Spirit Lake, IA (KICD) — The Dickinson County Emergency Management Commission met for another of their special meetings Friday at noon and were pressured by a resort owner to increase the outflow from the Lower Gar Outlet, saying quote: ” You’re the Emergency Management Board, let’s manage it. Let’s move this water.”

That prompted a special joint meeting twenty-four hours later with the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors in a space inadequate for the throng of people who showed up.

Officials from Clay and Cherokee Counties learned about the meeting and dropped their emergency efforts to attend.
Clay County Supervisor Allen Batschelet took exception to a statement made early in the meeting that it was important to quote “save the summer” for Okoboji, when there is so much suffering downstream.

Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Justin Pritts said he sat in heavy tourist traffic, indicating Dickison County seems to be weathering the adversity better than Cherokee, where 150 homes are beyond repair.

Spencer Mayor Steve Bomgaars said it would be a psychological blow to his residents – many of whom feel they have lost everything – if Dickinson County sent more water their way. The resort owner was in attendance and asked Bomgaars “Are you saying you can’t handle four inches more?”

Dickinson County Supervisors Jeff Thee and Kim Wermerson finally stated they would NOT vote to release any more flood waters until it was clear it would not affect communities to the South. Wermerson motioned that an emergency committee be formed as soon as possible with representatives of Dickinson and Clay Counties, the Dickinson County Road Engineer, and the Iowa DNR to determine when allowing a heavier flow out of the Iowa Great Lakes is appropriate. That motion passed unanimously.