(Spirit Lake)– A study into the sharing of services among various Dickinson county governmental entities is now underway. That word today (Thursday) from officials with the Dickinson County Taxpayers Association, which is footing the 17,528-dollar cost of the study.
The association has signed on with the Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development Department, which is compiling the information.
Plans call for the study to be carried out in three phases. The first consists of inventorying local government resources and services. That’s being done now through December. The second phase involves analyzing the data and generating a report. Plans call for that to be done in January and February. The final phase, presenting the information to stakeholders, is scheduled for March.
Officials say the study will utilize data from the Geographic Information System, or GIS.
Alan Jensen, who leads the ISU Extension GIS group, will be the lead researcher. He is also a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Taxpayer Association officials say the goal of the study is to identify ways governmental entities can more efficiently deliver services.
