(Des Moines)– State Representative Mike May says efforts are underway in the legislature to secure funding to assist in the preservation of some land on the northeast side of Big Spirit Lake.
May says the House G-O-P Caucus moved Monday to secure 1.5 million dollars to help acquire the Yarnes property near Hale’s Slough. The money would come from the state infrastructure fund and be used to assist the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in its drive to obtain and preserve the property, which had been slated for development. That drew opposition from environmentalists and sportsmen who were concerned it would destroy the last stand of bullrushes in the lake.
May says he’s been waging a quiet battle to obtain the funding. He says Republican Caucus approval of the money is especially notable since it comes from a limited fund and in his words “every representative in the state wants a piece of that money for his or her own district”.
He cautions the issue isn’t settled yet. The entire house–and then the senate–must agree.
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