(Spirit Lake)– Spirit Lake’s city limits are about to expand again. The city council Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution for the voluntary annexation of land where the new YMCA is to be built just south of the present city limits. The council took the action following a public hearing that drew no comments.
The council reviewed the audit for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. Winther Stave and Company of Spencer reported the city had revenues of 5.5 million dollars, with slightly more than a million of that in property taxes. Another 4.5 million in revenue was in the form of bonds. Expenditures totaled eight million dollars…a 20 percent increase from the prior year. Almost 750-thousand dollars was spent on community protection; 370-thousand went for human development; 6.3 million for home and community environment; and 546-thousand dollars was spent on policy and administration.
The council also denied a request from Okoboji to allow the city to annex 120 acres of land just north of the airport. Spirit Lake council members are concerned over the potential for future development in that area and impacts it may have on the airport, which is owned by the city of Spirit Lake.
Council members also unanimously approved a proposal from Chief Jon Martyr to establish a Seargeant’s position in the police department; they approved a procedural manual for the police department; and granted a six month extension for police officer Ryan Larson to move into the Spirit Lake school district. Larson is trying to sell his house in Lake Park and requested the additional time. As part of the extension, Larson will no longer drive a patrol car back and forth between Spirit Lake and Lake Park.
Council members also accepted a Utility Committee recommendation NOT to approve a preliminary plat for Hawn’s Addition. The proposed development would be located just south of existing city limits. The city has a say in the process because it’s within two miles of its boundary. Council members expressed concern over water and sewer service to the area. They indicated the city would be in favor of providing water once the area is annexed into the city. They also want to see how streets would be laid out; and the city is concerned over a provision that would allow septic tanks in the proposed development. City Administrator Pete Hegeman was directed to write a letter to county zoning officials expressing the city’s concerns.
