Le Mars Council Meeting September 1, 2026 Part 3 of 3

Le Mars, IA · · More Le Mars, IA meetings · More Iowa meetings

Transcript

Download: Text · SRT
SOURCE TRANSCRIPT

This transcript is downloaded from the source you provided but we haven't reviewed it for accuracy. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record. You can also request an AI-transcription of the audio file with the button to the left.

These are YouTube's auto-generated captions, not a human transcript — expect occasional errors, especially with names and technical terms.
[0:00] three that are listed there. Okay. So, those are three projects that um are
[0:06] already in some form or another in the works. Okay. and money is being expended
[0:12] on them. Um so by adding those projects and um and making them part of the plan
[0:23] um and expanding what is in the red is what is going to
[0:28] get included in this process. uh will pick up those three projects
[0:35] plus uh pick up some potential future projects. Um
[0:42] uh I can name a few of them. If you'll notice, it picks up um
[0:48] the rest of what will be the uh reconstruction of 75. It also will
[0:56] pick up uh way to the east, which is the acres that we purchased of farm ground
[1:04] from Lundy Ford and those preliminary design and layouts are going on right
[1:11] now. Uh so that will pull this ground in [clears throat]
[1:16] uh which will make it uh uh allow us to be reimbursed TIF money
[1:23] for those costs. It also picks up what we have annexed on the south end uh for
[1:31] the um old Collins ground which is an industrial
[1:37] area. You guys just looked at Lamar's fifth today. Uh but it it pulls in what
[1:43] is currently annexed. Um everything is that is here is within
[1:49] city limits. Um up towards the top of the page, there has been discussion um
[1:58] regarding Franklin and Clark uh two school properties at the moment, but it
[2:05] pulls in those entire blocks and the streets around them
[2:10] um for us to potentially do some work there in the future. Okay,
[2:17] so that's the reasoning for the expansion. Um,
[2:24] and just I mean overall it allows us to in the future utilize TIF dollars to
[2:31] be reimbured for city's expenses.
[2:36] » Does this help take care of issues that could arise
[2:40] from the recent uh legislature on tip districts?
[2:47] » Uh yeah. So, this you might want to help me mark or Joe if
[2:53] I don't remember this correctly, but the goal here is to get this properties
[3:00] captured in our urban renewal uh before the end of the year.
[3:07] Um so, so that we are we can still capture the schools portion
[3:13] of tip. Um,
[3:18] I don't know if that was specifically >> I know they changed a whole bunch of
[3:22] laws and stuff and we're putting caps on tip stuff
[3:26] that all takes effect next year. >> Yeah. The good thing about our corridor
[3:31] one if you remember council when we designated that that had light
[3:39] in it. So that essentially doesn't I don't
[3:44] believe have a sunset on it. >> Didn't they change that to max of 20?
[3:52] » Yeah, there's some additional rules with it now.
[3:56] » I think they took that out and put a maximum of 20 years on any tip district.
[4:04] » But I'm assuming if you guys read it, I'm assuming
[4:09] just like just like our bypass urban renewal that's expiring.
[4:14] I'm assuming we could go through the process to
[4:18] renew it and start over. I'm assuming they didn't change that
[4:23] aspect of it. >> I don't know all that used to above my
[4:27] head. >> Me too.
[4:30] » Those words make my head hurt.
[4:39] I'll make the motion to adopt resolution 2639 establishing October 6, 2026 at
[4:45] 12:00 p.m. for a public hearing on the Mars Business Corridor urban renewal
[4:50] area expansion and urban renewal plan. Second.
[4:55] » I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Can I get one more
[4:59] comment in there? Um Mark brought up a a situation this
[5:05] morning that um we're going to continue through this
[5:10] process, but it was noted that there is a potential other future project that
[5:18] currently isn't captured by what's being expanded here. So, uh this is already
[5:24] going to be in the works and the documents are prepared. So I think we
[5:28] continue with this but um maybe not next meeting but the meeting after that there
[5:34] may be uh very similar documents to capture some additional ground that we
[5:40] would have to go through the same process but I didn't want to I didn't
[5:44] want to put a halt to this we'll just we'll just have a separate
[5:48] issue with that. So, >> all right. Any other discussion?
[5:55] [clears throat] A roll call, please. >> Conurs,
[5:57] » yes. >> Bruns,
[5:59] » yes. >> Sturgeon,
[6:00] » yes. >> Pick,
[6:01] » yes. >> Wick,
[6:02] » yes. >> Motion carries.
[6:05] » Action item D8. Second verse. Same as the first. Uh,
[6:11] urban roof plan amendments are needed when new projects are added. City staff
[6:15] has been working with Dorsy Whitney to prepare and required documents to add
[6:20] projects. Crossroad Commons, Business Highway 75
[6:24] South Patching Project, business 75 reconstruction project, gas main
[6:30] extension to wastewater treatment facility. Administration recommends the
[6:34] council set the date for a public hearing. A consultation meeting with
[6:37] other taxing entities is required. Okay, that meeting will be on the same
[6:42] day, September 18th. But this one's a little bit different. This isn't adding
[6:46] um this isn't adding ground. It's just adding projects. So, we need to get this
[6:52] because we're already expending we'll have expense expend expenditures on
[6:57] these projects um
[7:01] that we're undertaking right now. Um, so we need to get these projects approved
[7:08] and in the plan before the December 1st um deadline for Joe submitt to
[7:18] recoup those funds. Uh the only project that's different in here than the
[7:23] previous uh item is the uh gas made by Mid American that is required or needed
[7:32] for uh current expansion and future expansion that we're doing wastewater,
[7:38] they need to run a larger line out there. So, some of that some of that
[7:43] route falls within the current bypass. Um, so we'll capture as much of that
[7:53] money as we can through the through this for that. So, this is just adding
[7:59] projects
[8:07] Motion to adopt resolution 2640 establishing October 626 at 12:00 p.m.
[8:13] for a public hearing on an urban renewal plan amendment for the Lamar Highway 75
[8:18] bypass urban rem.
[8:25] We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
[8:29] Roll call, please. Kick, >> yes.
[8:32] » Sturgeon, >> yes.
[8:34] » Wick, >> yes.
[8:35] » Conurs, >> yes.
[8:36] » Runs, >> yes.
[8:39] » Motion carried. Thanks for saving me, Mr. Conurs. Uh, discussion items, Jason.
[8:46] » Okay, so Crossroad Commons, uh, paving is complete out there. Uh, final
[8:53] grading, uh, is going to start very soon. Uh,
[8:57] shouldn't take too long. and then uh seating
[9:02] the majority was already seated but um where we need to regrade which is in the
[9:07] right way for the most part I think already that'll get seated this fall
[9:12] uh and hopefully everything should be done by the end of the month
[9:17] um downtown project um
[9:22] if everybody's aware what's going on down there um
[9:26] specialized concrete is up on the First Street intersection. Um making some
[9:34] corrections to some of that storm sewer up there. Uh once they are complete,
[9:40] well, let me jump because Nestrom's here also yesterday and today uh putting up
[9:46] poles. So you'll notice that First Avenue has
[9:50] all its poles up. Um they were installing the second one on central
[9:57] this morning. Um once those are done and specialized is done with the underground
[10:03] stuff which should be shortly they will start putting all the sidewalk back in.
[10:09] Um and then from there it's a matter of putting mast arms and
[10:16] doing all the wiring. So, uh, I don't believe any deadline has
[10:21] changed, but I know it's inconvenient for people, um, especially pedestrians
[10:28] cuz the intersections are tore up, but >> all the extra storm sewer stuff they've
[10:36] been finding, is that extra coming out of the storm for sewer pump?
[10:42] » Uh, it will need to. Yeah, I mean, we're applying it to this project, so
[10:51] road use on this one. sales tax. That's
[10:56] the order. >> Yeah, but it can come on a storm sore,
[10:59] but we don't have an abundant amount of storm s
[11:05] um the reverse osmosis. Um haven't brought that up for a while,
[11:11] but that's danger to the end. They're looking at a midepptember startup on
[11:18] that. I don't think it'll be full board going forward. I think it'll be just
[11:23] make sure it's running properly before it
[11:27] really takes over the city. But um O2
[11:34] on that RO plan, I assume there'll be some communication out to our citizens
[11:38] to adjust their salt.
[11:42] » Yeah. Yeah. Because that's that's another big component of it all working.
[11:50] » People do what they need to do in their homes to cut down on salt usage. So,
[11:56] okay. Um, OUL that work continues mainly on the
[12:04] uh building itself. There is additional concrete that's
[12:08] going to get poured. Then the playground all within probably a two two week
[12:13] period here. the playground equipment will start to go up and then that um the
[12:20] playground areas will get poured. Um they're going to fit the shade sails
[12:28] on what you see up there, but they're going to put those up just for a short
[12:34] time to make sure they fit for one. Plus, it'll be a learning opportunity
[12:40] for our crews to know how they go up and how they come down because responsible
[12:45] for that every year. So, um they're still looking at they should
[12:51] be done sometime in October, but like I said earlier,
[12:58] um that may not include all of the plantings. So, there still
[13:04] may be uh work happening in spring. Uh there'll
[13:09] probably be a startup of the splash pad to make sure that it all functions
[13:14] correctly, but uh not open to the public and then it'll be shut down and drained
[13:20] for the winter. So there'll be some sort of ribbon
[13:23] cutting or grand opening. I'm assuming early summer next year when it's ready
[13:29] to be used. [clears throat] Uh municipal park, a lot of concrete is
[13:34] going in there. They have majority if not all of the concrete
[13:39] that is designated on the west side for parking in the driveways, but most of
[13:44] not all of that is done. Uh within a couple weeks,
[13:49] uh the crew should be back in to put the surfacing on both the pickle ball and
[13:55] the tennis courts. Um
[13:59] then once that's done, that crew will continue to move Eastern. Their intent
[14:06] is to get uh we do have a meeting tomorrow. So I
[14:10] guess I'll find out the uh schedule for the actual building
[14:16] itself expansion, but I know they want to get the footings
[14:20] in as soon as possible for that. Uh, and then just another note, I don't
[14:25] think we've ever brought it up here, but um with all of the city parking lot or
[14:30] the city parking lots downtown um and the occasional issue that keeps
[14:37] being brought up about there's no parking downtown, but then we can go to
[14:42] our city parking lots and see that they're empty. So, people aren't
[14:46] utilizing them appropriately. They all have signage now stating that
[14:52] they are public parking. So hopefully that helps
[14:58] in in that discussion. Is there a is there something we need to do to notify
[15:04] Google Maps or Apple Maps that these parking exist that these city parking
[15:11] lots exist? >> I don't know the answer to that.
[15:16] Yeah, I know Google Maps anybody can go and suggest edit or add a business or
[15:21] anything. >> Yeah, I've done it for a business where
[15:24] you and they actually have to mail you a postcard and and you have to receive it
[15:28] within so many days and that kind of stuff. But I didn't know about parking
[15:31] lots, you know, just so that if somebody's visiting town and they and
[15:36] they they're looking for parking um if it's labeled on a map or whatever. I
[15:43] don't know how that works. So >> Kristen, do you know put you on the
[15:48] spot? So, I have a profile with the chamber
[15:52] with Google maps and what they're asking are for specific details from the city
[15:58] and with all the projects going on right now
[16:02] being delayed, but I do have contact with
[16:06] it just be worthwhile to make sure that all those those public parking spots are
[16:10] labeled somewhere because I know people rely pretty heavily on those things. So,
[16:16] um, yeah, let's call it Lamar's parking America.
[16:20] » Yeah. Yeah. >> Is [laughter] bus parking annotated on
[16:25] there as well? Like, we do have specific bus parking downtown.
[16:29] » I think that's pretty unique for us. >> Thank you.
[16:35] » Another comment on that is people think just because they have to walk a block,
[16:38] there's no parking, but you're walking a block Walmart parking lot to the store.
[16:43] So >> yeah,
[16:45] » if you go to any mall, you're not going to get within a block most busy days.
[16:55] » One question I had uh made me think of the the four state street project with
[17:01] the railroad >> and I'm sure it would be grossly
[17:05] expensive and please don't anybody think that we're doing this. I'm just
[17:09] wondering is anybody more >> ever an underpass there?
[17:15] » I thought of that when I came to town. Actually,
[17:17] » no. >> Not that I know of.
[17:19] » Not that you know. Yeah. I'm sure it would be very deep because of the truck
[17:23] traffic >> and probably just raise the rail.
[17:27] » Yeah. Right. >> T's easy to do.
[17:30] » Yeah. >> So,
[17:32] » anyhow, I'm sure the railroad would be happy to do that for us.
[17:35] » Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> It's a joke.
[17:37] » Now, we're going to need to do it. Sorry.
[17:39] » No, I'm assuming Rob that that would I mean
[17:46] it would probably eliminate a lot of those properties.
[17:50] » Yeah, that's that's my concern. >> Long air in order to do it.
[17:54] » I think it's fine. We just need to get it fixed.
[17:57] » Yeah. >> Some of hazard ramps in
[18:04] a little red. just go pour some asphalt over top of the tracks and let the train
[18:08] make it. [laughter] >> All right. Sorry I brought that up.
[18:14] » Does anybody else have anything for Jason?
[18:17] » I had I don't know if it's for Jason, but about the Crossroads Commons. Um, do
[18:22] we have anybody kind of close serious as far as the
[18:28] hotel, the gas station, the restaurant? >> Nothing to report.
[18:31] » Okay. Interest interest. I think it's fair.
[18:34] » Might want to know that's all. >> Yeah.
[18:37] » Is that fair to say, Mark? Interest. There's interest.
[18:44] » All right, Joe. >> I think we covered it all
[18:48] » there. The uh just want to earlier we uh
[18:54] uh closed a street for the touch a truck uh event on the 26th of September. I
[19:00] think it's a great event. I think it's a and we always get a great turnout for
[19:04] it, but it's also the last farmers market for the year as well. And I think
[19:09] the farmers market has grown wonderfully just this year with the number of
[19:15] vendors and everything. I think it would be a great event just to plug make sure
[19:22] » a touch of truck prohibits the farmers market from being there.
[19:26] » No, not all the streets. >> All good.
[19:30] Now people are complaining about not being
[19:33] [laughter] >> I don't have any more. I'm not going to
[19:36] cause any more trouble. >> I'm good.
[19:40] » No. Mostly >> second.
[19:43] » All those in favor? >> I