(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council Tuesday expressed support for a resolution urging Iowa lawmakers to take up a measure in the upcoming session giving local officials more of a say into the location of large confined animal feeding operations, or CAFO’s.
Joe Gamble of the Iowa Network For Local Control addressed the council, saying the resolution establishes Dickinson county as a unique area, and that local officials, such as the board of supervisors, should have more of a say on the location of large feedlots.
In other business, representatives of Discovery House again requested financial assistance from the city, following up on a request they made last month. Board member Bob Shaw says they’ve been getting a warm response from the county and other cities. He reiterated their request for Spirit Lake to contribute one thousand dollars a month for three years to help support Discovery House’s five-thousand dollars a month operating budget. The council voted unanimously to commit to the request, but not until July 1st, 2007. They directed the budget committee to see if there’s any possibility of coming up with funding prior to that…in the current fiscal year’s budget.
The council approved a form to be used for reserving the new shelter house at Gilbert Park; and they approved a request from the Parks and Recreation Committee for the city to pay 4,735-dollars for playground equipment at Sunland Park…near Cherish House on the city’s southwest side. The developer has agreed to pay the other half.
The council learned that under Iowa Code, the Pizza Ranch is eligible for the city’s tax abatement program since improvements at the business were completed within the last three years.
The council also adopted an ordinance revision that in effect prohibits establishments in the city from holding so-called “college night” drink specials. The new policy affects businesses who’s volume of alcohol sales makes up 50 percent or more of their business.
