Atchison County holds public hearing on possible sale of county lake; commissioners say no decision yet

Atchison County commissioners on May 15 held a public hearing on whether to pursue sale of the Atchison County Lake, heard more than a dozen residents urge the county to keep and restore the lake, and said no decision to sell has been made.

The hearing drew neighbors, former caretakers and community groups who described the lake’s historic construction, its wildlife and its social value to families and veterans. Trudy Wishrup, who said she lives just west of the lake, told the commission, “The County Lake is a place of celebration, reprieve, and a gathering spot for neighbors.”

Why it matters: commissioners said the county is still in an information‑gathering phase and that potential repair, dredging and accessibility work would carry substantial costs. Residents argued those investments, paired with volunteer support and grant opportunities, could restore the lake and produce ongoing recreational and economic benefits for the county.

Residents’ testimony and local history

Speakers repeatedly described multi‑generation ties to the lake and local efforts to preserve it. Jessica Saxton, a resident of the Atchison County Lake, said several families who gave land for the project have reported an understanding that the land would revert to families or that descendants would have right of first refusal if the county stopped using the land for its original public purpose. “If the choice is between increasing traffic and tourism to the area or losing the lake completely, we will always choose the lake,” Saxton…