By: Matt Scher, [email protected]
Dakota City, IA – The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors heard from supporters of saving Lake Nokomis in discussions about the Reasoner Dam this morning at their weekly session at the Humboldt County Courthouse in Dakota City. Members of the public along with Conservation Board and supporters of saving the Reasoner Dam and Lake Nokomis were in attendance.
Lead supporter Brett Harklau of Humboldt County says his group would like the board to consider allowing the 501 (c) (3) non-profit group to become the operations lead on the dam, which currently is currently done by the Humboldt County Conservation Board.
Humboldt County Board of Supervisor member Dave Lee says the board would need to discuss the legality of transferring the operations of the Reasoner Dam to the group.
Humboldt County Attorney Jon Beatty was in court Monday morning and unable to join the session to answer the question. Barring the answer to the question of legality and the terms of liability if the dam’s operations were to be under the direction of the group, the Board of Supervisors would still own the dam.
Humboldt County Conservation Director Todd Lee, who under the direction of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors after a 3-2 vote a few weeks ago had applied for grant funding regarding the possibility of option 2 which would involve the dam’s crest height being lowered, had already submitted an application for grant funding.
After the discussion that took place Monday, Lee was advised to pull the plug on the application.