(Spirit Lake)– Representatives of the Spirit Lake Baptist Church trustees were at Tuesday’s Dickinson County Board of Supervisors meeting requesting the county follow through with terms of an agreement struck back in 2004 as part of the courthouse construction project. Terms of that agreement called for the county to preserve the historic church, founded in 1873, and to move it to a public site, in exchange for the church allowing the county to use the ground where the church stands at the corner of 19th Street and Ithaca Avenue.
Rick Lundgren, a church trustee, told the supervisors they’re disappointed the county hasn’t lived up to its part of the deal yet. They made a similar request about a year ago. Lundgren says it’s now been more than seven years ago since the agreement was reached and that since then, the county has constructed a garage and communications tower on the site. As a result, he says the church trustees feel the county is morally and legally obligated to follow with terms of the agreement as soon as possible.
Lundgren added they would like to see the historic church relocated to Kenue Park, and the existing church site converted to a green space or park area, perhaps even with a band shell for outdoor entertainment.
County officials say they’re having a hard time finding the original agreement. Supervisors Marti Allen and Pam Jordan agreed to meet with church trustees in early July to discuss the possible options.
