(Spirit Lake)– A proposal to sell a city-owned public access was the subject of a public hearing at Tuesday’s Spirit Lake city council meeting.
The land is located on North Hill Avenue across from Kabel’s Trading Post on East Lake Okoboji. The city purchased it several years ago in order to remove some trailer homes from the site. Now, the city is offering to sell it to developer Neil Slater for 360-thousand dollars. Slater says it would provide lake access for a 50-lot residential development proposed on the west side of Hill Avenue on land currently owned by Tom Underwood.
Jerry Smith lives in that area. He spoke out against the proposed land sale, saying it would add to the congestion of boats on the lake. Others expressed opposition as well, saying the Iowa Great Lakes would lose even more public access. But Robb Hinn, a realtor who spoke on Slater’s behalf, questioned just how many people actually use that access. Hinn added the city and its residents stand to gain a lot through the additional tax base the development would generate.
There was also discussion over a proposed developer’s agreement for the project. The city and Slater had earlier agreed to a proposal under which the city would provide materials to extend infrastructure to the proposed development at a cost not to exceed 360-thousand dollars…the same amount the city is asking for the public access. However, Slater said Tuesday he’s had a change in plans and is now asking the city to provide an additional 216-thousand dollars. That didn’t sit well with several council members, and a motion was made and passed three-to-two to stick with the original agreement.
The council then voted to defer action on the proposed sale of the public access to its meeting May 9th.
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