The Starke County Park Board is calling for the Bass Lake Beach to open. During Tuesday’s meeting, Board Member Chris Lawrence questioned whether the Bass Lake Campground should be allowed to operate without the beach.
“The lease says he needs to operate it as a beach and campground,” Lawrence said. “Right now, he’s operating it as a campground and marina.”
“And that’s where the money-maker is, and the beach is not a money-maker,” added Board Member Rik Ritzler.
Manager Larry Clarich told board members last month that he planned to keep the beach closed until July 4. He seemed to be concerned about the ability to keep the beach clean amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Board members generally supported the plan at the time.
But on Tuesday, Ritzler noted that people were asking when the beach would reopen at a recent property owners’ meeting. Members also felt that if state beaches were open, the Bass Lake Beach should be, too. The beach is owned by Starke County and overseen by its park board, but leased to a private company called Callahan Development, LLC.
In the end, the park board decided to send the operator a letter, and Ritzler offered to discuss the matter with Clarich in person. It was noted that a water test may be needed before the beach may officially open.
