Goodchild Will Not Seek Re-election
Yesterday’s (August 19) Le Mars City Council meeting concluded with the announcement from Clark Goodchild that he would not be seeking re-election to another term for his at-large seat in the November election.
Goodchild told those in attendance that he has served on the City Council for 11 ½ years and that he has always believed in term limits. He told KLEM news that he made the decision not to run again early this year.
He said it’s not a popularity contest serving in public office and that you sometimes have a target on your back.
Calling himself a “common sense matter-of-fact kind of guy,” Goodchild offered this advice to anyone running for a seat on the City Council.
Beth Meyer, Senior Manager of the Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor, is running for the at-large seat Goodchild now holds.
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A New Le Mars Firehouse Will Be on the November 4 Ballot
The Le Mars City Council approved the ballot language for a bond question in the November 4th election. Le Mars residents will be asked to consider entering into a loan agreement and to issue general obligation bonds for the construction, furnishing, and equipping a new municipal firehouse on 12th Street Southwest. The ballot question specifies this would be in an amount not exceeding $16-million dollars.
Fire Chief Dave Schipper told the Council that the $16-million dollars is a cap, and it’s hoped the final cost will be less.
Schipper is hoping for public support of this project.
The Le Mars Fire Chief says there will be informational meetings on October 13th and 16th at Fire Station # 1 about the bond issue.
We’ll have more stories from this week’s Council meeting in upcoming newscasts.
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More Council News
The Le Mars City Council set a September 2nd hearing on the Wastewater Industrial Pretreatment Facility project during their meeting Tuesday. This facility would pretreat all industrial high strength wastewater from Wells Enterprises and Kemps. The estimated cost of this project is $34,760,000. The project would be funded through bonding and retired through sewer rates and industrial agreements being negotiated with these two industries.
The Le Mars City Council also approved continued funding for the Facade Grant Program in Le Mars. The program encourages architectural and improvements to commercial facades within the Le Mars city limits. This is a matching grant program for up to $15-thousand dollars per project administered by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Design Team with assistance from the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission. The Council continued their annual commitment of $50-thousand dollars funded through Economic Development funds.
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Wet Nose Rescue Events
Wet Nose Rescue in Le Mars is offering half-off adoption fees through the end of this month, saying generous sponsors have offered matching funds. Pets are spayed or neutered, with some exceptions, and all are vaccinated and micro-chipped. Walk-ins are welcome in the mornings from 8 a.m. till noon or you can call for an afternoon or evening appointment. The “Clear the Shelter” offer continues through August 30th.
The non-profit animal shelter is also hosting an online auction this week to raise funds with over 60 items on the bidding list. Go to the Wet Nose Rescue Facebook page to place your bids through this Friday at 5 p.m.
Wet Nose Rescue is located at 1331 Hawkeye Avenue SW, Le Mars.
