Atchison County Lake committee seeks volunteers, reservations system and funding pathway for phased improvements

Ian Saxon, chair of the Atchison County Lake Committee, presented the committee’s two‑year plan on June 3 and asked commissioners to consider establishing a volunteer-led county lake department and staged investments to improve access and revenue.

Saxon said the committee is organizing volunteers, developing a social-media and information plan, reviewing the existing resolution that governs the lake, and exploring revenue options so the lake “is self sufficient” and does not rely on general tax dollars. He described immediate needs — a damaged spillway, failing barn roofs at the lake property, and water infrastructure requiring repair — and longer-term options including quotes from dredging contractors.

Committee members proposed a staged approach to camping and recreation: mark primitive campsites with signs and QR codes for on-the-spot reservations, pilot a small number of “wet” campsites with electrical service, and use a third‑party reservation platform to avoid on-site staffing. Saxon told commissioners the committee had identified FireflyReservations (Firefly) as a vendor; the platform’s per‑camper fee was noted as roughly $3.50 per camper, which the committee suggested could be paid by the camper so the service would carry no net cost to the county.

Saxon proposed a volunteer-based “county lake department” that would be appointed by the commission and revocable at any time; he described the structure as intended to keep operations largely volunteer-run while retaining Road & Bridge responsibility for roads, culverts and right-of-way work. He also asked commissioners to consider a vote on the idea in mid to late June and requested that Road & Bridge and the lake committee work together to prepare a short, written summary of responsibilities and budget implications for that June workshop.

Closely watched technical issues include the spillway. Saxon said a donor offered to fabricate and install a pedestrian railing at no cost, and the committee is exploring National Guard or other low-cost labor for spillway cleanup. Commissioners asked county staff for liability and insurance implications before approving volunteer construction on the spillway and asked for specifications for any proposed railing.

The committee identified programs and existing contracts that affect work at the lake. A walk‑in hunting contract is active; Saxon noted that mowing or other changes must not conflict with contracted hunting access. The committee also flagged a fisheries assistance program (CFAP) launch requirement: because the spillway has been gated, the county currently lacks the preferred launch area and should consider a small ramp or graveled launch zone to maintain compliance with the fisheries program and allow boat launches.

Finance and operations questions will be brought to a follow-up meeting. Commissioners asked committee chair and Road & Bridge staff to provide: (1) an itemized summary of Road & Bridge time and costs related to lake maintenance; (2) an overlay showing proposed primitive and wet campsite locations; (3) a short budget and revenue worksheet showing projected reservation income; and (4) specifications and insurance implications for the pedestrian railing and spillway work. The committee and Road & Bridge agreed to prepare material for a June budget workshop; commissioners discussed scheduling the commission’s workshop work-session for June 17 or moving to June 24 to accommodate schedules.