Le Mars council approves Central Avenue, park design contracts; awards Centennial demolition, sets public hearings for development and drainage projects

Le Mars City Council approved multiple contracts and set public hearings Tuesday, advancing a neighborhood street extension, final design of municipal park renovations and the demolition of the Centennial Building while establishing hearings for planned commercial and stormwater projects.

The council voted to contract with ISG for professional services for the Central Avenue Extension in a not-to-exceed amount of $127,710 and separately contracted with ISG for final design and bidding services for municipal park renovations in a not-to-exceed amount of $525,000. Council members awarded the Centennial Building demolition contract to DeCarlo (DiCarlo) Demolition as the low bidder at $197,275 and confirmed that the demolition costs are eligible for tax-increment financing reimbursement. The council also set public hearing dates and bid schedules for the Southwest commercial development project (estimated at $3,476,329.50) and the Eighteenth Street Southeast drainage repair project (estimated at $155,000).

Why it matters: the measures move several capital projects from planning into design or procurement. The park work and Central Avenue extension are funded in part with local option sales tax and private donations tied to Le Mars’ Community Betterment 3 program; the commercial project is intended to be developed using a TIF district to recover infrastructure costs.

Central Avenue Extension and municipal utilities

Administration presented an ISG services agreement for design work on the Central Avenue Extension and said the agreement covers engineering to extend utilities and street improvements. A council member asked whether utilities already present on Eighteenth Street would need replacing; staff clarified that sanitary and water lines are on Eighteenth and that extending Central Avenue would include extending those utilities south to serve future development. A council member asked about a turnaround for the street to manage school traffic; staff replied the design will include a turnaround.

The motion to approve the Central Avenue ISG agreement was made and seconded; the council took a roll-call vote with the result recorded as: Pick, yes; Bruns, yes; Goodchild, no; Witt, yes; Sturgeon, yes. The motion carried.

Municipal park design and budget context

Council considered an ISG agreement to complete final design and bidding documents for municipal park renovations, described as part of the Community Betterment 3 suite of projects administered through the Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation. Administration said the work moves the project from preliminary design to final design and procurement. Council members and administration discussed project cost estimates; administration said the most recent figure was "just over $6,000,000," and that about a month earlier the estimate had been "in the eights." Council members noted that the municipal park and another large project (O'Toole) will consume the majority of the committed $11,000,000 budget for the program, and reminded the public that the projects are funded by local option sales tax and private donations rather than other public funds.

The council approved the ISG municipal park services agreement by roll-call vote. Councilors voting yes included Wick, Sturgeon, Goodchild, Friends and K.; the motion carried.

Centennial Building demolition

City staff reported seven bids were opened for the Centennial Building demolition on Oct. 1. Bids ranged from DeCarlo (DiCarlo) Demolition at $197,275 to Dorr and Associates at $324,700; the administration recommended awarding the contract to DeCarlo as the low bidder. Administration confirmed the project’s estimate had been $247,300 and that demolition costs are eligible for TIF reimbursement. The council adopted Resolution 25-48, awarding the demolition contract to DeCarlo Demolition in the amount of $197,275. Roll-call votes recorded Sturgeon, yes; Wick, yes; Goodchild, yes; Bruns, yes; motion carried.

Southwest commercial development and Eighteenth Street drainage: public hearing dates

ISG submitted plans, specifications and an estimate for the Southwest commercial development — a 35-acre site at 204 SW and Key Avenue purchased by the Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation — with an administration recommendation to proceed to public hearing. The council set Oct. 21, 2025, at 12 p.m. for the public hearing, set Nov. 12, 2025, at 2 p.m. as the bid opening, and scheduled consideration for award at the Nov. 18, 2025, council meeting. Administration noted the project is expected to be in a TIF district and that lot sales are intended to repay infrastructure costs.

For the Eighteenth Street Southeast drainage repair project, staff described plans to add storm sewer intakes and upsize pipe to address flooding in the area and convey flow to a detention basin. The council set a public hearing for Oct. 21, 2025, at 12 p.m., a bid opening for Nov. 6, 2025, at 1 p.m., and set council consideration for Nov. 18, 2025. The administration estimated the work would take about 20 working days and be funded from the storm water fund.

Votes at a glance: motion summary and outcomes

• Central Avenue Extension ISG services agreement — motion carried (roll call: Pick yes; Bruns yes; Goodchild no; Witt yes; Sturgeon yes); not-to-exceed $127,710.

• Municipal Park ISG services agreement — motion carried (roll call included Wick yes; Sturgeon yes; Goodchild yes; Friends yes; K. yes); not-to-exceed $525,000; funding from local option sales tax and private donations as part of the Community Betterment 3 package.

• Centennial Building demolition — Resolution 25-48 adopted; contract awarded to DeCarlo (DiCarlo) Demolition, low bid $197,275; costs eligible for TIF reimbursement; motion carried (roll-call included Sturgeon yes; Wick yes; Goodchild yes; Bruns yes).

• Southwest commercial development — council set public hearing for Oct. 21, 2025; project estimate $3,476,329.50; schedule: bids opened Nov. 12, 2025; award Nov. 18, 2025.

• Eighteenth Street Southeast drainage repair — council set public hearing for Oct. 21, 2025; project estimate $155,000; bid opening Nov. 6, 2025; council award Nov. 18, 2025; estimated 20 working days to complete.

What’s next

Projects move to final design, bidding and procurement per the schedules above; the council will consider bid awards and any TIF or funding approvals at upcoming meetings. Administration and councilors emphasized that the Community Betterment 3 projects are primarily funded by local option sales tax and private donations.