Lyons Ctr Expansion - Mines of Spain
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FRIENDS of the MINES of SPAIN
8991 Bellevue Hts.
Dubuque, IA 52003-9214
(563) 556-0620
www.minesofspqin.org
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall- 50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
October 6, 2006
RE: Financial Support for the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center Expansion
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
As you know, the Friends of the Mines of Spain seeks to expand the E. B. Lyons
Interpretive Center at the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area to include more space
for educational purposes. Our project brochure is enclosed.
The E. B. Lyons Interpretive Center is owned by the City of Dubuque and is managed
by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The Friends of the Mines of Spain is a
non-profit group organized to inform and educate the public on resources and events at
the Mines of Spain. The Friends group assists the Park Staff with administration of the
Mines of Spain and the Interpretive Center.
We are seeking local, state, federal, and private grants and donations for this $1.4
million expansion. To date, we have nearly $500,000 for the project. This includes
commitments of $30,000 from Dubuque County and $30,000 from the City of Dubuque.
The Friends of the Mines of Spain greatly appreciates its partnership with the City of
Dubuque and the City's commitment of $30,000 for water and septic system upgrade to
serve the expanded Interpretive Center. We understand from City staff's analysis that
the cost to extend full City of Dubuque water and sewer services to the Center was not
financially feasible. Concurrently, ,the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has
agreed to provide the entire upgrade of the on site septic and well system; making the
City's previous $30,000 contribution unusable.
The Friends group also recently learned that we can potentially receive up to $350,000
from the Iowa Values Fund. Our grant application is due by the end of October. This
grant program requires a local government match. Your continued involvement as a
partner with a financial stake in the project is vital to our success in receiving this grant.
printeq on recycleq paper
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The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
October 6, 2006
Page 2
We respectfully request that the City of Dubuque maintain its $30,000 commitment, but
given the Iowa DNR's commitment to provide complete upgrade of existing well and
septic system, we ask that the City's proposed contribution come from and be intended
for something other than "water and septic" upgrade. We would therefore appreciate a
letter of support revising the source and intent of funding, while maintaining the
previous level of financial commitment, viz. $30,000.
Thank you for considering our request, and we look forward to working with the City
of Dubuque. Please feel free to contact me at 557-8188 (H); 584-3440 (0) or email
"dougolk@hotmail.com" if you have questions.
~;~(fJUJ
Douglas G. Olk, MD.
President, Board of Directors
Friends of the Mines of Spain
Enclosure
cc: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Gil Spence, Leisure Services Manager
Wayne Buchholtz, Mines of Spain Park Ranger
E. B. Lyons Interpretive Center
Expansion Project Budget *
Upper Level
Multi-Functional Room
Office Area
Kitchenette/Food Preparation
Atrium and Lobby
Exhibits/Storage
Restrooms
$478,107
43,158
45,406
70,581
66,929
9,441
Lower Level
Nature Lab and Exhibits
Additional/N on-designated
$528,233
185,444
Interim Financing
Fund Raising
$1,427,299
$20,000
$50,000
$1.497 ,299
($340,000)
SUBTOTAL
Total Project Costs
(Less Commitment from the State of Iowa)
Campaign Goal
$1,157,299
Updated as of Feb. 2006-Figures based upon proposed square footage for each area.
Cost estimates include-Materials/Labor/Design/Ge"eral Contractor Services
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and 10% Contingency,
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