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. Continue reading
Park Board Wants Plan for Bass Lake Beach and Campground Improvements
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
Starke County Park Board Developing Property List
The Starke County Park Board is continuing its efforts to develop a list of county properties that have been, or can be, designated as parks to be placed under the authority of the board. The Bass Lake Beach has already been designated as such a property by the county commissioners. The five-member park board has planned an inspection visit to the beach property sometime next month. Continue reading
Starke County Park Board Reorganizes, Sets Meetings
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
Starke Circuit Judge Fills Park Board Vacancy
The Starke County Park Board is fully populated once again. Judicial appointee Mike Meadows was appointed to a three-year term on the panel but resigned last month. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall recently appointed Roger Chaffins to the park board. He will serve a three-year term. The board is charged with oversight of non-municipal recreational lands, including the Bass Lake Beach and Campground and the Starke County Forest. They meet the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Starke County Annex building.
Judge Seeks to Fill Vacancy on Starke County Park Board
Last week’s resignation of a Starke County Park Board member has created a vacancy on that recently-populated board. Mike Meadows was named to the panel by Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall, who is now looking to appoint his replacement. Continue reading
Park Board Settles Bass Lake RV Storage Issue
Bass Lake Campground patrons with seasonal site leases in good standing can leave their recreational vehicles there year-round. That’s the policy as adopted by the Starke County Park Board last night. Continue reading
Starke County Park Board to Discuss Bass Lake Camper Storage
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 Commissioners Clarify Campground Storage Policy
Seasonal camping is allowed at Bass Lake, but year-round storage of campers and other equipment is not. That’s the clarification Starke County Park Board President Marcia Bedrock got from the county commissioners during their meeting yesterday. Continue reading
Park Board Approves Bass Lake Seasonal Camping
Campsite patrons at the Bass Lake Campground can breathe easier after action by the recently-appointed Starke County Park Board. They voted unanimously last night to allow seasonal campsite leases to continue. Camping season starts over Memorial Day weekend and concludes around Halloween. Overnight camping is not allowed during the winter months since the campground does not have running water or sewers after the lines are cleared and winterized. Continue reading
Starke County Park Board to Consider Camping at Bass Lake
The recently-formed Starke County Park Board will consider whether to allow seasonal camping at Bass Lake Campground when they meet this evening. The five-member board has been tasked with oversight of the beach and campground, Starke County Forest and other non-municipal recreational areas in the county. Continue reading
DNR Official Corrects Statements About Camping at Bass Lake
A telephone call from WKVI News to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has brought more clarity to the question of whether seasonal campsite leases are allowed at Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Bob Bronson is the section chief for the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation. He originally told us camping is limited to two weeks at a time at properties like Bass Lake, which get funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Act. Bronson has since spoken to officials with the National Park Service and learned otherwise.
“There is no policy on the length of how long you can camp. The state has policies and recommendations, but the funding source and Land and Water Conservation Act does not direct how long somebody can stay at a campground,” Bronson told WKVI News late Thursday. Continue reading
Season Wrapping Up at Bass Lake Beach and Campground
Bass Lake Beach and Campground will soon close for the season. Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney Dave Wallsmith advised the Starke County Commissioners last night the group piers have been removed from the beach area and all but a few boats are out of the water. Wallsmith also told the commissioners he has not gotten any complaints about the amenities of late and has received complements about how nice and well maintained the facilities are. Continue reading
Commissioners Prepare Packets for Park Board Members
The five members of the Starke County Park Board will have plenty of reading material prior to their first meeting. The Starke County Commissioners are sending them welcome packets, which will include copies of the state statute under which the board was formed and the state law pertaining to camping on public properties. One of their first challenges will be to decide whether to allow year-round camping at Bass Lake Beach and Campground. The park board members will also get a copy of the management lease between the county and Richard Callahan. The board is charged with oversight and management of the Starke County Forest and other county-owned public lands.
Final Members Named to Starke County Park Board
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
Final Park Board Appointments Pending
The Starke County Park Board is two members away from being populated. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall is responsible for appointing a Democrat and a Republican to the five-member board. He advised WKVI News he is still reviewing the qualifications of potential members and expects to make a decision soon. Continue reading
Starke County Council, Commissioners Make Park Board Appointments
The recently formed Starke County Park Board is two members away from being populated. The county council appointed Democrat Rosemary Rose and Republican Debbie Mix to the five-member panel. The commissioners named Marsha Bedrock as their appointee. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall has the remaining two appointments to the board. State law requires him to appoint one Democrat and one Republican. All five initial terms will be staggered. The council appointees will serve for two and four years, the commissioners appointee for two and the judge’s appointees for one and three years. Continue reading
Starke County Park Board Appointments Expected Tonight
The Starke County Council and Commissioners are expected to make their appointments to the county park and recreation board at their respective meetings this evening. The council gets two appointments, one Democrat and one Republican. The commissioners get one appointment, and it is not restricted by political party affiliation. Continue reading
Nominations Sought for Starke County Park Board
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
