Chimney Rock Campground sues Winneshiek County Board

The dispute over the proposed rezoning of property at Chimney Rock Campground is now headed to court.

Campground owner Deb Keefe has filed a lawsuit against the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors and the Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning Commission.  The action asks a judge to overturn the county's denial of rezoning for the property--a rezoning that would have allowed Keefe to build three cabins on the property.

The lawsuit claims the County Boadr and Planning & Zoning Commission acted in an arbitrary manner "not consistent with the facts."  It also argued that similar requests by other campground owners had won approval by county officials.

County supervisors met in closed session Monday morning with County Attorney Andy Van Der Maaten and Assistant County Attorney Steve Belay.  When they convened in open session, supervisors unanimously approved a motion to oppose Keefe's lawsuit and to order County Planning & Zoning Administrator Tony Phillips to proceed with enforcement efforts against Keefe to make sure any existing cabins on the property in dispute are removed.

No date has been set for a court hearing on the lawsuit.