City council awards contracts, approves agreements during meeting
During the Le Mars city council meeting on Tuesday, the council awarded two contracts and approved several agreements.
The council awarded Boulder Contracting, LLC a contract to repair a bridge that sustained damage from a fire that occurred in February of 2022. The contract amount for the repaired bridge, located on Business Hwy 75 between 24th St SW and exit 116 of US Hwy 75, is set at $94,172, roughly $13,000 above the estimated cost. No timetable is currently set, but traffic on the bridge will be detoured during the repairs.
Hulstein Excavating, LLC was awarded a contract by the council for a project to reconstruct the apron and taxiway of the Le Mars Municipal Airport. The majority of the slightly-over $1 million cost will be covered by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Iowa Department of Transportation, with the city using TIF funds to cover the rest.
The council also approved development agreements with the Le Mars Community School District and Dogwood Properties concerning the planned extension of Central Avenue, and approved a new three-year agreement with the Le Mars YMCA that increases annual funding from $174,000 to $228,000 starting in July, with a 3% increase per year.
The next meeting of the council is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5th at noon inside of City Hall.
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Knights of Columbus hosting “Spring Pig-Nic” dinner
The Le Mars Knights of Columbus will host a “Spring Pig-Nic” broasted pork chop dinner tomorrow night at KC Hall.
Serving between 4:30-7pm, the dinner will be drive-thru only, and for $14/meal, guests will receive a broasted pork chop, cheesy potatoes, macaroni salad, and a dinner roll. For questions about the dinner, call 712-546-5862.
The dinner will take place tomorrow evening starting at 4:30pm at KC Hall in Le Mars.
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Senate and House take different approaches to funding pediatric cancer research
The Iowa Senate has voted to establish a new state tax on vaping products — the electronic cigarettes that heat liquid that turns into vapor that’s inhaled. Senator Kara Warme, a Republican from Ames, says the first three million dollars of revenue from the tax would go toward pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa.
The tax rate is far less than the state tax on cigarettes. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, favors a significant hike in taxes for all nicotine products sold in Iowa.
The House this week voted to set aside three million dollars a year for pediatric cancer research and clinical trials of treatments geared specifically for children. The House plan does not include a tax increase. The Senate bill would also create a new tax on nicotine patches and gum.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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