Supervisors discuss TIF options for Merrill’s Fifth Street Project

Posted April 16, 2013 at 2:53 pm

By Julie Ann Madden

At their March 26 meeting, Plymouth County Supervisors sought legal counsel on borrowing $2.2 million for Merrill’s Fifth Street Project.

County officials plan to widen the road, adding turning lanes as necessary to increase traffic safety by the Plymouth Energy ethanol plant. This road project begins at the northern edge of Merrill and goes north on County Road K-42, which is known as Fifth Street in Merrill, to its intersection with County Road C-38.

Supervisors plan to use Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District revenues from the Urban Renewal Area in and near Merrill rather than a long-term General Obligation bond to pay for the project, and they are interested in using local financial institutions to finance

… Read Full Story…

    Commission to decide what to do with surplus properties

    By Julie Ann Madden

    At their March 19 meeting, Union County Treasurer Myron Hertel informed the commissioners they would need to decide what to do with the county’s surplus properties — whether to hold a separate auction or include the properties in an upcoming county surplus equipment auction.

    Earlier Hertel had reported on a list of a handful of properties that needed to be added back to the tax rolls. Since then, he has another five or six

    … Read Full Story…

    Commission updates Union County Courthouse’s computer network system

    By Julie Ann Madden

    Soon, the computer networking woes employees at the Union County Courthouse deal with in regards to overheating of the computer network hub should be over.

    At their March 19 meeting, Union County Treasurer Myron Hertel, who is the county’s inhouse computer expert, reported he had received a bid of just over $4,000 to relocate the county courthouse’s computer network system from the basement furnace room to the community room.

    … Read Full Story…

    Plymouth County officials closed County Road C-38

    By Julie Ann Madden

    County Road C-38 is now closed east of its intersection with County Road K-42 North, which runs north to Brunsville, according to Plymouth County Engineer Tom Rohe.

    Called the Fifth Street Merrill Project, Plymouth County officials will be completing four phases of road reconstruction and surfacing over the next few months.

    • Phase I: Reconstruction of the intersection where the two paved county roads meet.

    … Read Full Story…

    Commissioners join lawsuit on 2011 Flood damage

    By Julie Ann Madden

    After going into executive session for five legal issues with States Attorney Jerry Miller, the commissioners decided to join a group of entities and individuals suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in connection with the 2011 Missouri River flooding.

    Upon reentering open session, Commissioner Dale Neely made a motion for Union County to enter into a legal representation agreement for the lawsuit. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Milton Ustad and the vote

    … Read Full Story…

    Mayors favor Aug. 6 county-wide LOST election

    By Julie Ann Madden

    At a special public forum with mayors in Plymouth County and other officials, it was unanimous by a show of hands what date and expiration date selected for a Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) election.

    All joined together in supporting the City of Le Mars’ need for having the election Aug. 6 and having a 15-year expiration date on this LOST tax.

    Le Mars councilors requested

    … Read Full Story…

    Supervisors award bids for projects

    By Steve Peterson

    Plymouth County supervisors approved two bids following bid lettings April 2 for two projects.

    Gus Construction of Casey, Iowa, won for a box culvert installation at 130th Street east of County Road K-22. Its bid was for $154,900.44.

    There were four bidders and the Gus bid beat the second place bid of $161,761 of Christensen Brothers of Cherokee.

    Plymouth

    … Read Full Story…
    j Legislators visit Akron 04-06-2013 Chuck Soderberg Bill Anderson.tif

    Legislators visit Akron

    On Saturday, State Rep. Chuck Soderberg (third from left) and Senator Bill Anderson (far right) held a public forum to discuss happenings in the current Iowa Legislative Session. Coming to listen and ask questions were Democrat Jon Neunaber and Republican Jim Henrich, both of Akron. Topics included the 2013-2014 state budget, education reform, property taxes, economic development, and Obama’s Healthcare’s Medicaid expansion. There are just four weeks left in this session.

    Legislators expect overtime for 85th Assembly

    by Steve Peterson

    The 2013-2014 budget discussion time at the Iowa Capitol may mean overtime for the 85th General Assembly in Des Moines.

    “I think we will go beyond May 3,” said Representative Dwayne Alons (R-Hull) at a Hawarden legislative forum held April 5.

    “A $400 million difference between the Senate Democrats and the House Republicans is a significant difference and will be hard to find compromise on,” said State

    … Read Full Story…

    Supervisors approve Mental Health funds

    by Steve Peterson

    Plymouth County Supervisors approved, by a 4-0 vote, the Mental Health Transition Funds Agreement for Sioux River Mental Health Region, which consists of Plymouth, Sioux, Woodbury and Cherokee counties.

    To follow the Mental Health Services Reform Act, Plymouth County’s $217,140 of transition funds has to be used by June 30, said County Central Point of Contact-General Relief Director Sharon Nieman for county funding of Mental Health transition cost reimbursement.

    … Read Full Story…
Bla