(Des Moines)– Efforts by the city of Spirit Lake to annex 39.9 acres of land just west of the Indian Hills Golf Course, but not including the course itself, into the city have been dealt a setback.
A 50 foot strip of land along Highway 9 to connect the 39.9 acres to the existing west city limits was included as part of the proposal that went before the City Development Board in Des Moines on Wednesday, which voted 3-0 to reject the request.
Spirit Lake City Attorney-Administrator Gregg Owens told the board they want to avoid any involuntary annexations in that area if possible.
In making the motion to reject the annexation, a member of the City Development Board expressed concern over using the 50 foot strip to connect the existing city limits to the new area, or “flag pole annexation”.
Owens indicated a housing development was being proposed for the land.
Some adjoining property owners in the Weather End and Monarch Cove areas of West Lake Okoboji expressed concern during the Development Board’s hearing over potential drainage issues into West Lake Okoboji from any development of the land.
