The Starke County Park Board and Rich Callahan, lessor and operator of Starke County’s Bass Lake Beach and Campground, when they met Tuesday night, addressed all the issues before them. They reached agreement on progress, so far, on repair and replacement of certain equipment and/or facilities. Callahan is expected to issue another progress report before the next meeting of the Board on July 21st.
Mr. Callahan, who attended the meeting with Knox attorney David Wallsmith, reported that some of the maintenance work requested last month by the Board, has been completed. The board had made known its dissatisfaction with maintenance on some of the more than 50-year-old buildings which have suffered from dry rot.
Discussion was held on which repairs should be considered “capital improvements” and which should be considered “maintenance.” Mr. Callahan was asked to submit an estimate on a proposed capital improvements project.
The inspection of the facility’s 80 wooden picnic tables showed that three will be discarded, and minor repairs made to 53 of them. All will be repainted. The campground, which has 60 sites, has already been improved with seven sites updated with 50-amp electric service and eight more to be updated soon. Work was reported to have been completely or partially done on drinking fountains, water faucets, electric outlet replacements, GFI installations, beach sand, ADA compliance and the front gates.
Work has been postponed on the removal of weeds, the repair of the roadside fence and gravel in the parking area.
The board hopes to begin work soon on a five-year improvement plan that would qualify the beach and campground for financial grants.
