(Milford)– Two local businessmen say Dickinson county needs more lakeshore property–and they have a plan for coming up with it.
Butch Parks of Okoboji and Bob Mayer of Milford presented their proposal Monday to the Milford city council. It calls for damming Mill Creek on the southwest side of Milford, creating a new narrow lake stretching from there northeasterly to Lower Gar (see map). Parks says it would be 30 to 40 feet deep and roughly half the size of East Lake Okoboji. He says the economical benefits would be huge.
The proposal includes three new bridges, and would result in the closure of several roads.
The proposal is drawing skepticism from councilman Bud Kyle. He says the city has opposed the construction of any bridges in that area in the past; and he says some land owners in that area may not be keen on the idea of being flooded out. The proposal would also force atleast one gravel operation out of existence, something Kyle said he would oppose.
Parks says the value of most of the land would increase significantly and suggested Vision Iowa money could be used to finance most of the project.
After further discussion it was decided to contact the Department of Natural Resources to see if such a project could even be feasible…and if it is, to look at establishing a fact finding committee.
