Revenue streams, small-town fixes in Crystal Lakes
Editor’s note: This is the final of a twopart series about Crystal Lakes Mayor Jeremy Dorrel, focusing on the city’s new revenue streams, conservation agreements and plans for community improvements. Part one, which appeared in the Sept. 19 edition of The Standard, examined Dorrel’s background, his unexpected election and the renovation of The Overlook event center.
Crystal Lakes is leaning on creativity to fund its future, from lakeside partnerships to hayfield contracts.
The strategy originates from Mayor Jeremy Dorrel, who says small towns must find revenue sources beyond taxes if they want to improve amenities and continue growing.
“My first official act as a Mayor was to figure out the most effective and efficient way the city could generate some revenue,” stated Dorrel.
Crystal Lakes, a fourth-class city of about 300 residents in Ray County, is built on 1,020 acres with five lakes and 22 miles of roads. That scale means every new dollar of revenue makes a noticeable…