Knapp Retains City Council Position
(Le Mars) — Rex Knapp, the incumbent candidate seeking to hold on to his city council seat for the Le Mars City Council was able to do just that. The unofficial results, as posted by the Plymouth County Auditor’s office shows Knapp with a total of 200 votes to challenger Dan Dembinski with 168 votes.
Mayor Dick Kirchoff, who was unopposed gathered 326 votes. Council members Clark Goodchild and Ken Nelson were unopposed and were able to keep their positions on the city council. Goodchild had 112 votes, and Nelson gathered 67
votes. Floyd Valley Trustees Craig Bauerly and William Young held on to their positions with 313 and 284 votes respectfully.
Library Renovations Nearing Completion
(Le Mars) — The renovation project of the Le Mars Public Library is nearing completion with the library staff getting prepared to move the books and references from the Eagle’s Club back across the street to the main library. Le Mars Library Director Shirley Taylor gives the time table for when they hope to complete the transfer.
Taylor talks about the renovations, beginning with the new children’s area.
The Le Mars Library Director talks about other changes with the newly remodeled public library.
Taylor says many people have the false belief that the library, with its new renovations will be larger, but Taylor says that is not the case.
Taylor says for those people that check out a book during the time of the transition, rest assured, that book won’t be due until mid-December. The Library Director says the library is looking for several volunteers to assist with the move.
City Council Discuss Central Avenue Overlay Construction Project
(Le Mars) — During the city council meeting on Tuesday, the city council discussed placing a new overlay paving project for Central Avenue. The plan was proposed by Pat Bickett with Schlotfeldt Engineering. Bickett says the proposal would cover from 3rd street south to 3rd street north. Bickett says the time
table would be next spring and summer. Members of the city council were wondering if the project would be completed before Ice Cream Days.
The cost of the project would be divided with an 80 percent – 20 percent split, with the city’s portion having to pay the 20 percent, and the federal and state governments covering the majority of the expense.
Bickett says the project would be completed in four different phases.
The surveyor says the project would consist of both concrete and asphalt, and he offers a timetable for the bid letting of contracts.
The city council did approve the measure.
City Council Discuss Whether Stop Sign Is Needed At Intersection
(Le Mars) — One issue that involved some discussion was whether or not the city should install a stop sign at the intersection of Prospect Street and 6th Avenue
southwest. The construction of Prospect Street with the K-N-S addition is now complete, and city staff recommended to the council to approve the a stop sign at the intersection to make it safer, and to be consistent with other streets
approaching 6th Avenue southwest. The council even asked for the opinion from Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte and Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper as to whether they thought a stop sign should be located at the intersection. Both Vande Vegte and Schipper agreed the city should install a stop sign in the
interest of public safety. When the vote was taken, council members Rex Knapp and Clark Goodchild voted against the measure, while Wick, Rexwinkel and Nelson
voted with the recommendation of city staff. The measure passed on a 3 to 2 vote.
City Council Approves Final Reading For Animal Control, Dog Licenses, and Airport Zoning Ordinances
(Le Mars) — The city council also approved the third and final readings for the new animal control ordinances, as well as the dog licenses ordinance. The city council gave final approval for the proposed airport zoning ordinances.
Le Mars Police Investigate Accident
(Le Mars) — On Monday, November 6th at approximately 6:35 a.m. the Le Mars Police Department responded to an accident that occurred on Hawkeye Ave and 8th Ave SW.
Robert Schlesser, age 56 of Le Mars, was traveling southbound in the 700 block of Hawkeye Ave SW in a 2013 Ford F150 pickup pulling a trailer with an ATV on it. Jesse Gerdes, age 38 of Le Mars, was traveling behind Schlesser in a 2016 Chevy Express
van. As Schlesser started to make a right turn onto 8th Ave SW, Gerdes who was in the outside lane of the 700 block of Hawkeye Ave SW, came up on Schlesser’s vehicle striking his vehicle in the rear of the trailer. Gerdes’s vehicle
suffered right front end damage and continued a couple hundred feet before coming to a stop. Schlesser continued the turn but his ATV, which was on the trailer came loose and rolled off the trailer and landed on its side on the parking area in the southwest corner of the intersection. Gerdes attempted to
turn and miss the trailer but was unable to do so.
No injuries were reported and both were wearing their seatbelts.
Gerdes was cited for failure to stop in a safe and sure distance.
Schlesser’s vehicle sustained approximately $2,500.00 in damages and his ATV had $200.00 in damages.
Gerdes’ vehicle sustained approximately $12,000.00 in damages.
