Julie Gross made her first appearance before the Lake County Commission as Lake Area Improvement Corporation handout seeker on Tuesday. She requested $35,000 from county taxpayers. Technically, she made two requests: $10,000 to help cover her salary and other general budget items, and $25,000 to go toward the vaunted zombie of the unsuccessful Forward Madison project. That's $5,000 more than the LAIC requested last year, and $10,000 more than it got from Lake County.
Of course, it's also $35,000 more than the Spearfish Economic Development Corporation gets from its county taxpayers. Somehow, Spearfish makes economic development happen without asking for a single penny from the Lawrence County Commission.
The LAIC's motto: if at first you don't succeed, spend more money!
Cory, if you don't want the Lake County Commission to give money to the LAIC, go to the meeting on Tuesday morning and voice your concerns.
Off topic, did you read the letter to the editor from the guy who drove to Milbank to do his own research on the thrift store? That's an active citizen!