Siblings Chris and Heather Holub presented a proposal for cabins at Marion County Park and Lake to County Commission Monday.

Commissioner Dan Holub recused himself from the discussion, because Chris and Heather Holub are two of his children. He did say the proposal wasn’t his idea.

Chris Holub said he, Heather, and their sisters, Tamra and Molly Holub, want to lease land at the county lake to build rental cabins west of the heated fishing dock. They want to build three or four cabins to begin, adding more if demand is high. He estimated the project would create three or four jobs.

Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson said there was plenty of room to build cabins in the proposed location.

The proposed cabins would be 16 feet wide and 24 feet long, with log-cabin siding. Each would include a bathroom and a kitchen. Chris said the siblings were researching whether gas or electrical appliances would be more economical.

Chris said he had questions about parking, utilities, and terms of any lease, including exclusivity, duration, and renewal options.

Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said he wanted to see more complete plans before making any decisions. He cautioned that extending utilities to the proposed area could be expensive and said he didn’t want to invest taxpayer money in the project.

“You’ve got some good ideas here,” Commissioner Bob Hein said. “I think there’s a need to do something like this.”

The county has received four or five similar proposals before, Hudson said after the meeting. But those proposals generally fell apart when the costs became clear.