Ann Bunkers

The regular council meeting included a public hearing for the Central Avenue Extension Project, for which plans, specifications, and cost estimates were approved via resolution. Discussions covered development agreements for Dogwood Properties, Inc. and the Le Mars School District, with financial impacts noted to be covered by various utility and road use taxes. The council approved consent items, including the urban revitalization tax exemption request, following clarification on property valuation versus abatement amounts. Action items included the final approval of rezoning for 927 6th Avenue Southwest from I2 Industrial Business to B2 General Business. The council also voted to proceed with setting public hearings for proposed updates to Chapter 155 (Building and Construction Regulations) and Chapter 156 (Fire Prevention Code) to mirror current Iowa state codes, transitioning to the 2024 International Code Council standards. Finally, the committee recommendations for the Hotel Motel Sales Tax Grant funding for Fiscal Year 27 were approved, and a resolution was passed to amend landfill rates effective July 1, 2026.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, followed by the approval of the agenda. Key public discussions included a resident's concern about tax abatements favoring apartment buildings over new single-family homes, and a presentation from the Le Mars Community Theater thanking the council for support in the renovation of the postal playhouse. The council recognized a departing member and acknowledged local media for hosting candidate forums. A proclamation was read declaring January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The consent agenda, containing seven items including the approval of prior minutes, bills list, financial statements, and appointments, was unanimously approved. The main action item discussed involved the 2026 Business Highway 75 reconstruction project. Engineering representatives presented initial findings from data collection, utility investigation, soil borings, storm sewer review, and public outreach efforts, noting safety concerns related to crash patterns and access density, particularly north of Sixth Street. The council decided to defer direction on design until the January 6th meeting to allow for further public comment on potential cross-sections, which include maintaining four lanes, adopting a three-lane configuration, or using a hybrid approach focused on safety enhancements, particularly near high-crash locations like the Sixth Street intersection.

The regular meeting included two public hearings. The first hearing concerned a request to rezone lots from Agricultural (AG) to General Business (B2) for the Crossroads Commons development, which the administration and planning commission recommended for approval. The second hearing addressed the vacation of various easements owned by Noram Cold Storage at two specified addresses, which administration also recommended for approval. During the general discussion segment, representatives from the Lamar Arts Council presented an overview of their activities, history, programmatic focus areas (community development, elevating artists, and curriculum education), and financial challenges due to lower-than-expected donations and fundraising results. They formally requested city support of $60,000, representing one-third of their annual budget, to achieve financial stability. Additionally, a business owner from Noram Cold Storage voiced concerns regarding the proposed closure of Sixth Street Southwest and Sixth Avenue Southwest due to the Highway 75 reconstruction project, emphasizing the significant impact on their daily truck traffic (35-45 trucks) and employee access (nearly 200 employees), as well as potential impacts on emergency response times. The council acknowledged the information received from both citizen groups but noted no action could be taken on the Arts Council's funding request as it was outside the scope of immediate action items.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda. Key discussion points included 'thumbs up' awards recognizing the fire and rescue department, police force, local businesses, and Floyd Valley Hospital staff. Under consent items, the council approved the minutes from the December 16, 2025, regular meeting, a list of bills, a temporary premise transfer of a liquor license to a coffee house, and an urban revitalization tax exemption request. The primary action item involved approving an agreement with I and S Group (ISG) for $52,000, funded by economic development funds, to update the 2023 Community Development Plan. This update involves workshops and community feedback to evaluate progress and consider new development areas. Council also discussed the Highway 75 reconstruction project, ultimately voting to direct design to continue with a four-lane configuration for the entire length, based on public feedback favoring this option. The council deliberated on the elimination of Sixth Street Southwest access, with opinions split between closing it for safety/traffic flow and maintaining access, particularly for emergency services.

The meeting included discussions regarding traffic signal improvements at an intersection, specifically addressing safety concerns and traffic counts related to closing Sixth Street. The council decided to table the Sixth Avenue/Sixth Street configuration topic for further input. Action items included the approval of the Crossroads Commons final plat, restricted covenants, and proceeding to a public hearing to rezone the area to B2 general business. The council also initiated proceedings for a public hearing to vacate numerous easements for Noram Cold Storage at two separate properties, noting that some easements, particularly for a major storm sewer, must remain. Additionally, the Fire Rescue Chief presented the 25th annual report, detailing operational statistics, cross-training efforts, and the wide scope of emergency and non-emergency services provided by the department.