Electric City voters will decide on park funding

Electric City voters will be asked on November’s ballot whether they support an extra tax to go toward funding maintenance of the planned Ice Age Park, the city council voted last week.

After a brief special council meeting held only for that purpose Thursday evening, council voted to submit a proposal up for a vote of the people that would levy a tax of a little over 14 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation on property in the city.

The resolution passed states the money would be used for maintenance and operation of the park and could collect up to $10,000 a year.

In discussion at an earlier meeting July 28, Mayor Diane Kohout told council she estimates annual costs for the park at close to $7,000.

Councilmember Cate Slater was surprised by the figure. She said after making calls to other small cities she had thought it would cost between $1,000 and $3,000.

Slater, on the parks committee, said that committee didn’t think a levy was necessary.

She and others were concerned that the cost of an election may cost nearly as much or more than the money raised with the vote. Kohout said it would have to be an annual vote.

Councilmember Willie Bott said the park has been a controversial issue, so the people should be asked to vote on it.

After nearly a half hour of discussion, the council voted 4-1 to authorize the levy vote.

Voters should see the question on their November ballot.

If they don’t approve it, the park will not be built, and that would cost money: the city would have to pay back grant money given and spent for that purpose.

If the levy does pass, Kohout said Tuesday, design would be reviewed, and the work would go out for bid. Construction would likely happen next spring and could be completed by summer, she said.