The Starke County Park Board will hold its first meeting of 2020 tonight. Board members will likely choose their president, vice president, and secretary for the year.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board to Meet Tonight
Efforts Underway to Control Invasive Plants at Starke County Forest
The Starke County Park Board is taking steps to control invasive plants at the Starke County Forest. Last week, board members agreed to let Forester Bruce Wakeland start seeking estimates for the work.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Expresses Concern with Condition of Bass Lake Beach Gate House
The condition of the Bass Lake Beach gate house is once again drawing concerns from the Starke County Park Board. During Tuesday’s meeting, Board Member Butch Gerstandt worried that the structure would fall down.
Continue readingStellar Community Efforts Reviewed with Starke County Park Board
Constellation of Starke executive committee members shared their insights on the outcome of their Stellar Community application with the Starke County Park Board Tuesday. The region lost out on this year’s designation to Marshall County Crossroads.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Discusses Signage, Website for County Forest
It may soon be easier for visitors to find and learn about the Starke County Forest. During Tuesday’s Starke County Park Board meeting, Forester Bruce Wakeland pointed out that signage to help motorists find the forest from local highways was supposed to be installed as part of last year’s parking lot project.
Continue readingStarke Park Board Again Holds Off on Approving Bass Lake Campground Electrical Work
The Starke County Park Board still wants to do some more research before making a final decision on electrical upgrades at the Bass Lake Campground. The facility’s operator, Callahan Development LLC, wants to increase the electrical capacity in the back half of the property and is asking the county to deduct the $7,800 cost from its rent payment.
Continue readingStarke Park Board Again Defers Action on Bass Lake Campground Electrical Upgrades
The Starke County Park Board still hasn’t reached a decision on electrical upgrades at the Bass Lake Campground. The facility’s operator, Callahan Development LLC, wants to increase the electrical capacity in the back half of the property and is asking the county to deduct the $7,800 cost from its rent payment.
Continue readingStarke Park Board Continues Discussing Potential Campground Electrical Upgrades
The Starke County Park Board has once again tabled a discussion on electrical upgrades at the Bass Lake Campground.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board Considers More Electrical Work at Bass Lake Campground
The operator of the Bass Lake Campground is once again asking the Starke County Park Board to cover the cost of electrical upgrades. County Attorney Marty Lucas says a representative of Callahan Development, LLC told the park board last week that the company is looking to expand the campground’s electrical capacity.
Continue readingEfforts Continue to Add Kayak, Canoe Access Points to Yellow River
Starke County officials are confident that kayak and canoe access points will soon be coming to the Yellow River. During a recent Starke County Park Board meeting, board member Rik Ritzler said river access would likely be one of the first projects, if the Constellation of Starke region is designated a Stellar Community, according to County Attorney Marty Lucas.
Continue readingForester Pleased with Growth at Starke County Forest
The Starke County Forest is responding well to a recent timber harvest. Forester Bruce Wakeland told the Starke County Park Board last week there’s been a good amount of natural regeneration, according to County Attorney Marty Lucas. That’s preferable to planting new trees, when it comes to the forest’s management.
Continue readingBeavers Are Back in Starke County Forest
An ongoing saga at the Starke County Forest was recently brought to the attention of Park Board President Richard Ballard. “The beavers are back,” Ballard told the rest of the Starke County Park Board Tuesday. “I don’t know exactly what that means for us, but he said the beavers are back.”
Continue readingRiver Access Improvements, Koontz Lake Dam Area Mowing Discussed by Starke County Park Board
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.”
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