[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6632552,"mediaKeyId","2672664-83ea13f5bad656ec149fd74837b00d22","parentId",2672664,"title","Lamar council opens discussion on trimming multi-family tax abatement to five years pending housing study","audioSeconds",207,"startMs",873000,"endMs",1080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672664-83ea13f5bad656ec149fd74837b00d22&start=873&end=1080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672664-83ea13f5bad656ec149fd74837b00d22/thumbnail_873000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632552/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Lamar-council-opens-discussion-on-trimming-multi-family-tax-abatement-to-five-years-pending-housing-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632552-6b6b3fcd77aea30d4526d02fc4eecd2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195206&Signature=gcBU9sZOkJG6ai08uStDzFJz5jRS2oa9FkWGqrBqWHpXzVHpq4jCk2nLH3WyFaNWrW2J-KK1wEOsakD~vTLOxenvjxD1FglJAOR18g9xkJG3A97g7JgCj8j24jiWbcfquhWLzzC~Ww0uyfEvFO10s-10EM7rxUF0hXZ5qGk~lmG7Jk75I83Z0eX4PqICwaJZnp~R4w~ufTr3Bxj3N5E8pzHOUHK2JwX-aD31o-uZucYpkXfYdkTNTP17NbKakI89MSQYSNuRmEMZXa6AbbXbSy6oyeuSas8Knn-cny9ABehDrkoYVc19rov4d8wRuYlyRSQSvP9tdqrrUcM1zP~9LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Le Mars","date","2025-03-18T18:23:52.037Z","article","A council member asked the Lamar City Council to open discussion on reducing the city's seven-year urban revitalization tax exemption for multi-family housing to five years, saying the change should be considered given several apartment projects under way.

\"I wanna open discussions on backing that up to 5,\" the council member said, citing a desire to reassess the incentive while multiple apartment projects proceed. City staff cautioned that the state recently changed the urban revitalization program so school taxes are no longer part of the abatement for multi-family housing, reducing the local tax exemption's value roughly by a third.

\"This past session, the legislature took away the school portion,\" Mike, a city staff member, said. \"So now it's just the county portion and the city portion. So you are reducing it by a third.\" Staff also said a full housing study — not merely a needs assessment — will begin immediately and is expected to take about 10 weeks. The study will analyze demand across housing categories (senior housing, apartments, entry-level homes) and advise how many units are needed in each segment.

Council members agreed to await the housing study's findings before changing the abatement policy. One member suggested revisiting the exemption if the study or future market conditions justify it. Staff said they would report back to the council once the study is complete.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; the discussion was recorded for future council consideration once staff provides the housing-study results.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Le Mars Council Meeting March 18, 2025 Part 2 of 2","oneSentenceSummary","A council member proposed cutting the city\u0000s seven-year urban revitalization exemption for multi-family housing to five years; staff said a state change removed school taxes from the exemption and a housing study beginning immediately will inform any decision.","taxTitle","Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa","taxId",64213,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632557,"Council awards $78,853 contract for Industrial Road sanitary sewer extension",160,429000,589000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672664-83ea13f5bad656ec149fd74837b00d22&start=429&end=589","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672664-83ea13f5bad656ec149fd74837b00d22/thumbnail_429000.jpg","/articles/6632557/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Council-awards-78853-contract-for-Industrial-Road-sanitary-sewer-extension","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632557-d0482435fd7d09db720accd02a45441e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195206&Signature=bLmGG-otyktA7OAyXBcaaE2k0ePsdNQnl~3JTjMPVs3xRhP9O3E7ako7V4urK8qKZgrOZZ6PW~CzfKXggbt4VTlATwral5Gt6KoIHm-oear-RPCIdrM9iTsPBJU1ln6edejFUK8Epbqb0a83W23A23xi2FtrYqilOE13W25N~rHItlFlx0Zb1GT2j6KuPUv7ZYApUZLM8qo7nlSjDrskR~81sk436Wm~e8hDGTVw7cFZhq0VSvHZ4tel4FTmcCvWUDlnkHePUJHrzCemCIA6ZnTmxM9nyajaenbebqab4aANXKM8ZBaq1GiMhjqNCje5EcA-fFLiOSYdHtVgDuAOJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lamar City Council adopted Resolution 25.12 to award the contract for the 2025 Industrial Road sanitary sewer extension project to the lowest bidder at $78,853.

City administration reported that eight bids were received and opened on March 12, 2025. The project will extend the sanitary sewer main to serve four lots in Lamar's Industrial Park second and third additions that currently lack access to sewer. The administration and Beck Engineering recommended awarding the contract to the lowest bidder; the project schedule shows award on March 18, 2025, and completion by Aug. 1, 2025.

The city noted the engineer's estimate for the project was $104,246; all eight bids came in below that estimate. The low bid, listed in the meeting record as Salzmuff, totaled $78,853. The council adopted the resolution by roll-call vote: Goodchild, yes; Wick, yes; Sturgeon, yes; Pick, yes; Bruns, yes.

A council member requested a roll call before the vote; the clerk recorded the five affirmative votes and the resolution carried. The council did not record any dissenting or abstaining votes on the award.

Work on the project is expected to begin after contract execution and will be reimbursed in part by the TIF program as noted in the project materials.","Lamar City Council adopted Resolution 25.12 to award the 2025 Industrial Road sanitary sewer extension contract to the lowest bidder at $78,853; eight bids were received and the project is scheduled for completion by Aug. 1, 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632561,"Lamar council approves city-paid interest on loan for 35-acre Key Avenue development",403,4000,407000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672664-83ea13f5bad656ec149fd74837b00d22&start=4&end=407","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672664-83ea13f5bad656ec149fd74837b00d22/thumbnail_4000.jpg","/articles/6632561/Le-Mars/Plymouth-County/Iowa/Lamar-council-approves-city-paid-interest-on-loan-for-35-acre-Key-Avenue-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632561-f8d9d88a14300696a0eaf813605d9a96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195206&Signature=AgQze3nEaJem9l2SrZYrIGnmZhv7qZJt12OXveGdbpugJaMDd916msOKDJHp6m-EbUn2vaiLG4zw3IYTxFWf5YE3gbtN-pM1v4XFY7N7B-odE2l0hE-GhsivSjw6bdIVLKP-VAvG6euNGwOU1RjJRBrAdo5FH3mDoVM0mlKwJfOs6C8UGjNtQILRyXOKY3iUreX1VGURTq1B~TT1o4W6W1ZIH0nyjCBC5F2JC96xus5t6fyAM-DNbxy85kSUzhC3axoyJeBMLxBZMAB0OUcJTzXPqZL7b-SS16FbSHUinWJxjBBYJPHzIjFePRdLVjUM9DyWsvQCMeP9joLiEkzPGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lamar City Council voted to approve entering into an agreement that lets the city make interest payments on loans secured by the Lamar Valley Industrial Corporation (LVIC) for the purchase and initial development of 35 acres at the Key Avenue and Fourth Street SW intersection.

City and LVIC officials said the payment arrangement is intended to cover a short financing gap while infrastructure is installed and the first lots are sold. “The request is to allow LVIC to get it developed and sell those first lots, and use the proceeds to pay the city back,” Mark, representing LVIC, said during the meeting.

Council members and staff explained that the city plans to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for the property but that the district will not begin producing TIF revenue until new parcels are taxed. “I don't believe the interest, the loan to the LBIC will be paid through TIF…because we won't have generated TIF,” a city staff member, Joe, said, noting the timing mismatch between development costs and when TIF revenue begins.

Officials discussed site-readiness and annexation. Council members said infrastructure is already available at the site perimeter and that a voluntary annexation request by the property owner will be filed before major installation begins. Staff noted the sanitary sewer in the area flows through an existing lift station and said they will verify that current infrastructure is sufficient before proceeding.

Council debate was brief and supportive. One council member said the 24-month window included in the request was designed to reduce the city's financial burden while ensuring LVIC continues development activity. After a motion to approve the agreement and a second, the council held a voice vote; the motion carried.

Council members asked whether the agreement would be returned to the council for formal approval; staff responded that the finalized agreement will be brought back for council consideration and formal execution.

The council did not specify the names of the motion maker or seconder during the recorded discussion; the voice vote was recorded as \"aye\" and the motion carried.","The Lamar City Council approved an agreement permitting the city to make interest payments on loans secured by the Lamar Valley Industrial Corporation to buy and develop 35 acres at Key Avenue and Fourth Street SW, allowing LVIC time to install infrastructure before Tax Increment Financing generates revenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lamar council opens discussion on trimming multi-family tax abatement to five years pending housing study

Council awards $78,853 contract for Industrial Road sanitary sewer extension

Lamar council approves city-paid interest on loan for 35-acre Key Avenue development