Le Mars council approves $5.5 million LOST commitment for Community Betterment Projects No. 3

LE MARS, Iowa — The Le Mars City Council on Dec. 17 approved a motion to commit up to $5.5 million in local option sales tax (LOST) financing to support Community Betterment Projects No. 3 (CBP3), a package of park and downtown improvements to be matched by the Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation (LABF).

City Administrator and council members said the city's commitment will be spread over several years and financed against future LOST receipts; the council vote authorizes the city to contract and advance engineering and construction costs up to the $5.5 million commitment before invoicing the LABF for reimbursable project costs. Dustin, a representative of the Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation, told the council that "since 2014, the Betterment Foundation's been working in [the] community. And to date, over $10,000,000 have come forward through very generous donations of our community members and businesses." The motion carried.

Why it matters: The package is intended to pair public financing with private fundraising to deliver playgrounds, splash pads, clubhouses, courts, trail extensions and other amenities across multiple parks. LABF representatives said the foundation will begin a fundraising campaign to raise a matching $5.5 million; council approval commits the city as a funding partner to allow projects to move into schematic design and construction.

What the city approved: The CBP3 program as presented includes work at O'Toole Park (splash pad, new clubhouse and playground), Municipal Park near the golf course (clubhouse expansion, event plaza, additional courts and parking improvements), Cleveland Park (shelter, inclusive playground, food stall court and three basketball courts), Sunset Park (bike-trail extension, kayak launch, a tot lot and picnic shelter) and Shaffer Park (sidewalks, low-maintenance improvements and sculpture opportunities). LABF representatives described earlier community engagement and positive stakeholder feedback.

Funding details and process: City staff said the $5.5 million commitment will come from LOST and may be financed (bonded) so repayments are drawn from future LOST receipts. A staff member referenced that scheduling of payments will be at city staff discretion; the council discussed the option of increasing the LOST rate in the future to accelerate repayment, with one council member saying the city should "review raising that amount," noting higher rates in other Iowa cities.

Discussion and concerns: Council members expressed general support for leveraging private donations to expand parks and quality-of-life amenities. One council member referenced Iowa code when listing municipal responsibilities and said they supported the action as consistent with those duties. A councilor asked how final the schematic plans are; LABF representatives said schematic design remains and that feedback could still produce changes so long as projects remain within budget.

Implementation notes: The city will pay engineering and construction costs on CBP3 projects until the $5.5 million commitment is expended; thereafter the LABF will be invoiced for city project costs. LABF said it has previously helped raise more than $10 million for community projects and will begin a new campaign tied to the vision 2045 plan. Timing for individual park work will depend on fundraising, design, and the city's financing schedule.

Votes at a glance from the Dec. 17 meeting (selected items): - Motion to approve allocating $5,500,000 of LOST funds for Community Betterment Projects No. 3 — motion passed (voice vote; record: "Motion carried").

Ending: LABF leaders said fundraising will begin soon and schematic designs will follow; city staff will coordinate the financing and project phasing as donations and contracts permit.