(West Okoboji)– A group that wants to build a shelter for pregnant young women facing special challenges is requesting the city of West Okoboji waive some zoning requirements so they can start construction.
Land for the Cherish House project has been donated by the First Lutheran Church in Milford, which will build a new church in the same facility. The only problem is the city of West Okoboji is requiring the land be platted. The city’s zoning ordinance also requires a variance be obtained for multi-family developments.
The group is asking the city to waive the requirements so they can get started with their project as quickly as possible. Otherwise, David Butterworth, a spokesman for the group, said they would have to start looking for alternative sites.
While the council seemed willing to work with the group, they did express a concern over waiving any requirements. Councilman Larry Traughber said it wouldn’t be fair to other groups and residents that were required to follow the city’s procedures.
In other business, the West Okoboji city council granted permission for Steve Case and his wife and son to operate a concession stand at the city-owned public beach. There were some stipulations attached. The case’s will be required to clean a public restroom and to report any rowdy behavior on the beach to law enforcement. Mayor Howard Titterington says it will hopefully take care of problems with vandalism, nudity and alcohol on the beach. Otherwise, he says the city will probably have to close it.
The West Okoboji City Council also voted unanimously to purchase a new snow plow truck for nearly 30-thousand dollars; and they heard concerns over speeding on Okoboji Boulevard. Titterington says he’ll contact Milford Police, with whom West Okoboji contracts for law enforcement, to see if they can patrol the area more often and issue citations to violators.
