(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson county board of supervisors Tuesday took no action on two unbudgeted funding requests.
The first is for the final eight thousand dollars needed for the 155-thousand dollar Lakes Area Fire Boat. Representatives of the Arnolds Park/Okoboji and Milford Fire Departments made the request. But supervisor Mardi Allen said the county’s hands are tied financially, as they hadn’t budgeted for the request, and the county’s finances are extremely tight due to ongoing cuts from the state and a reduction in revenue from the Local Option Sales Tax due to a decline in sales in the county.
Supervisor Paul Johnson empathized with those making the request, saying his constituents on West Lake Okoboji are very frustrated over the fact they don’t have fire protection, while seeing their property taxes and valuations sky rocket.
The other request was for the county to contribute toward the construction of a pedestrian/snowmobile underpass under Highways nine and 71 on the east edge of Spirit Lake. The project has an estimated cost of 360-thousand dollars.
Siting a large volume of traffic in that area, representatives of the city of Spirit Lake and Bob Shaw, a local resident, pleaded with the board to contribute to the project, saying it will be a matter of time before somebody gets killed in that area.
Spirit Lake Public Works Director Todd Dolphin says the city would like to see the underpass completed by the time the state re-surfaces Highways nine and 71 next year.
Dolphin didn’t have a firm amount as to what they’re requesting from the county.
Supervisor Mardi Allen again pointed out the county’s financial predicament.
