(Spirit Lake)– Tempers were flaring as the Spirit Lake City Council Tuesday evening considered a request of $400,000 in funding from the Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis Club for the Aspen Seemann Park project. The organization is serving as a conduit for a 4 million dollar donation for the project, and is overseeing additional fundraising to equip the park and amenities. The club is also applying for various grants, including one for $1 million through the Iowa Economic Development Board. The group needs local matches in order to be able to apply. The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors recently voted in favor of the county contributing $10,000 toward the project. Councilman Kevin Bice Tuesday evening questioned why the city was being asked to kick in a much higher amount than the county. Fellow councilman Jerry Harbst then made a motion for the city to also kick in $10,000, instead of the $400,000 that was being requested. Bice seconded the motion. Another council member, Keith Brockmeyer, advocated for the city to contribute a much higher amount. That drew this exchange between Brockmeyer and Bice…
The council then voted three to two in favor of the $10,000 contribution, with Brockmeyer and Angela Kofoot voting no.
