Supervisors turn down matching funds
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors have been wanting to get something done with the Reasoner Dam in Humboldt, but on Monday turned down a chance to possibly receive state grant dollars for the project, because the Board did not want to commit to 60 percent in matching funds. Read about it in this week's Humboldt Independent. Independent file photo.
By KENT THOMPSON
The saga of what will happen to the Reasoner Dam in Humboldt took another bend in the river Monday when the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors denied approval of matching funds to support the dam project as part of a Destination Iowa outdoor recreation grant.
Humboldt County Conservation Director Todd Lee told the Supervisors that the new state grant program, which has $100 million available, including $40 million for outdoor recreation, is looking for big ticket projects which show cooperation with other entities. Lee presented the Board with options that could get the county a reasonable chance of getting some funding, but the Board wanted to be cautious about committing county monies.
After much discussion, Supervisor Rick Pedersen of Humboldt recommended applying for the grant without the dam included. “I don’t want to commit $2 million to $12 million at this time,” he said, of the 60 percent local match requirement. Supervisors Bruce Reimers of Humboldt and Erik Underberg of Livermore agreed.
Following a Zoom meeting with the Destination Iowa director later in the day on Monday, Todd Lee said an application with only a few county park improvement projects wouldn't get funded. Read more about this story in this week's Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports.
