Le Mars council adopts plans for downtown traffic signal modernization

Le Mars City Council on Tuesday adopted Resolution 25-14 approving plans, specifications, form of contract and an estimate of cost for a downtown traffic-signal modernization project that would replace equipment at three downtown intersections.

The project’s base bid covers fiber-optic cable and cabling between the three intersections, signal heads, pedestrian equipment, controllers, signal poles and mast arms; a bid alternate would add poles and mast arms at the First Street intersection. The council opened a public hearing on the project and recorded no public comments before taking action.

“First thing first is a hearing for the downtown traffic signal modernization project,” a staff member told the council as the hearing opened. The staff member said the project’s financial implications will be covered with local option sales tax dollars.

Councilmember roll call on the resolution recorded five affirmative votes and the mayor declared the motion carried. The resolution instructs staff to proceed with plans and bidding using the adopted documents and the cost estimate on file.

The council set the hearing date at its April 1 meeting and held the required public notice before the April 15 hearing. The resolution authorizes staff to move the project forward to the bidding and contracting phase; the council did not discuss a contractor award at the meeting.

Construction scope, alternates and timeline were summarized at the hearing; the council and staff said additional details will be provided in contract documents and the bid package as the project moves toward solicitation and award.