Northwest Iowa — There are new conservation facilities in both Lyon and Sioux counties. And that’s not where the similarities end. It seems both facilities are also dealing with funding gaps.
At the recent Sioux County Board of Supervisors meeting, Cal De Ruyter and Gordon Pottebaum spoke on behalf of the Sioux County Conservation Foundation. They reported on the fundraising activities to fund the gap for the Sioux County Nature Center. De Ruyter reported that after the completion of the Nature Center, a $1 million gap in funding existed and the Foundation was able to reduce that gap by $650,000, by revisiting all of their donors. They said that in August, the REC loan payments will begin, which entail $90,000/year for 4 years.
They told the board that the foundation is requesting $350,000 in funding to clear up the remainder of the needed funding.
Fourth District Supervisor Mark Sybesma stated that this funding was supposed to be there and they had been told that nothing further would be needed from the county the last time the Foundation met with the Board. Sybesma says, however, the facility is nice to have and he appreciates the efforts of the staff and volunteers.
Fifth District Supervisor Carl Vande Weerd stated that the Board will need to look at this funding as part of the overall budget process and will make a decision on funding at a later date. The $4.8 million Prairie Woods Nature Center opened about eleven months ago.
Meanwhile, the Lyon County Conservation Foundation sent a mailer to county residents recently telling of a similar situation. The mailer states that the Lake Pahoja Education Center is up and open, but “we are not quite where we need to be.” It says the Lyon County Conservation Board is continuing to write grants and carefully save, but, “we are still in need of $300,000 to complete our project.”
The Lyon County Conservation Foundation is asking people to consider making a “brick” or “leaf” donation. They say the donations make great birthday or Christmas gifts or memorials for loved ones. Donation Display Bricks are engraved with the names of the donors and will be placed outside the Education/Nature Center. Engraved leaves are also available for larger donations over $1000, which will be displayed as an art piece inside the center. The $1.97 million Lake Pahoja Nature Center opened in May.
