To the editor:

When I had the honor years ago to represent Webster County in the Iowa House, many local community leaders were disappointed in me when I did not support building a superpark lodge and golf course at Brushy Creek. At the time, I did not support the construction of any superpark anywhere in Iowa as I believed the DNR studies were overly optimistic in the success of such a concept. I was concerned about the long-term financial impact for Iowa taxpayers and impact on other DNR park operations.

This week, unfortunately, once again my fears have been proven true. Many Iowa park rangers are being asked to leave housing at state parks because there isn’t enough money to keep their homes in good repair. Meanwhile, the private vendor Delaware North hired to manage the superpark at Honey Creek where it was ultimately built, is leaving their contract and the state DNR has stated an interest in selling the facility after millions in losses.

The state legislature and governor should find a way to fix the park ranger homes to keep rangers on site this year. But, these two stories are related and unfortunately shows that the state made a massive mistake of getting in the hotel business.

Hopefully, the basic economics lesson can be learned that if there is no interest by the private sector in a free market to create a business, government entities not try to create one. This resort boondoggle has drained the park system of resources which was my fear years ago. I’m not happy to be proven right, but hopefully those community leaders who made it very clear to me their disappointment in me can at least see that my concerns did have merit.

Hopefully, a new buyer can be found and Iowa stays out of the hotel business moving forward.

Mike Cormack

from Fort Dodge