Storm Lake’s Casino Bay Marina is getting a fresh look, but Buena Vista County still has no outside proposals for its future commercial operation.
County Conservation Director Greg Johnson updated the county board of supervisors Tuesday on the marina’s construction, new signage and lack of interest from potential private operators, while also reporting another legal challenge over federal funding for Linn Grove Dam repairs.
The marina, previously referred to as the Storm Lake Marina, is now officially being identified on new signs as Casino Bay Marina. The county took ownership of the roughly 17-acre property from the state this summer after managing it since March 2024.
The conservation board has approved new entrance signage from Pilot Rock Signs in Cherokee, with installation potentially coming in early December. Additional signs will be installed along Iowa Highway 110 to direct visitors to the marina and boat ramp. Johnson said the new signs will give the marina a more polished, unified look.
The signs are part of a broader effort to improve the lakefront property, where a major parking and stormwater project is underway. Crews have installed much of the drainage tile and inlets and completed much of the preliminary earthwork ahead of concrete installation.
The contractor’s deadline for substantial completion is Nov. 15, with final completion expected by Dec. 1. The work includes replacing gravel parking areas with concrete and reshaping retention basins to improve drainage. Other improvements include floor coatings in the main building, heating and cooling work, garage door repairs and replacement of deteriorating fencing.
But the county’s plans for the marina’s longer-term commercial use remain unresolved.
The conservation board sought proposals from businesses and organizations interested in leasing and operating all or part of the property. The deadline passed Oct. 2 without a single submission, Johnson told supervisors.
Potential uses outlined in the request included food and beverage service, boat rentals, marina retail, marine services and event space.
Johnson said the conservation board has not yet decided what to do next. The county has previously explored different approaches to the marina building, including public gathering space and private business operations. Regardless of its future commercial use, the property must remain open for public recreation under the terms of its transfer.
Meanwhile, the county is continuing its fight for additional federal assistance to repair the Linn Grove Dam and surrounding parkland.
Johnson told supervisors the county filed another request for arbitration with the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals after disputing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) latest funding calculations.
The county’s engineers now estimate the dam repairs at $3.9 million and the park project, including the bridge channel, at $6.9 million. FEMA currently lists $3.1 million for the dam and $2.6 million for the park.
The dispute stems from flood damage in 2018 and 2019, with additional damage in 2024. A previous arbitration decision established the dam’s eligibility for federal assistance, but disagreements over project costs and portions of the park work have continued.
