Council approves STBG application and commits local funds for 12th Street Southeast reconstruction
Loading...
Summary
Le Mars council approved a Surface Transportation Block Grant application to rebuild 12th Street Southeast (4th Avenue to 7th Avenue) using an 80/20 federal-local split and adopted Resolution No. 2605 to commit local funds for operation and maintenance.
Le Mars City Council voted to approve a Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) application to reconstruct 12th Street Southeast from 4th Avenue to 7th Avenue and adopted a companion resolution committing the required local funds.
The council was presented an STBG application for fiscal-year 2030 funding that is structured as an 80% federal, 20% local match. The project estimate, excluding engineering, lists $834,096 as the federal share and $208,524 as the local share. Council members were told STBG matches can at times be approved at lower federal shares (down to about 50/50), but the application was prepared on the 80/20 basis.
During discussion council members asked whether an expiring tax-increment financing (TIF) district could be renewed to supply the local match. A councilor noted the TIF is set to expire in 2026 and said renewing all or part of the current urban renewal area is the anticipated direction if the local match is needed.
Speaker 1 moved to approve the STBG application for 12th Street Southeast reconstruction; Speaker 5 seconded the motion and the council approved it by voice vote.
The council then moved to adopt Resolution No. 2605 to formally commit funds and provide for operation and maintenance of the roadway. Speaker 1 moved adoption, the motion was seconded, and the resolution was approved by roll call: Sturgeon — Yes; Bren — Yes; Hick — Yes; Wick — Yes.
Why it matters: the project targets a remaining stretch of 12th Street identified as rough with wide joints and deferred repairs. If the STBG application is funded, a large portion of construction costs would be covered federally; the council must still secure the local match and follow procurement and engineering steps prior to construction.
Next steps: the application deadline referenced in the presentation was 02/13/2026 for projects seeking fiscal-year 2030 funding. The council directed administration to submit the application by that deadline and to pursue local-match options, including potential TIF renewal.
