[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6616941,"mediaKeyId","2847245-83ac70a1b6167415063d5c7344aaf370","parentId",2847245,"title","Council debates wastewater ‘sock vac’ purchase, user fees and pickup trade-offs","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",1155000,"endMs",1332000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847245-83ac70a1b6167415063d5c7344aaf370&start=1155&end=1332","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847245-83ac70a1b6167415063d5c7344aaf370/thumbnail_1155000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6616941/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Council-debates-wastewater-sock-vac-purchase-user-fees-and-pickup-trade-offs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616941-e1822c2bfd316b9f9e18b1452e8eaf81/orig.mp4?Expires=1775764543&Signature=Lb4njHsdJ0ieaTV00rdzdwCKWRUWEFgsFqx0DtRTVpxRQYyCrwkjXTGv48pAZMmjyDE2I6eaO7VMr1g8kYLLZPkz-jKaI2azkp0HxWdj1WptPtyMfz2vf1xJKypaLf5MnoI8aK85O4YFZiB~7USVITtbUue~9eq-jUqpfkJatAze72iL9xUfiYW454R~-hkiSUAl~Vh7~J0GWSG7fDS2n-4rs4kagJA~bw6E71ZcdzP525VVXw9-mTMD8xH9Q1aBneCHgdTjPI-gCEA3JIs1BBHsjbi8vruz8s3fAlP0QV5fRPLNNvQuEAejlZyfb1GpOgphlTHH3YSaNxw3g9W~lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Le Mars","date","2025-04-02T13:07:00.537Z","article","Councilmembers debated whether to approve a large, more‑powerful vacuum (described in the discussion as a “sock vac”) for the wastewater department and whether to also purchase a pickup to pull a related trailer.

One councilmember said she did not support another vehicle or a new shop vac, arguing multiple departments can share equipment and that the cost is large. A different councilmember and staff members said the more powerful sock vac would significantly improve wastewater response time and capability. The transcript records council discussion about spreading cost responsibility and whether purchases should be funded from user fees or treated as a tax‑supported expense.

A staff speaker clarified that wastewater operations are funded from user fees (the wastewater enterprise fund) rather than general tax revenue, and another councilmember said he viewed those user fees as an expense to residents and therefore subject to council oversight. “I understand you operate as an enterprise. I do. But whether or not you want to say it, water to 609 Greenwood. Wastewater to 609 Greenwood is a tax. It’s a user,” one councilmember said, noting concern about rising user fees.

Council members also discussed the related pickup and trailer purchase that would be used to haul equipment. Staff said the pickup is needed to pull the trailer and that the alternatives would involve repurposing an existing 3/4‑ton vehicle and checking snow‑plow bracket compatibility; one councilmember summarized the choice as “either both or neither.”

Council asked staff to coordinate with department heads (named in discussion as Rich and Scott) to determine whether equipment can be shared or repurposed and to better document the need and funding source prior to final approval. The transcript records discussion and viewpoints but no final purchasing motion or vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Le Mars Council Meeting April 1, 2025 Part 3 of 4","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmembers questioned a large wastewater vacuum (referred to as a ‘sock vac’) purchase and a related pickup for hauling a trailer, with some saying the expense should be justified by user-fee revenue while others urged interdepartmental coordination to avoid duplication.","taxTitle","Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa","taxId",64213,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6616946,"Le Mars fire chief asks council for funding for one firefighter and new engine amid staffing strain",584,231000,815000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847245-83ac70a1b6167415063d5c7344aaf370&start=231&end=815","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847245-83ac70a1b6167415063d5c7344aaf370/thumbnail_231000.jpg","/articles/6616946/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Le-Mars-fire-chief-asks-council-for-funding-for-one-firefighter-and-new-engine-amid-staffing-strain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616946-571853fb319a694a7001306c20b43bf1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775764543&Signature=YBLUPcAH0XBPbnyeo63I~X0RpfHiy9WFKD-SwwzSkRu2g4fEnYrSmI9APNavEpYtyH4FMony-lMagsnXNjkXV~k8nK4BmX-KUM6oJNHJwpN4q369XorQvKuXACpPJZRnIYthGvlLLoZvUv5IyU3tDcylcKP~7J3BdMchhWZOhF3QOHNGdxdKJVPLXKYQsJBa9g2kOi8cl9yP8TBlbBSB7ALJHErCDK~IvYHYx1VaZ-bzKwDYWMrF82RfikiA6~vlrDMZRh73BH-WH~fw5-nI7wgDntUZ4vz7tVFmptcoSygtY1DvMEEwaZlC8~0XAc2toMny~QcWf6PfurX0ar2pbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Le Mars Fire Chief told the council the department is stretched thin and asked the city to fund part of an additional full‑time position and to proceed with planning to replace a key rescue pumper that the department expects to be 20 years old by delivery.

The chief said the original request sought two full‑time hires; the proposal has been scaled back so the city’s next-year budget would cover roughly half the cost of one position after the county and a local hospital declined funding. He linked staffing shortages to growing overtime and reliance on volunteer responders, and said the department is beginning to “burn guys out.”

“We asked for two. I was hoping to gain funding from the county, which they turned down. I was hoping to gain a little funding from the hospital. Didn’t get that either,” the fire chief said. He told the council the department is seeing increased call volumes and that many volunteers cannot reliably cover nights, weekends and holidays because they have full‑time jobs and other commitments.

The chief described the vehicle the department is proposing to replace as Engine 7, a rescue pumper that carries water and extrication tools and that was manufactured in February 2008; by delivery it would be roughly 20 years old, he said. He stressed long lead times for new apparatus and a recent upward pressure on prices: vendors warned of another $60,000–$80,000 increase next year because of emissions requirements and steel costs.

The chief also outlined equipment cost pressures: self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that once cost roughly $2,100 are now about $10,737, he said. He said donations and memorial funds cover many EMS and small‑equipment purchases, while large capital items such as engines and additional full‑time staffing are bringing the department to the council.

Council members pressed on funding timing and scope. One councilmember said he was reluctant to commit lost‑future tax revenues for equipment years ahead; the chief said the city need not pay until delivery but that manufacturers’ long build timelines make early orders necessary to maintain replacement schedules.

The chief described the city ambulance billing model: the ambulance bills a patient’s insurance and the department recoups costs that way, which is why he had asked the hospital for a contribution given shared service delivery. He said the department provides ambulance coverage to several neighboring towns and sometimes assists larger agencies with advanced life support, raising the argument that county or hospital contributions should help offset regional service demands.

The transcript records discussion and questions but no formal vote on hiring or apparatus procurement; staff said they will continue to refine budget proposals and outreach to potential partners.","The fire chief told the council he reduced a request for two full‑time firefighters to funding that would cover half the cost of one position after county and hospital funding requests were denied; he also outlined the need to replace a 2008 rescue pumper and described rising equipment costs and volunteer shortages.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6616951,"Le Mars officials discuss regional camera network to aid stolen-vehicle recovery and investigations",187,0,187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847245-83ac70a1b6167415063d5c7344aaf370&start=0&end=187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847245-83ac70a1b6167415063d5c7344aaf370/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6616951/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Le-Mars-officials-discuss-regional-camera-network-to-aid-stolen-vehicle-recovery-and-investigations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616951-8345d30b8c8a16411cd7ee1250c7971a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775764543&Signature=PlkByBvM0mdZnIstwS3UEePM6UpnSdkyQYtcGUwo4IiYwOq~NzTYDNYBhy6NZWBb9kBJwihc4KGZig0sv15Ji07qUD7ALnJdyqIUb-YkQu4h04kSxS4d9U9Oo8LWvcnUNaQOubGp-Lw3uyQQqBIMuSnVJ0ClM3rMwoAKOwDvd0s9qQsBlYy84Kt0mxYVOHY0z6P9wnXNIj5MvEPprhvA9drsJDw0FJUAQa4PUuAmiu~m6382ifQ5D9IAvSgCCY58DZqEATRH32aq1OOY2owLvEb~0-8hSsLr2laB9d3LDaFthEQz~Oj24CS9qjw~-4qTACI8JHSlooJvYJeFDQJqzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Le Mars officials discussed a proposed regional camera network intended to speed recovery of stolen vehicles and to help criminal investigations, saying the system can notify local law enforcement within about 90 seconds when a flagged vehicle crosses a participating camera.

Supporters told the council the grant would pay for placement, warranty coverage and device maintenance; the city would not take ownership of the physical cameras. Staff said data access would be restricted and audited: officers would have to document the reason for a search, and the city would perform monthly checks of access logs.

The system’s backers described the network as a cross-jurisdictional investigative tool. “If there’s an Amber Alert in Omaha and that camera or that vehicle crosses one of our cameras, we are notified within 90 seconds,” said the police chief. He added that the network would also help in missing-person and serious-crime investigations and gave a past homicide as an example of where such data “would have been beneficial to us.”

Councilmember Kevin asked whether grant money would cover only annual fees or also device costs; the police chief said the grant is for camera placement, warranty and related fees and that the city would not own the hardware. He said vendors typically respond quickly to failures — “probably [be] back in our community within two or three days to replace” a downed unit — and that the system vendor provides warranty support.

Staff described safeguards for privacy and oversight. “You can’t just willy-nilly access whatever you want,” the police chief said, describing a policy that will require officers to select a reason (for example, stolen-vehicle search or criminal investigation) when querying the system and that the city will audit access monthly to check that searches correlate with open investigations.

Officials noted other area jurisdictions are adopting networked camera systems and that some vendors allow data sharing across participating agencies. The police chief named Sioux City, South Sioux City and Sioux Falls as communities with deployments at varying scales and said the system the city is considering—referred to in the discussion as FLOC—would allow access to data from cameras in partner jurisdictions for investigation purposes.

Council discussion did not record a formal vote on purchasing or accepting grant terms; staff said they would continue pursuing funding and partnerships and would bring policy language back for council review.

The debate highlighted competing priorities: proponents emphasized investigative value and regional interoperability, while council members and staff flagged the need for clear access rules and regular audits before granting routine operational access to camera data.","City staff described a proposed camera network that would notify local law enforcement within 90 seconds when a flagged vehicle crosses a camera; officials said cameras would be placed under grant funds, the city would not own the devices, and access would require documented justification and monthly audits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council debates wastewater ‘sock vac’ purchase, user fees and pickup trade-offs

Le Mars fire chief asks council for funding for one firefighter and new engine amid staffing strain

Le Mars officials discuss regional camera network to aid stolen-vehicle recovery and investigations