INDUSTRIAL PARK EXPANSION PLANNING
Le Mars city council approved a consultant’s agreement with ISG to help design and bid industrial park expansion.
Le Mars Industrial Park 5th addition will encompass the remainder of city-owned land that extends south to Plymouth County Road C-38. This work includes extension of Industrial Road, construction of an east/west street to join Lincoln Avenue, and extension of water, sewer, and rail into that area.
The costs of these improvements will be paid for through Tax Increment Financing proceeds. ISG’s compensation for design work is not to exceed 147-thousand dollars.
MOBILE HOME PARK REZONING
A public hearing will be held February 4 on plans to rezone two parcels of property adjacent to the Parkview Terrace Mobil Home Park. One parcel is located to the east, and another to the south of the current mobile home park boundaries. The city Planning and Zoning commission approved the proposal to rezone both parcels to R-2, or Apartment District. The intent is to expand the mobile home park, which is located north of Iowa Highway 3 on the west side of the city.
FEENSTRA SAYS MASSIVE BILL TO BE PASSED BY MEMORIAL DAY
President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill may be passed by Congress by Memorial Day.
Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull says by this time next month the outline of a massive bill that includes extending current tax cuts should be developed.
President Trump said he wants a “big, beautiful bill” that will be the largest, most far reaching piece of legislation ever passed by congress.
Feenstra says beyond taxing and spending, the bill will include both repeal of bureaucratic red tape as well as new government rules regulations aimed at energy independence.
Feenstra says a key part of the package will be exemptions to the federal estate tax of between 18 and 41 percent that’s charged on inherited cash and property worth over 13-point-six MILLION dollars.
Iowa is now one of 38 states that do not have an estate tax. The state of Iowa’s estate tax was repealed on January 1st of this year.
Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, has served on the Ways and Means Committee since he became a member of the U-S House in 2021.
SPENCER SEEKS STATE HELP TO QUALIFY FOR FEMA SUPPORT
City officials in Spencer are hoping the State of Iowa will help pay for an analysis to determine the full extent of flood damage to the city’s wastewater treatment system. Spencer City Administrator Kevin Robinson says the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help cover the cost of repairs — but it will cost a MILLION dollars to produce the report required to qualify.
Robinson testified before the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday afternoon and told lawmakers the city’s biggest expense moving forward will be fixing its wastewater treatment plant.
There was sewer back-up in 75 percent of the homes, businesses, schools and other structures in Spencer during last June’s flooding. Spencer City Administrator Kevin Robinson says insurance payouts for homeowners in that predicament have been inconsistent.
Earlier this month, Governor Reynolds called on legislators to set up new state oversight for people called “umpires” who mediate disputes over insurance claims.
LE MARS BOND SALE
The Le Mars city council Tuesday adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of 24.88 million dollars in Water Revenue Bonds for construction of water works improvements. These include a reverse osmosis water treatment plant, a new well, and a raw water line. The council also approved the sale of the bonds. That will take place next month through a Des Moines bond attorney.
ENGINEER’S BUDGET PROPOSAL
The Plymouth County Engineer presented the secondary road department budget proposed for 2025-26.
Tom Rohe presented a budget with estimated receipts of 19.58 million dollars, and expenditures 18.9 million. With rural property values rising, property taxes will bring in an estimated 3.8 million dollars, an increase of 100-thousand dollars. State and federal funding will be nearly 9 million dollars, up 400-thousand dollars. Local option sales tax proceeds are proposed at 1.9 million dollars, up 100-thousand dollars.
Proposed expenditures include one million in administration, 6.7 million in the county road construction program, and 7.1 million in roadway maintenance. and 3.9 million dollars in new equipment, operations, tools, materials and supplies, and real estate and buildings. The county’s road construction program in the next fiscal year will be presented to the Supervisors next week.
ALTON FIRE
An apartment in downtown Alton was gutted by fire Monday, in bitter cold conditions. The fire occurred in an apartment at 207 10th Street. Temperatures were -18 at the time.
Alton Fire Department was called around 5-30 p.m. to the site. Smoke and flames were coming out of the building at the time of their arrival. Law enforcement reported two people were in the apartment when the fire broke out, but they escaped out a back door without injury. Two more fire departments, Orange City and Sioux Center, were called to assist. The fire was put out by 6-48 p.m.
The interior of the building was extensively damaged, but not adjacent buildings . No injuries were reported to the firefighters, but a family pet died due to smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire occurred two doors away from the Yard Bar and Grille, a business that also suffered extensive damage in a fire several years ago.
LCSD FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SEEKS NOMINEES
The Le Mars Community School District Foundation and Alumni Association is seeking nominees for their “Teacher of the Year” to represent the many great teachers who exemplify our school district and its educational goals. The award is called the Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell Award, and it recognizes and honors teachers who demonstrate excellence in education by meeting the needs of the students. Applications for nominations can be found on the Le Mars school district website, or at the Superintendent’s office or the principals’ office in each school. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 21. Questions can be directed to the Superintendent’s Office at 546-4155.
GRASSLEY QUESTIONS TRUMP TARIFF TACTICS
President Trump announced Monday night he’ll impose 25 percent tariffs on Iowa’s two largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. In a conference call this morning with Iowa reporters, Senator Chuck Grassley called himself a “free trader” and says Trump’s tactics are “questionable” but he’s willing to pause and see if they’re effective. Grassley says Trump believes if you enact tariffs, it brings people to the negotiating table, and you get freer trade as a result. Iowa exported five-and-a-half billion dollars worth of goods to Canada in 2023, which equated to 30-percent of the state’s total exports, while Mexico is Iowa’s second-largest trading partner.
PROPOSED BILL WOULD CHANGE TRAFFIC CAMERA RULES
A bill introduced in the Iowa House would no longer let cities use a private company to issue tickets and collect fines for speeding or red light violations that are caught on camera. Cedar Rapids city lobbyist Gary Grant says it would be more expensive to have city staff handle the ticketing process. David Adelman (A-dull-man), a lobbyist for the largest cities in Iowa that are part of the Metropolitan Coalition, says the bill takes a step backwards just as state and federal officials are trying to find ways for government to do more with less.” The bill also would end the confiscation of state income tax refunds from those who refuse to pay the fines generated by traffic camera tickets. The bill cleared initial S-U-B-committee review Tuesday, but the bill’s floor manager says at this point he wouldn’t support bringing it up for a vote in a House committee.
