Opponents have temporarily settled with the area Girl Scouts council to stop the scheduled vote on selling four camp properties.
A committee recommended to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois council that the organization sell Camp Conestoga in Scott County, Camp Little Cloud in Dubuque County, Camp L-Kee-Ta in Des Moines County and Camp Tahigwa in Allamakee County.
The committee said lower attendance has resulted in declining income that no longer keeps up with operating costs for the properties.
Grassroots efforts have been started in opposition to the sale, hoping to save the camps for the Girl Scouts.
The board was scheduled to vote on the recommendation Thursday, March 28, but five adult volunteers filed a lawsuit to stop the sale of the camp properties.
At an injunction hearing Wednesday, March 27, an agreement was announced confirming the vote would not happen.
Sherry O’Keefe, one of the five volunteers who filed the lawsuit, said a temporary injunction halting the vote and property sale was not immediately necessary after the council agreed to cancel Thursday’s vote.
The council board will hold a work session instead, and Thursday’s board meeting will be rescheduled.
The work session was expected to focus on seeking a possible compromise and alternate proposal for the future of the camp sites.
“At the very least, we are being given more time,” O’Keefe said.
“We value the opinions and thoughts of all our volunteers and members and appreciate their passion for this process,” explains Diane Nelson, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois CEO, “We look forwardto reaching a position, in which we are all on the same page; able to fulfill the organization’s mission to the girls while responsibly investing in the future of our outdoor experiences.”