Board of Supervisors Approves Bid for New Storage Building
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors met yesterday morning, approving a bid from for the construction of a new storage facility at the county Law Enforcement Center.
Sitzmann Construction was the low bidder for the contract at $186,777. The Board received and reviewed four separate bids, with Sitzmann’s bid coming in $12,000 cheaper than the next lowest bidder. The 48 by 60 foot storage building will be built next to the Law Enforcement Center in Le Mars.
Site preparation for the new building is currently underway by the county, with construction set to begin soon.
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New Elevator Project Inside Plymouth County Courthouse
During yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board discussed and approved a plan to modernize the elevator system inside the Plymouth County Courthouse.
At the meeting, Plymouth County I.T. director Shawn Olson explained the need for a new elevator. He says that the current elevator is the same one that was originally installed in 1984, designed with outdated technology that’s becoming expensive to maintain. The elevator has continuously had minor mechanical issues along with rising maintenance costs, and state inspectors have recommended modernizing the elevator during yearly inspections.
Olson says that the fire alarm system in the courthouse will also need to be replaced to be compatible with the new elevator. The total cost of the project is estimated to come out to $185,000; the project is not expected to start until the middle of next year.
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Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Visits Sioux City Honeymakers
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig was in Sioux City Monday, visiting the Sioux Honey Association where he met with company leadership and toured the plant that makes Sue Bee Honey.
Bee colony health is a concern, not just in Iowa, but across the country.
Naig says Iowa has a “Bee Check ” program designed to protect those hives from pesticides and other hazards.
Naig also made remarks to a joint national conference hosted in Sioux City for the National Association of Rural Rehabilitation Corporations and the National Council of State Ag Finance Programs.
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Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Hosts Elementary School Ag Tours
Last week, over 260 third and fourth grade students from area elementary schools toured four different livestock farms in Plymouth County, in a tour sponsored by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce
Students from Le Mars Community, Gehlen Catholic, Remsen St. Mary’s, and MMCRU got to observe dairy cows being milked, saw sheep shearing, and learned about beef and pork production from local farmers. Students also got to learn about animal identification methods, and about livestock housing units.
The yearly tour is organized by the Agriculture Committee of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce. Chairperson of the committee Janelle Johnson says that it’s important to show and educate students where their food comes from, and that she hopes students continue to talk about their adventures on the farm to their peers.
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