(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson county board of supervisors Tuesday warned those spearheading efforts to raise money for a new lakes area fire boat that the county may not be able to come up with the 28-thousand dollars it had previously committed for the project.
The county had previously agreed to contribute 14-thousand dollars from the current and upcoming fiscal year budgets. But the supervisors Tuesday told representatives of the Milford and Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Departments they may not be able to meet the commitment due to ongoing budget constraints from the state and a decline in revenues coming into county coffers. Emil Richter, representing the Milford Fire Department, told the supervisors fire officials are very aware of the county’s situation, and they’d be willing to accept whatever the county could afford.
Steve Dulin, Chief of the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department, said they’ve arranged for bridge financing through a local bank and they’re prepared to make up for any shortfalls.
The cities of Milford, Wahpeton, Arnolds Park, Okoboji and West Okoboji have all agreed to contribute toward the boat. The city of Spirit Lake is considering it.
Supervisor Chairman David Gottsche again Tuesday called on local fire chiefs to come up with a long range plan for equipment needs. The county was hit up just last week to help fund the purchase of a 450-thousand dollar aerial truck the Spirit Lake Fire Department wants to purchase. And it was reported Tuesday the Milford Fire Department also wants to purchase an aerial truck.
