(Spirit Lake)– A proposal to vacate 270th Avenue on the northeast side of Big Spirit Lake is drawing concern from some fishermen.
The road travels just about right on the shoreline of Big Spirit Lake and passes within a few feet of cottages at Sandbar Beach Resort.
County Engineer Dan Eckert says the road was established back in 1871 and was referred to as the Spirit Lake/Jackson road. Since then, another road has been built further to the east.
The county is now thinking about vacating 270th Avenue.
A bridge where Sandbar Slough empties into Big Spirit Lake is the source of concern.
A public hearing on the vacation proposal was held at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting. Representatives of the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club say they use the bridge for fishing. They’re requesting it be left open for that purpose. Jim Blum, an engineer representing Don and Nancy Yarns who would like to see the road vacated, suggested the fishing club contact the Yarns about the possibility of an easement. Blum added there are plenty of other public areas farther south for fishermen. But fishing club officials say a special current exists under the bridge that can’t be found elsewhere.
Saying they want to hear from the Yarns’ on the matter, the supervisors voted to continue the public hearing on the road vacation to 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 17th.
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