Lake Delhi essential to the area

By Jim Voss

Have you ever been to Lake Delhi?

Have you ever witnessed the beauty of the area and the enjoyment it brings to so many people? If you have been there, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

For those of you who have never been there, you've missed out. It's a fantastic area with a lot to offer surrounding communities.

The heavy rain, flooding and eventual breaching of the dam in late July caused great heartache, destruction and pain. The debate continues as to whether to rebuild the dam, but really, is there any other choice?

Lake Delhi is an asset to the communities surrounding it. The list of reasons to rebuild is long. Consider these facts:

l The people who live in the area, be it year-round residents or those who have vacation homes there, boost the economy. They buy gas and food. They go out to eat, need new roofs or repairs to their homes, buy furniture, appliances, etc. Many part-time residents have long-term plans to retire here, which will boost the economy even more.

l Property taxes from these homes provide $1.62 million to Delaware County. That's more than 8 percent of the tax base.

l 31 percent of the Maquoketa Valley schools' budget comes from Lake Delhi. Schools all across Iowa are struggling to make ends meet. There are cutbacks everywhere, so this is a substantial sum for this school district. If the lake is not “restored,” property values will go down, resulting in less tax money to Delaware County and schools. Can we really afford for that to happen?

l The lake provides a beautiful recreation area with two public beaches the owners association provides and maintains. People come here for boating, fishing, skiing, tubing and picnicking. The lake adds value to the area. It helps improve the quality of life for individuals who come here.

l People from all over own homes at Lake Delhi. You have some from as far away as Utah. All of these people bring business to the surrounding communities. What will happen if you take away the revenue these businesses receive from the residents at Lake Delhi?

We must rebuild the dam at the lake. The area is an essential part of the livelihood and financial stability of the communities surrounding it.

Jim Voss, former Washington High School swim coach in Cedar Rapids, and his wife, Carol, have had a second home on Lake Delhi for 20 years and are frequent users of the lake. Comments: coachjimvoss@

imonmail.com