(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors Tuesday took no action on a request to put up some local matching funds for a Vision Iowa Grant Application for a joint city/school project in Lake Park.
Gary Richardson, Superintendent of the Harris-Lake Park schools, requested the council commit 100-thousand dollars over five years to increase chances of landing the Vision Iowa money. But Supervisor David Gottsche said he wants more time to review the request. He’s concerned that if the county donates to this effort, supervisors would come under fire for not donating to other causes…such as the Lakes Area Extrication Unit. Gottsche also sited a library in Arnolds Park that at one time was jointly operated by the school and city. The agreement later fell apart. He wants assurances something similar won’t happend with the Lake Park project.
The project in Lake Park would consist of a new 7-12 school; gym, wellness center, library and community center. That part of the project, estimated at 4.3 million dollars, would be funded through a voter-approved bond issue. The other part of the project would consist of a performing arts center, outdoor sports fields, a playground and trails…estimated at 1.75 million. That would be funded by the Vision Iowa grant.
The supervisors will consider the request again at their meeting next week.
