(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council also Friday met as trustees to Drainage District 22.
No action was taken on quotes to rock an area of the channel near the south outlet in Okoboji. Trustees opted instead to get additional quotes from atleast two other contractors.
Rich Meyer, an attorney representing Trailview Estates Condominiums, addressed the trustees. Meyer said the condo association and other property owners along the channel in Okoboji were being unfairly singled out in a consultant’s report as being the source of silt run-off near the south outlet. Meyer showed trustees a photo of dirt that had washed curb-deep near a storm sewer inlet on a street near the Bedell Family YMCA in Spirit Lake. Meyer said the same thing took place in several other locations in Spirit Lake following heavy rains last fall.
Trustee/councilman Steve Balm responded to Meyer, saying that doesn’t negate the problems in Okoboji.
Balm added it points to the need for a county-wide low impact development ordinance and a person who’s sole responsibility would be to make sure things such as silt fence ordinances are complied with.
Balm also criticized the county for delaying action on amending its zoning ordinance to make storm water management mandatory. He was referring to a decision by the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this week to refer the matter to a committee to come up with a recommendation in three months.
