[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6589588,"mediaKeyId","5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e","parentId",5547942,"title","Council votes to enter closed session to discuss real-estate purchase or sale","audioSeconds",17,"startMs",976550,"endMs",994485,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e&start=976&end=994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e/thumbnail_976550.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6589588/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Council-votes-to-enter-closed-session-to-discuss-real-estate-purchase-or-sale","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589588-481d9b0693a91993f97160b28630fcb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608177&Signature=QKyCr0HMswtTwqstkFIQ2wJJ~qf3JD~zcSNO69nobniwLlGiUGrTmvFUiFmG4a9CF9m9uLICo1gmX~6Dekzp3e5ahaR5xnpRIBHx1R-EtWFINkvH6CqzqKzJP1S9z91YekpdLerjiISrk1lMSbNfErkhf4pI3vMp1QMR5RcDz9idYU2JqFo~oF9GPrG7hS53Gy8S2tgCKKQiC8gqJNiVz9oxLwN4GtH44tpwfM3C8tNqFPYVPObYXzM86UZN9zmeTc-2UbTaJAPB9UwhBG4pNpevzp7VQSz-GUCGbih8PixYi-08ZJBN-g4eS0Gz0MbagDdKsUCxFzrIxaNz8Sr35g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Le Mars","date","2025-08-07T01:11:14.69Z","article","The Le Mars City Council voted to enter a closed session to discuss the purchase or sale of real estate under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(j).

A motion to enter closed session was made, seconded, and the council conducted a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the following votes: Goodchild — Yes; Bruns — Yes; Pick — Yes; Sturgeon — Yes; Wick — Yes. The mayor or presiding officer announced, “Motion carried. We'll enter into closed session.”

Why it matters: Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(j) permits a public body to close a meeting to discuss the purchase or sale of real estate when public disclosure would likely disadvantage the city. The council invoked that statute and took a unanimous recorded vote to move into closed session.

Next steps: The council entered closed session. No further public actions or decisions that followed the closed session were recorded in the available transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Le Mars Council Meeting August 5, 2025 Part 5 of 5","oneSentenceSummary","Under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(j), the council voted by roll call to enter a closed session to discuss the purchase or sale of real estate; the motion carried unanimously on recorded votes.","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},6589593,"City reports asbestos removal, building progress and railroad crossing applications",65,317050,382870,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e&start=317&end=382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e/thumbnail_317050.jpg","/articles/6589593/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/City-reports-asbestos-removal-building-progress-and-railroad-crossing-applications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589593-59ff7161b3792dbf62494754f5717a7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608177&Signature=Y0VVRYukAGre8o9igUiSpoXyQNuK~dXQGmzw-YzXtEikPDJelsnuDPUYBjEovTIqjGMSC8Iy5H6Nzv3eZjB6mXDgKviek4ZtAVIPPf5Dyp06G0XAhnt~LIgN2fkcSatn~Lx~bMGUH8jbrzT4xyzpY6OkyJHqCk-RS9G9mv8oq0rdNaoDX95eWIhL9552ofRd09UxMNNuTesi-~zc3EALZm5rubm56A05Mh8UYzHnjEUSC3L-~zntQMlAx6QDciviA3BPY2LDdE6xvYUFYDn5BXhx-S60HB~ZH0y8Pr~~WQaIHJqVb-D-LDyhBSv3eKQi1zvsRHXGI38RPYT8Ll-IBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff provided brief infrastructure and construction updates.

Asbestos removal: Staff reported asbestos removal work will start this week in the Centennial area; vehicles associated with the work have been observed on site.

RO site building: Walls are beginning to go up at the RO site building, and staff said the project “is starting to take shape.”

Railroad crossings: Staff said they met with Wayne Shlofeldt, who will assist the city with preparing and submitting railroad crossing applications for two crossings — Fourth Street and First Avenue. Staff noted Shlofeldt has prior experience preparing the required plan sheets for such applications and will help with that process.

Why it matters: The updates concern planned public-works and redevelopment activity in Le Mars; staff flagged that the railroad application process requires plan sheets and experience with railroad permitting.

Next steps: Staff said Shlofeldt will help prepare and submit the crossing applications; asbestos removal will proceed as scheduled. No formal council action was recorded on these items during the meeting.","City staff reported asbestos removal work in Centennial will start, walls are going up at the RO site building, and the city will seek help filing two railroad crossing applications for Fourth Street and First Avenue.",{"_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},6589598,"Council hears sewer clean-out complaints, discusses utility billing proration issues",393,316539,710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e&start=316&end=710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e/thumbnail_316539.jpg","/articles/6589598/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Council-hears-sewer-clean-out-complaints-discusses-utility-billing-proration-issues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589598-9de1afcde2e8e0fc490e95e7bd2fd0b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608177&Signature=mghxEKJ8SlpSwCvNl4kyFPPa3ARP0hOtZLYgLgAkzEj3ekCghnIsAMgG22ZPoc1yIqJimNUAepX~dFobOAcul-iDFSnAr4vXmMGC13P5Jy2KkLm3M00zX~Dm3S0ToTmL2P6RXibpR7xGhNWO13kwabSRTunTpgo6R~mY7gokcFk9z3p0iB93hTg7JIxqk4bhUKGijpC93eJS~yNXfRky3IkA28P74-ZDaPV12yL28iUO8AG7cYKNUx594Ak6aCHs0TavWKacgNSdP59FM6jjmpZFC5eWP5BLA6kCc9Eoet7wE3F3eLOowjfC6IbcaDOmzCeZI2IhuOjLU-34IAEgCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmembers raised resident complaints about sewer clean-out work that, according to some attendees, led to damage to household plumbing and asked how residents are notified before contractors perform the work.

City staff explained that sewer clean-out work is typically performed by a subcontractor working within a general area and that providing a precise day-and-time notice to each household is often impractical. The staff member noted the city sends notices for water-main flushing and posts notices on city sites; work on sewer projects is described as harder to schedule precisely and therefore more difficult to notify individually.

Separately, councilmembers reviewed multiple resident calls about recent utility bills that covered an extended (43-day) billing period. A staff member who reviewed one account said the way proration interacts with the billing schedule and meter reads can create an extra billing period for some customers. The staff explanation included these points: if meter readings and proration are applied in a certain way, a customer can appear to be billed an extra minimum for a calendar year; the city used a cutoff date (May 22 in this rollout) to verify account rollovers; and delaying a rate increase until the next billing cycle could be a way to avoid similar complaints when rates change in future years.

Why it matters: Councilmembers said residents view the extra charges as unfair. Staff described the technical constraints of the billing software and meter-reading schedule that produced the extended billing period and said the city looked into account-level proration but did not find a practical, universal fix for the immediate rollover. The staff suggested potential process changes for future rate increases to reduce customer confusion.

Notable quotes: A councilmember summarized a resident's complaint: “I paid a monthly minimum on 17 days even though I paid for the whole month.” A staff member described the situation as being between “a rock and a hard place” when explaining tradeoffs in the billing transition.

Next steps: Staff and councilmembers discussed possible future adjustments to timing of rate increases or billing-cycle handling to mitigate proration issues; no binding decision or formal motion on billing or sewer notification procedures was recorded at the meeting.","Councilmembers and staff discussed sewer clean-out work that some residents said caused plumbing problems and reviewed complaints about a 43-day billing cycle and proration that increased some utility bills; staff described notification practices and possible timing changes for future rate implementations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589602,"Le Mars council debates incentive level for townhouses, motion to change dies for lack of second",255,160,256000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e&start=0&end=256","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547942-a6c8ff8b2d7d7f3e4349ad9c2abee86e/thumbnail_160.jpg","/articles/6589602/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Le-Mars-council-debates-incentive-level-for-townhouses-motion-to-change-dies-for-lack-of-second","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589602-857902e3e337c0f70eda3eb9a69ad820/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608177&Signature=Wt-mzQTgBGOlCMBQxU~~i-BQcEpZSQf8tpvUb1-tROgiTmVr9kqWC-JWiE24bfAD5AnigFtBXFYUPbPDwy9Chv~dzh3w0ZoCA1epuXG8OpIjKCb5Em56mIBRWqfLjZJfKUqVpD2dJW5G9DOQqKW99J5qkmZCpGNDPfTVGcSXPhb8b2PSnKMyRMPTstufCQ1CpJ-CVWdQda3YOU9PCcGlgl79V10adGnA9eWejTkbiV2JAnHdiiI7r~6qO~2TSloihE-Cgzl82MBR3tVnt~TaPOb2VV5TCKt5iEVg2XyXK3XSuIk02UWn7Zrx~liSmBNowoxMvQMo2AmCmL-PWVj36w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmembers debated whether to alter the city’s urban revitalization incentives to better favor townhouses and duplexes, but no formal change was adopted after a motion to table the item failed for lack of a second.

The discussion opened with a councilmember urging the city to “incentivize those higher than an apartment building,” adding, “Those townhouses, duplexes, we definitely need a lot more of those.” Councilmembers said the urban revitalization plan uses broad language that groups multiple housing types under “multi-residential,” which limits the council’s ability to treat townhouses and duplexes differently without changing the plan’s language.

Why it matters: Council members said entry-level single-family homes and smaller multiunit housing are in short supply locally, and developers weigh city incentives alongside state programs when choosing where to build. One councilmember cited a nearby townhouse project behind Bomgar’s — identified in the meeting as Axios — and said the developer asked why they could not receive a higher incentive in Le Mars than in other communities.

Speakers said the availability of the city incentive depends on whether a project also receives Iowa workforce housing tax credits. As summarized in the meeting, “If they get the Iowa workforce tax credits, then the 7 is eligible. If they don't get the Iowa workforce tax credits, then the 7 doesn't matter,” and some projects would not proceed without the state credits.

Council reaction and outcome: Councilmembers discussed a possible increase from “7” to “10” (as referenced repeatedly in the discussion) but did not reach a decision. One councilmember said they would “think about it for 2 weeks,” and another moved to table the item for two weeks. There was no second to that motion; the chair noted the lack of a second and said the item would “die” for the time being. A letter from a local applicant, Joe Gallis, was noted; Gallis reportedly encouraged the council to remain at 7 while expressing support for 10 when applying for credits.

Background and context: During the discussion councilmembers referenced a local townhouse project described as 42 or 45 units (the transcript gave both figures). Councilmembers also said the city’s urban revitalization language mirrors that used in other communities, which may limit piecemeal differentiation among multi-unit housing types without a formal plan amendment.

Next steps: No formal action to change incentives was taken at the meeting. The item was raised for further consideration but, because the motion to table received no second, there is no pending council directive from this session.","Councilmembers discussed whether to raise development incentives from 7 to 10 (percent/points as described by speakers) to attract more townhouses and duplexes, heard that many projects rely on Iowa workforce housing tax credits, and did not adopt a change after a motion to table failed for lack of a second.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council votes to enter closed session to discuss real-estate purchase or sale

City reports asbestos removal, building progress and railroad crossing applications

Council hears sewer clean-out complaints, discusses utility billing proration issues

Le Mars council debates incentive level for townhouses, motion to change dies for lack of second