"We've cut $700,000 from the budget, reduced services, cut back on books for the library, and eliminated some mowing of city properties, and cut people's jobs. If we don't have the money, we don't do the project," Le Mars City Councilman Rex Knapp said Tuesday referring to repair of the Plymouth Street/Central Avenue intersection.

Knapp's comments came following the council's decision to delay work on that corner after reviewing four repair options presented by David Wilberding, Professional Surveying Services, Le Mars, Tuesday.

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Decorative brick pavers, installed in 2005, have deteriorated, making a rough ride at that corner for Highway 3 and Central Avenue traffic, thousands of cars daily.

"Unless the money's there," Knapp added, "I'm not for taking on any new projects."

The council's decision to delay work was pending the review of available road use tax monies.

Use of the road use tax funds, collected by the state on gasoline sales, are currently being eyed as most appropriate funding for the repair without additional property tax funds.

The four options for redoing the intersection, ranging in cost from $37,468 to $83,380, offered several alternatives: color-topping with all decorative brick pavers removed - $47,490; color-topping with all pavers with exception of those bordering curbs removed - $37,000; full depth repair and all bricks removed, colored concrete - $54,979, and intersection removal and replacement, all bricks removed - $83,380.

A non-varying increment in all proposals is a $7,500 traffic control device needed for Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance for Highway 3's routing at the intersection.

Wilberding said initial talks with state DOT officials indicated their acceptance of proposed 9" concrete suggested for options three and four.

Council Member Delana Ihrke asked whether the DOT would consider assisting in funding for the intersection repair. City Administrator Scott Langel, present at the meeting, said he would contact the DOT with regard to the financial assistance.

Langel told the council, meanwhile, that if council members failed to reach agreement on the repair proposals, "some spot repair maintenance, with hot-mix asphalt," would be necessary at this time at an estimated cost of "between $2,000 and $3,000."

"It's like someone who has a leaky roof and no money to hire someone to get it fixed," Councilman Knapp said of handling the project. "What does he do? He gets out the mop and buckets until he has money to pay for it."