County conservation reports disc-golf installation, storm damage and unresolved state review at Prairie and Spruce Creek parks

Nate, county conservation staff, told the Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that crews are still cleaning storm damage at Spruce Creek and that construction has begun on a disc-golf course at Prairie Creek.

The report matters because the parks need repairs, new maintenance plans and state approvals for a water-quality project before managers consider the sites fully stabilized and open for expanded use.

Nate said last weekend’s storms “we lost multiple trees” at Spruce Creek and that crews have closed some sites while they wait for a bucket truck to finish debris removal. “Our goal is to get the roads open and safety first for everybody in the park,” he said, adding that staff had discussed complaints from one camper and felt they had been fair in their response.

At Prairie Creek, Nate said excavation and installation of baskets and pads for a disc-golf course have started. He said the current contractor arrangement includes Trader Construction with “Alvalia” as a subcontractor and expected a bridge placement “sometime next month,” with most work possibly complete by October. He advised against scheduling a ribbon-cutting before mid-October to allow for potential delays.

Supervisors and staff discussed how to handle recurring mowing and maintenance once the course opens. Nate said the county is considering dedicating a seasonal employee to Prairie Creek mowing and exploring whether some lesser-used trails can be left as fire breaks to reduce routine mowing. He also raised the prospect of fundraising or vendor contracts to cover course maintenance and suggested checking insurance coverage before volunteers operate powered equipment: “I don't think our county insurance is gonna let somebody just hop on a mower,” Nate said, and recommended consulting the county’s insurance agent about waivers and training.

Nate said the county is still negotiating with the state Department of Natural Resources over leaving water crossings in place for maintenance access. He described the state’s request for engineers to run hydrologic models to prove the crossings will not affect upstream flows and called that requirement costly. “They want the engineers to run models and everything that costs tons of money,” he said, adding that engineers were continuing talks with the state.

He also reported that the water-quality contractor had largely demobilized and that one tractor remained on site; staff will assess how the banks and crossings hold up when stream levels fall. Nate said the project has occupied much of the conservation staff’s recent time.

Other construction details Nate raised included possible alternatives to planned railroad-tie steps to reduce long-term maintenance costs, and questions about the size of a proposed pad for a small shelter. He said In Line (the design/contracting firm) indicated flexibility on some items if the county pursues changes: “So there might be some wiggle room here and there on cost if plans [are] willing to work with us,” he said.

The board posed operational questions about emergency access and how maintenance needs will be managed once the course is in use. Nate also said the county is exploring whether elements of the project might qualify for FEMA funding, noting that a latrine that is a concrete building might meet eligibility for some reimbursement.

Board Chair Don Swanker and Supervisor Mike Steinas interjected at several points with logistical and timing questions. The board and Nate agreed staff should follow up on insurance, volunteer waivers, maintenance staffing and state DNR model requirements.

Looking ahead, Nate recommended the county finalize trail grading and seating in the fall and to coordinate with contractors on bridge placement and site stabilization. Supervisors did not take a formal vote on any policy changes during the update; the discussion concluded with staff-directed follow-ups on insurance, contractor coordination and state approvals.