(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors today (Tues.) approved plans and specifications and set August 7th at 10:00 am as the date and time for a bid letting on the first phase of a major drainage and water quality project in the Francis Sites area. John Hight of Beck Engineering outlined details of the first phase of what will now be a two phase project…
“That would include the storm sewer infrastructure underneath Francis Sites Road and the construction of a two acre wetland. The decision to go in phases provides us two-fold benefits. A, it provides us more time to fundraise for the remaining work that needs to be done for full construction of the wetland. Secondly, the added benefit of only disturbing two acres of wetland versus eight acres during what seems to be some abnormally wet springs and falls we’ve had over the last few years helps us with construction, helps us make sure that we’re improving water quality of East Lake Okoboji as we construct controlling two acres of disturbed ground. It’s much easier than controlling eight acres of disturbed ground.”
Hight said special precautions will be taken while the project is going on to prevent silt from getting into East Lake Okoboji. He says it will stay in place until the area is re-seeded and the vegetation is established.
The Francis Sites project has been in the discussion phase since 2012.
