City approves adding lights at five intersections

Five intersections will be somewhat brighter in the near future as the result of action Tuesday by the Le Mars City Council.

The new lights will be installed at the intersections of Second Street Southeast and 14th Avenue Southeast, 12th Avenue Southwest and 12th Street Southwest, Lee Drive and Fourth Avenue Southeast, Schafer Avenue and 15th Street Southeast and North Lynn Drive and Seventh Avenue Southeast.

Councilman Rex Knapp, who voted against the installations, said he was not against the lights but felt the issue should be addressed later when the city lighting committee completes its overall evaluation of necessary lighting and cost efficiency in late November.

Earlier, 46 lights around Le Mars were temporarily turned off for a trial period. Later this year, the council will pool together public input and make a final decision on those lights.

"The council action (to add lights at the five intersections) was actually what needed to be done and should have been done 20 years ago," Knapp said.

He added it became apparent lighting was needed at the intersections when the committee toured the city in conjunction with the lighting study.

Knapp noted that while city policy has always called for lighting at the intersections and ends of city blocks none had previously been installed at the five locations discussed.

In addition to street lighting council members discussed congestion on Fourth Avenue Northeast earlier this month during the Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds.

City Administrator Scott Langel apologized for the traffic disruption caused by railroad track repairs on the Fourth Avenue railroad crossing and said it was "definitely a regrettable inconvenience."

Langel said he had to schedule the crossing work those days due to the accessibility of rail crews to undertake the long-awaited improvement project.

Mayor Dick Kirchoff said he visited daily with festival officials who indicated they had received no complaints on the problem.

It appeared local residents were "more upset" over the traffic situation, Kirchoff said.

The council also:

*Approved the purchase of approximately one-sixth acre of unneeded city right-of-way to Larry Timmins, Timmins Construction, Le Mars, following a second public hearing. Timmins paid $1,000 for the property which is to be used for a garage site.

*Appointed Ken Wilson, Le Mars, to a five year term on the city's board of zoning adjustment.

* Granted Family Table Restaurant's request for renewal of its Special Class C Liquor License.