(Spirit Lake)– Tuesday’s Spirit Lake city council meeting opened with a closed session to discuss a possible real estate transaction. No action was taken after the meeting was reconvened in open session.
A second closed session to discuss records required or authorized by state or federal law to be kept confidential was postponed. Councilman Jerry Harbst had requested the item be placed on the agenda. He was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
Some changes could be in store in the overseeing of the Dickinson County Trails Association. Evonne Taylor, the association’s President, requested the city enter a 28E agreement that would transfer the association from the auspices of the Dickinson County Conservation Board to that of the county board of supervisors. Taylor says the Conservation Board is supportive of the proposed change which would have the association being overseen by an administrator. Each governmental entity in the county is being asked to contribute to help offset administrative fees. Spirit Lake’s share would be 5,296-dollars. The council took no action on the proposal. City Attorney Earl Maahs was directed to review the proposal and report back at the next meeting.
In other business, the council approved architectural standards for Campus Cleaners and Steamway, which plans to tear down the former Dickinson County News building at 1710 Ithaca Avenue and expand into a new building to be constructed on that site.
Architectural standards were also approved for Kuker Trucking which plans to put up a 60 by 80 foot pre-fab concrete building just south of the fire station.
It took two tries, but the council wound up approving a development agreement with West Okoboji Harbor, Incorporated for a new development that would be an extension of Pointe of Pines on the city’s south side. A provision in the agreement has the city waving a portion of the Drainage District 22 assessments on those lots to make them more affordable. Council member Kevin Bice was concerned over a potential impact that could have, saying he wanted more detailed information. After being presented with that by developer Jim Nodland, another motion was made to approve the agreement. It passed three-to-one with council member Barb Ricke casting the dissenting vote.
The council also approved a preliminary plat of the Matuska Development, near Matuska Taxidermy on the city’s southwest side. It will consist of highway commercial, light industrial and residential lots.
