County parks official says Lake Lauderdale cabin has limited state funding; E. coli report withdrawn

Matt, a county staff member, told the Washington County Board of Supervisors that the state has committed about $25,000 toward work at Lake Lauderdale, but county staff do not consider that amount sufficient to fully rehabilitate the older cabin on the site. "They have committed to, like, dollars 25,000 of funding to us, which isn't enough to rehab that cabin," Matt said. He described the county priority as creating a modern break room and office for lifeguards and the park manager first.

The county discussed a local news item about E. coli near the park. Matt said the published paper was withdrawn and that recent sampling of the water used by the park met county standards. "They put out a paper. It has been withdrawn," Matt said. "We are in the clear. We are in the good. Everything that we do up there, our septic, our pumps, everything is up to code." The account followed an earlier notice from a local waterkeeper group raising concerns about testing results at a backwater brook adjacent to the park.

Matt said the county’s immediate needs are operational: staffing lifeguards and maintaining septic and pumps. He reported the county was close to filling lifeguard positions: "We just actually have one more interview. I think it's been done for right now, for another lifeguard for down there. So I think we should be full staffed getting there." He also said park staff plan minor maintenance projects such as continued cabin upkeep and that recent winter vandalism was "nothing terrible."

On procurement and project management, Matt said state staff present at a recent meeting included representatives from the Office of Historic Preservation, who offered options including dismantling parts of the old structure. He said county staff would not commit to funding a full cabin rehabilitation and suggested a volunteer or local fundraising approach for the difference if a private group wanted to take it on. "It's their building. It's not our," he said of the historic cabin.

Separately, Matt reported a DOT permit was recently issued to allow a road cut related to a county entrance, and he said the state has proposed a two-year construction easement or temporary lease to manage traffic and maintenance during work. He noted procurement details remain to be resolved if state funds are used for work on the cabin and associated site improvements.

The county also heard that a local published item about water tests had been withdrawn by the publisher; Matt said the department had retested and was satisfied with current results. No formal enforcement action or legal citation was cited in the meeting record.

Ending: The update closed with staff saying no board action was required at that time. Matt said the department would pursue staffing and smaller repairs while exploring options for larger cabin rehabilitation if a volunteer group or donor stepped forward.