Cass County Park District reports higher camping revenue after new reservation platform

At its February meeting the Cass County Park District Board received a financial update on Miller Lake (agenda item labeled "Miller Lake Financial Update") that showed increased camping revenue in 2024 compared with 2023 and a 2025 camp-fee budget of $25,000.

The presentation noted that the lake is leased from the state of North Dakota and that camping rates are set by the commission at $10 per day for tent sites, $20 per day for electrical-only sites and $25 per day for full-service sites. The presenter said the district implemented a new online reservation platform effective 2024 and attributed increased reservations and revenue to the new system.

The board was given the following figures during the report: a 2024 year-end fund balance of $129,000; budgeted camp fees for 2025 of $25,000; year-to-date reservations collected of nearly $10,000; and total camping fees collected of almost $40,000 for 2024, which the presenter described as an increase of about $10,000 over the prior year (approximately a 31% increase in fees collected). The presenter also reported that reservations increased 62%, from 527 in 2023 to 855 in 2024, and that campsites used increased by about 46%, from 1,361 to 1,983.

A board member moved and a second was recorded to accept the financial report; the board approved the motion by voice vote. The transcript records the motion and ‘‘aye’’ responses but does not record a roll-call tally.

The presenter offered to take questions and no follow-up requests for additional financial breakdowns were recorded in the meeting. The transcript contains one inconsistency: the agenda identifies the item as "Miller Lake Financial Update," while during remarks the presenter referred to "Brewer Lake"; the board did not resolve that naming inconsistency on the record during the meeting.