(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson county board of supervisors today (Tues.) voted four-to-one in favor of the county contributing $50,000 toward the estimated $700,000 total cost of installing an electric fish barrier on or near the weir at the Lower Gar Outlet. Proponents of the project say it would hopefully prevent Asian Carp, or the so-called “jumping fish”, from getting into the Iowa Great Lakes. Asked about how firm the $700,000 estimate is, Mike Hawkins, a Fisheries Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said there no guarantees. He says it was based on a similar barrier installed years ago near Heron Lake, Minnesota, and they had factored in the rate of inflation…Click here for comment from Mike Hawkins
Mike May, a lakes area resort owner and former state lawmaker, said doing nothing isn’t an option if we are leave a legacy to upcoming generations…Click here for comment from Mike May
To date, a little more than $500,000 has been raised in donations from various protective associations and the Okoboji Tourism Committee, along with $300,000 that’s been committed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. And Phil Petersen of the Iowa Great Lakes Association told superviosrs there’s still a possibility of the legislature coming up with an additional $200,000, but that’s far from certain at this point.
Supervisor Marty Allen seconded a motion by Paul Johnson for the county to commit $50,000 toward the project, saying it’s vital the county to support the project if it’s to stand any chance at all of getting funding from the legislature…Click here for comment from Mardi Allen
Supervisor Chairman David Gottsche cast the lone no vote, saying in his mind ther are too many unanswered questions over what the final could be…Click here for comment from David Gottsche
Details as to from which area of the budget the money will come out of still need to be worked out.
