. State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center, said the change would not affect the civil rights of transgender persons.
Sen. Taylor says removing transgender persons as a protected class would prevent the courts from stepping in to prevent enforcement of laws passed in the legislature.
House Speaker Pat Grassley cited a 2019 court ruling that has required taxpayers to pay for hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgeries for Medicaid patients and he said policies that have protected women’s sports and prohibited gender affirming care for minors are at risk of being overturned in court.
Anita Cirulis, Chair of the Sioux County Democrats, was also at the meeting Saturday. She’s concerned that removing protected class status could be harmful to transgender persons.
Both legislators at the meeting, Rep. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars and State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center, said they were in favor of the bill.
During the discussion Saturday, the discussion turned toward how to compromise on the issue.
State Senator Taylor said after the meeting that compromise was the legislation that was could be overturned by the courts under the current rules.
Cirulis says that discussion focused on how to accomodate trans children.
All but one Republican on the House Judiciary Committee approved the bill late Monday afternoon. All the Democrats on the panel voted no. It’s possible the bill could pass both the House and Senate before the end of the week.
The bill’s sponsor says at least 27 states do not have gender identity specified in their civil rights codes.
FEENSTRA HELPS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR SNAP RECIPIENTS
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra Monday helped introduce the America Works Act, which would require able-bodied Americans without dependents to work or pursue work-related training or education for at least 20 hours per week to receive SNAP benefits. “Americans who can work should work if they want to receive taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits. SNAP overpayments already cost American taxpayers more than $10 billion every year, and we should not be paying for able-bodied people to collect SNAP benefits without working,” In January, Feenstra introduced the Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act, which would strengthen the integrity of SNAP by cutting down on overpayments of SNAP benefits. This legislation would increase the accuracy of SNAP payment error rate (PER) calculations by amending the tolerance level from $54 to $0.
TAX INCENTIVES APPROVED FOR SIOUX CENTER BUSINESS
The Iowa Economic Development Authority board approved state incentives for the expansion of a Sioux Center business. I-E-D-A spokesperson Kannen Kappleman says Service Trucks International is getting tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program.
Kappleman says they plan to add on some 56 thousand square feet.
Kappleman says the company plans a capital investment of nine million dollars and they expect to create six jobs.
STATE ARCHERY TOURNAMENT WILL BE ON TARGET THIS WEEKEND
Hundreds of students from all corners of Iowa will be in Des Moines this weekend to take aim at winning medals and scholarship money in the 18th annual state archery tournament. Zach Benttine (BEN-teen), the Iowa D-N-R’s archery coordinator, says the competition has continued to improve every year, along with the growing field of participants in grades four through 12. Benttine says more than 31-hundred students from 140 schools will compete in bullseye and 3-D divisions, with the top finishers going on to nationals. The tournament runs Friday through Sunday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
