MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of dollars have been spent in the battle to change the name of what's arguably Minneapolis' most popular lake.
If a ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals Monday to change the name back to Lake Calhoun holds, even more could be spent.
The name on the seven signs surrounding the lake has been changed twice.
First, from Lake Calhoun to a version with both names, a move intended to educate people about the change.
In 2018, the signs were changed to their current state, with only Bde Maka Ska listed.
The Minneapolis Park and Rec Board says each change cost $3,500 of taxpayer money.
If the signs are changed again, it would cost another $3,500.
"I wouldn't spend a dime on changing this sign," said Londel French, a Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner. "We're not changing it back. I'm not voting to change it back. We (the Park Board) didn't get sued. Nobody sued us to tell us we had to change something back. We're not changing anything back."
The Park and Rec Board says there were also costs incurred with updating the name on their website. However, they say those costs were minimal.
Then, there's the legal challenge, also costing taxpayers.
The DNR says it has cost them staff time, but they don't have a total number readily available.