(Lake Park)– With one abstention and one member absent, the Lake Park City Council voted to express intent to bring a bond referendum for a new fire/EMS facility back to the voters in roughly a year or so. It comes after a $4.6 million proposal fell short of receiving a 60 percent super majority required under Iowa law by roughly some 40 votes in the election a week ago.
Councilman Whitney Thiessen says a lot of leg work will need to be done to make it more palatable to voters. He says many Lake Park residents feel it isn’t fair that they have to be saddled with the burden…
“People would be more willing to vote for it next time around if we show that we tried other sources as well, just to lower the amount. You were talking about the rural communities, I know that they can’t do anything but if we have a list, even without names, but like a list of pledges to show that we are just trying to lower it. Say over a year’s span we do have that between pledges and other money raised. Even $500,000. It would make a big difference to show the people that it’s just not on the town. It would show that rural are also trying to do it. It’s not even just the financial matter, it just shows the goodwill on our part saying that we’re trying to lessen the tax burden, it’s not just on you guys. We get that it’s expensive. And even trying to be gracious about it would make a big difference when it gets voted on next time.”
Thiessen added there was another factor that came into play in last week’s vote…
“That was a lot of what I heard was that the calls that are for rural compared to the calls in town as to a percentagewise and the population. People in town aren’t happy about that. I know you guys can’t do anything about it, I understand the law, I get it all, I explained it to people, but that’s the sentiment I heard.”
Fire Chief Brandon Ehret says that isn’t necessarily a fair argument…
“Somebody’s house burns down that’s a million bucks, but when we go out and put a 20 acre corn field out, there’s no value there. And the equipment needed to affect a call in town versus out in the rural is sometimes way different.”
Ehret added applying for grants for such a project can also be tricky as most of them come with special conditions and requirements. In the meantime, some research will also be done to see if any changes can be made into materials and the style of construction in an effort to reduce the cost.
