Le Mars council discusses Highway 75 reconstruction study, approves Plywood Trail addendum and schedules multiple public hearings

Le Mars — The Le Mars City Council on April 20 discussed options for reconstructing Business Highway 75, approved an addendum to a construction-services agreement for the Plywood Trail Phase 1B, adopted a final plat for Dogwood Fifth Addition and set several public hearings for May 20, 2025.

Council members spent most of the meeting on Business Highway 75, a 2017 overlay project that has shown recurring failures. City officials said the original 4-inch Portland cement concrete overlay cost about $1,793,671 and that the city has spent roughly $635,000 on repairs over the past six years. Administration recommended the council authorize staff to engage an engineering firm to design a full reconstruction of the corridor from Plymouth Street to Eighteenth Street SW, with later council approval required to proceed with construction and bonding. The council discussion included possible options such as a full rebuild, reduced lane configurations and incorporating previous corridor studies; the council did not reach a recorded final vote on funding or authorization to proceed with construction during the portion of the transcript provided.

The council approved an addendum to the construction-services agreement with McClure Engineering for Plywood Trail Phase 1B. The addendum updates the original 05/02/2023 contract to cover work beyond the original limits after the project exceeded contractual completion by 43.5 days. The city will pay McClure; the city expects reimbursement from the Iowa Economic Development Authority through the Destination Iowa grant or the Plywood Trail executive committee. The motion to approve the addendum — described in the meeting as $43,500 — carried.

The council adopted Resolution No. 25.18 approving the final plat and restrictive covenants for Dogwood Fifth Addition and authorized staff to draft a development agreement for the subdivision. The council also set a public hearing for 12 p.m. on May 20, 2025, to consider rezoning the Dogwood Fifth Addition from AG (Agricultural) to R1A (Medium Density Residential).

Separately, administration reported that the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a rezoning request for a parcel along Holton Drive and Blue Diamond Drive (parcel referenced as A12-17-401-36) from I3 (heavy industrial) to B2 (general business) on April 20, 2025, and recommended the council proceed to a public hearing. The council moved and carried a motion to schedule that public hearing for May 20, 2025, at 12 p.m.

Administration briefed the council on the annual review of the fiscal year 2024–25 budget and recommended establishing a public hearing to consider a budget amendment. City staff noted that Iowa law requires budget amendments when program-level expenditures exceed the adopted amounts, and that amended expenditures must show corresponding funding sources. Staff signaled conservatism in proposed amendment amounts to avoid overspending lines and noted FEMA reimbursements and various enterprise project costs (water/wastewater/hospital) that could affect final numbers. The council set a public hearing for May 20, 2025, at 12 p.m., to take public comment on the FY2024–25 budget amendment and to publish notice.

Discussion and context: City staff and council members exchanged technical questions about the Highway 75 failures — possible causes offered included unsealed joints, uneven subgrade, overlay thickness and fixed-curve stresses — and whether a full reconstruction should be coordinated with other recommended corridor changes (for example, lane reductions or removal of a nearby street commonly called Dairy Queen Road). Staff said previous corridor studies exist and would be redistributed for council review. For the Plywood Trail, the council discussed contractor performance and the process to remove the original contractor (identified in the meeting transcript as Godberson Smith) and hire another contractor to complete deficient work after DOT approval.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt Resolution No. 25.18 (final plat and restrictive covenants, Dogwood Fifth Addition): motion carried (roll call recorded as "yes"); mover/second: not specified in transcript excerpt. - Authorize drafting of a development agreement for Dogwood Fifth Addition: motion carried; mover/second: not specified. - Set public hearing for May 20, 2025, 12:00 p.m., to rezone Dogwood Fifth Addition from AG to R1A: motion carried; mover/second: not specified. - Set public hearing for May 20, 2025, 12:00 p.m., to consider rezoning of parcel A12-17-401-36 (Holton Drive/Blue Diamond Drive) from I3 to B2: motion carried; mover/second: not specified. - Set public hearing for May 20, 2025, 12:00 p.m., to consider FY2024–25 budget amendment: motion carried; mover/second: not specified. - Approve addendum to McClure Engineering construction-services agreement for Plywood Trail Phase 1B at a cost of $43,500: motion carried; mover/second: not specified.

What remains unresolved: The council discussed but did not record a final vote in the provided transcript on whether to proceed with design authorization, bonding or construction scheduling for a full reconstruction of Business Highway 75. Any design work, bonding and construction would require subsequent council approval and, if bonds are used, related financing actions.

Ending: Council members agreed to redistribute past corridor studies for Highway 75 and to address the public hearings set for May 20, 2025. Additional follow-up items identified during discussion include final DOT approval for contractor removal on the Plywood Trail and complete cost estimates and design recommendations from an engineering firm for Highway 75 before any bond authorization or construction approval.