The Starke County Park Board last night voted to draft a letter to the current lessee of the Beach and Campground at Bass Lake setting forth certain repairs and maintenance to safety and health hazards that must be completed within 30 days. The letter will also set forth that a plan of repair and replacement be developed and established for other equipment and buildings. Continue reading
The Starke County Park Board will meet every other month in 2015. Members decided there’s not enough business to necessitate a monthly meeting and agreed one can be called with adequate notice should anything come up. The board is charged with oversight of the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, Starke County Forest and other non-municipal public lands. Continue reading
The Starke County Park Board will discuss a process for removal of campers from the Bass Lake Campground at the end of the season when they meet tonight. Board President Marcia Bedrock sought clarification from the county commissioners as to their stance on the practice and was told all campers and other equipment need to be removed from the campground when it closes for the year due to zoning restrictions. Continue reading
Starke County’s Park Board is now fully populated. Judge Kim Hall named Mike Meadows and Skyler Ellinger to the five-member panel. They join Starke County Council appointees Debbie Mix and Rosemary Rose and Starke County Commissioners appointee Marsha Bedrock. Continue reading
Starke County officials are seeking nominations for volunteers to serve on the county park board. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall and the Starke County Council each have two nominations – one Democrat and one Republican. The Starke County Commissioners will select the fifth member. Political affiliation is not a consideration for the commissioners nominee. Continue reading
Starke County now has a parks and recreation board. The Starke County Council established the body to oversee amenities like the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, Starke County Forest and other county-owned recreational areas. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners cleared up some confusion regarding expenses and claims for the Starke County Forest. Forester Bruce Wakeland approached the commissioners and asked how he should handle reimbursements when paying out-of-pocket for small maintenance expenses at the forest.
Wakeland previously donated a 129-acre parcel of land to the county that he manages as part of Wakeland Forestry Consultants. The land, located on State Road 8, was designated as the Starke County Forest, funded by selling timber as opposed to gate fees and county funds.
A Forestry Field Day has been scheduled for the first week in August, giving participants the opportunity to take a tour of the new Starke County Forest. Forester Bruce Wakeland says the forest had opened last year, but because of some troublesome beavers, they have had their work cut out for them to get the forest to prime visiting condition.
While the beavers make the forest unique, Wakeland says they have a habit of damming up the nearby culvert, causing the water level to rise and flow over the top of the lane going through the middle of the marsh. When that lane is underwater, Wakeland says visitors don’t have access to the majority of the area, including the observation tower.
The Starke County Forest, on Division Road between 1025 E. and 1100 E., will be open to the public beginning Saturday, July 23rd. The property was donated to Starke County for bird watching, hiking, cross country skiing and a chance for all to learn about nature.
Forester Bruce Wakeland says that there are five miles of trails leading through woodlands, meadows, tree plantings, and up to ponds. An observation tower will be open for you to look over an 18 acre marsh.
The Starke County Commissioners accepted trusteeship of a piece of property offered by professional Forester Bruce Wakeland this week. The County will be the trustee of the property that the Commissioners hope will be come a real asset to all who live here.
“129 acres is available to create a Starke County forest and I hope the public can enjoy it,” said Bruce Wakeland. “The public can learn about the marvelous wildlife area we have here in the County and how you can have good, healthy forest management and still have a beautiful place to see and enjoy. I think it’s going to be a really good asset for the County and I’m going to enjoy working with the property over the next however many years I have left.”
