New road by senior center, parking by planned church get council OK

The improvements, City Administrator Scott Langel explained, would involve expanding Yoerger Drive, which runs east from Sixth Avenue Northeast between Floyd Valley Apartments and the existing Gehlen Catholic School parking lot.

Parking would be added to either side of Yoerger Drive, which would be converted to a two-way traffic street. Currently the street is more of a driveway.

In addition, Yoerger Drive would be extended to the north, running behind Floyd Valley Apartments and right by the Le Mars Senior Center.

The extended drive would connect to an existing alley north of the Floyd Valley Apartments, bringing traffic back to Sixth Avenue Northeast.

Langel estimated modifying Yoerger Drive would cost about $50,000.

More parking would be added near the Senior Center, at an estimated cost of $75,000, along with entrance modifications for another approximately $25,000.

In addition, the existing half-circle drive in front of Floyd Valley Apartments would be replaced by a new parking lot with one entrance.

The city would initially pay the $75,000 for this parking lot, but the Floyd Valley Apartments owner will repay the city through a special assessment, Langel said.

Storm sewer lines and water main would be added, at an estimated cost to the city of $75,000.

More hydrants for added fire protection of the properties would also be added.

The requests for infrastructure improvements came from Floyd Valley Apartments owner Lew Weinberg, of Sioux City, and representatives of St. Joseph's Church and Gehlen Catholic School.

The council delayed action on where the city money would come from to pay for the improvements.

The delay, Langel said, gives the city additional time to determine specific city costs for the access, drainage and utility work needed near the respective sites.

The requests came as the result of St. Joseph's future plans for a new $7.5 million building project and a projected $1.5 million improvement project for Floyd Valley Apartments following an earlier decision by the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission to place the apartment complex on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Langel disclosed his possible conflict of interest on the work on the St. Joseph's project due to his membership in the church and his support of the nearby Gehlen Catholic School.

Councilman John Leonard as well Duane Ferry, a resident near the Second Avenue and Eighth Street intersection, urged church representatives to consider the driveway placement of the new church facilities.

That change, they said, would prevent possible driveway and parking problems for residents of the area and help with motorists' safety.

Citing his concerns over possible cost of the requested infrastructures, Councilman Rex Knapp noted lots of money for this project is not available at the time and that "no pot of gold exists" at present to alleviate the costs.

Councilman Ken Nelson complimented representatives of the entities requesting the changes for their willingness to work together.

Nelson also emphasized the need to incorporate input from neighboring property owners into planning as the projects continue.

The infrastructure issue now goes to the city zoning board and board of adjustment June 2 for their consideration.