(Spirit Lake)—Drainage in the area of a new industrial park under development on the east side of the city of Spirit Lake was a topic of discussion at today’s (Tues.) Dickinson county board of supervisors meeting.
Brad Beck, an engineer on the project, was requesting permission for the county to work with the city as the county owns 10 acres of land adjacent to the park. Beck requested the county consider increasing the grade of its property now at an estimated cost of $100,000, compared to an estimated $300,000 to $400,000 in later years in order to prevent any flooding on the site. The county plans to eventually build a new maintenance shed there. Beck told the supervisors the additional clay and fill would come from digging a detention pond on the industrial park land deeper. In addition to coming up with the $100,000 to do that work now, the county would also be faced with terminating early a lease it has with a nearby farmer who is currently farming that land.
Supervisor Chairman David Gottsche also expressed concern over added capacity in a drainage tile and how it could adversely affect downstream land and property owners closer to East Lake Okoboji. He expressed concern over potential liability issues should a tile in that area blow out due to the increased volume…(click here for comment.) “What I would hope we do is that we would look at increasing that line to the lake because as more and more of that is developed you’re going to have more flowing in that tile. So let’s take care of the problem now.”
Other supervisors agreed with Gottsche. It was pointed out that one possible option could be the formation of a drainage district in that area. But there’s concern that could draw opposition from atleast some of the property owners that would be involved.
After further discussion, it was the consensus of the supervisors that the county work with the city on the matter.
