Wallsburg council opts for raffle to fund park restroom and lighting upgrades from $28,882 youth account

At a work meeting, the Wallsburg Town Council weighed how to use an existing youth-designated account and how to structure this year's fundraiser for the July 24 celebration. A council member said there is an account balance of $28,882 that has not been drawn since the prior reporting period; members debated whether to draw on those funds and how to avoid the appearance of church/state entanglement.

Alicia Driscoll (first referenced in roll call) read the balance and pushed for transparency: "There's $28,882," she said, adding that the money was collected for youth activities but has remained in the town's account. Members agreed the best approach for the coming weeks was a community‑branded raffle or fundraiser with a clearly stated purpose so donors know what their contributions will buy — for example, restroom upgrades, lighting at the pavilion, or a pickleball court usable by the whole valley.

Councilors noted the raffle's prior revenue as a planning benchmark: one member said, "The raffle last year made $2,800," and suggested the council could combine raffle proceeds with grant match funding or ward allocations (example allotments discussed: $3,000 per ward for small awards). The council asked committees to collect concrete cost estimates before committing funds and to advertise the fundraiser as a community project rather than a church-specific one.

The council agreed to pursue a raffle this year, to advertise precisely what raised funds will buy, and to seek bids and matching grant opportunities before committing the account balance to a project.