(Spirit Lake)– Saying it would go a long way toward improving the quality of life in Dickinson county, businessman Tom Bedell brought a unique proposal to the table at Tuesday’s Dickinson county board of supervisors meeting. He proposed hiring a person that would collaborate all of the recreational opportunities that are available in the county. Bedell says the person holding that title would assist in marketing and providing information about the various opportunities available locally. Bedell likened it to the “Arts Live” collaboration already in place.
Bedell said his family foundation would provide funding for the position for the first year, provided the county would take it on after that. After some discussion, it was the concensus of the supervisors to allow Bedell to proceed with the concept.
Bedell also spoke of the need to build on life-long learning opportunities in the area. He announced that an Executive Director will be hired sometime in the next two months at Lakeside Lab. He says that person will work in cooperation with the Iowa State University Extension Service, area K-12 schools, Buena Vista University, Iowa Lakes Community College and the regents institutions.
Bedell says an Academic Director for Science will also be hired at Lakeside Lab so as not to lose the core function of the facility as a field station.
