While a Stellar Community designation could bring upgrades to the Bass Lake Beach area, there might also be major improvements to recreational facilities throughout Starke County.
Continue readingStellar Planning Process Could Address Submerged Lifeguard Tower in Bass Lake
A longtime hazard in Bass Lake could finally be resolved as part of the planning process for Constellation of Starke’s Stellar efforts. A structure, believed to be an old lifeguard tower, that’s now submerged in the lake has repeatedly been discussed by the Starke County Park Board over the past few years. So far, they haven’t been able to find a way to remove it, and there have been doubts as to whether it’s the park board’s responsibility, anyway.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board to Discuss Potential Stellar Projects with Bass Lake Lessee
Big upgrades could be coming to the Bass Lake Beach, if Constellation of Starke gets its Stellar Community designation. During Tuesday’s Starke County Park Board Meeting, Board Member Rik Ritzler said several ideas have been thrown around.
Continue readingBass Lake Beach to Open for Season Soon
The manager of the Bass Lake Beach is gearing up for the start of the summer season. “We’ll be ready to open, I’m hoping, on Monday,” Larry Clarich told the Starke County Park Board this week. “I’ll open the beach on Monday, as long as I have the restrooms and stuff cleaned up and everything’s operational. So we should be good to go, there.”
Continue readingBass Lake Beach Manager Discusses Submerged Lifeguard Tower, Glass Hazards
A couple of hazards in and around the Bass Lake Beach were discussed during Tuesday’s Starke County Park Board meeting. Facility Manager Larry Clarich asked board members if something could be done about a structure, believed to be an old lifeguard tower, that’s now submerged in the lake.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board to Create Budget
The Starke County Park Board does not have a dedicated source of funding, but it still apparently has to have a budget. That was the information shared during Tuesday’s meeting.
Continue readingChange in State Regulations Creates Challenges for Bass Lake Beach Erosion Prevention Efforts
Efforts to prevent erosion in the Bass Lake Beach area have hit a funding snag. The Starke County Park Board has obtained glacial stone, and the county commissioners agreed to let the Highway Department install it.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Park Board is scheduled to meet tonight. Recently, board members have continued discussing the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, including repairs and upgrades at the Beach House patio and whether long-term rentals at the campground fit the lease’s definition of “camping.”
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Approves Reimbursement for Bass Lake Campground Electrical Work
Starke County will apparently cover the cost of last summer’s electrical work at the Bass Lake Campground. Last week, the Starke County Park Board agreed to reimburse the lessee, Callahan Development, LLC, for the bill of about $3,500, according to County Attorney Marty Lucas.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board to Meet Tonight
Update: Tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting has been canceled, according to the County Auditor’s Office. Board President Richard Ballard has rescheduled the meeting for Tuesday, April 23 at 6:00 p.m.
At the end of the park board’s last meeting, there were a couple of issues related to the Bass Lake Beach and Campground left to be resolved.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Considers Bill for Bass Lake Campground Electrical Work
As the Starke County Park Board monitors improvements at the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, what qualifies as a capital improvement and what should be considered normal maintenance continues to be discussed.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Receives $5,000 Contribution for Yellow River Access Point
The Starke County Park Board has gotten $5,000 toward a planned Yellow River access point, but where exactly it will be built remains to be determined. Starke County Community Foundation Director of Development Jessica Martinovic presented the park board with a check during Tuesday’s meeting.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Chooses New President
The Starke County Park Board welcomed two new members Tuesday. Attorney Richard Ballard was appointed to the board by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall, following the resignation of Roger Chaffins. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler had been appointed by the county council back in January, replacing Debbie Mix. Ballard and Ritzler both took their seats on the park board for the first time Tuesday, during the board’s first official meeting since last September.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board to Meet Tonight for First Time Since September
The Starke County Park Board will meet tonight for the first time in more than six months. All of the meetings since September had been canceled. Board members had planned to resume meeting last month, but severe weather and road conditions kept them from meeting.
Continue readingUPDATED: Starke County Park Board Meeting Canceled
Update: Tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting has been canceled due to weather. The next regularly-scheduled meeting is Tuesday, March 12.
The Starke County Park Board will meet tonight for the first time in more than five months. It will be the first meeting for new member Rik Ritzler, who was appointed by the county council last month. Ritzler previously worked with the park board on various projects, in his capacity as county highway superintendent.
Continue readingOfficials Cut Ribbon on Starke County Forest Upgrades
Starke County officials hope that recent upgrades to the County Forest will help attract new visitors. County Park Board members and Community Foundation representatives joined Forester Bruce Wakeland, Commissioner Kathy Norem, and several others Wednesday afternoon, to cut the ribbon on the forest’s upgraded access road.
Starke County Park Board May Apply for Grant Funds to Help Prevent Bass Lake Shoreline Erosion
UPDATED: Ribbon Cutting Planned for Starke County Forest Upgrades
Starke County Park Board Orders Bass Lake Beach Operator to Repair Patio
The deterioration of the Bass Lake Beach House patio may be worse than originally thought. Now, the Starke County Park Board is demanding action from the facility’s operator, Callahan Development, LLC. Officials with the Starke County Highway Department recently took a look at the site to see what may need to be done, but they’ve determined that the project is too large for them to do themselves.
Starke County Park Board to Discuss Bass Lake Beach and Campground, County Forest
The conditions of the Bass Lake Beach and Campground will continue to be discussed during tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting. Concerns that the facility’s operator, Callahan Development, LLC, reportedly hasn’t addressed safety issues at the facility have led county officials to look at the possibility of making the repairs themselves. Specifically, the beach house patio was the topic of a heated discussion during last month’s meeting.