It took a majority vote Tuesday to move forward on a request from LIFT WC — Local Initiative for Transformation in Webster City — to demonstrate support for the ongoing restoration of The Elks downtown.

Two out of three was enough to move forward.

Hamilton County Supervisor Chairman Rick Young made it clear that the support for the grant to finalize the work on The Elks grant created lots of discussion and meetings during the meeting of the Hamilton County Supervisors.

He made the motion to approve the $1,000 commitment and the letter of support.

All the supervisors, Young, April Ely and Mary Clausen, spoke with concern that they are managing tax dollars that are very tight.

“It’s not our money we are spending,” said Clausen as the discussion continued.

Ely, who voted against the motion, voiced her concern.

“This is nothing personal, we have taken a stance to be fiscally conservative, and we get a lot of requests for financial support, and in my opinion it is not our role to aid in that,” she said. “We, as a board of supervisors, need to really look at the core governmental functions, such as roads, public safety, public health, things of that nature.”

The request from LIFT WC was originally presented at the July 8 Board of Supervisors meeting by Phil Voge, a retired Webster City businessman who, with others, has financially supported the ongoing restoration of The Elks. Voge asked for a letter of support, and a commitment of $1,000 to match a City of Webster City contribution.

He was again at the meeting on Tuesday and restated his request to the supervisors.

It’s a requirement of the State of Iowa’s Community Action and Tourism — CAT — which is being prepared for an additional $75,000 to complete The Elks project.

The CAT grant requires projects to be available to the general public for use, have at least 65% of the project funds raised, and is only eligible to not-for-profit organizations, counties and cities.

LIFT WC is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit and thus meets all the requirements to seek a CAT grant, with the support of Webster City and the supervisors.

The CAT program provides grant funds to assist projects that provide recreational, cultural, entertainment and educational attractions. The funds help communities create transformational projects that enhance the vitality of a region and the state overall.