Clay County Commission adopts updated fee schedules, delays Marina slip price change until master plan

The Clay County Commission voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2025‑25, updated annual fee schedules intended for long‑term financial planning and the 2026 budget.

The measure, presented by County Auditor Victor Hilbert, adjusts 12 sets of departmental fees and adds several new categories including a right‑of‑way utility permit for Road and Bridge and initial rental rates for the new Law Enforcement Resource Center. Commissioners discussed marina slip pricing and chose to delay any change until the county's parks master plan is finished next year.

Hilbert told the commission the fee schedules the body adopted account for a small portion of county operating revenue and are designed to cover service costs: “On on a whole for the county, they do make up less than 10% of operating revenues.” He walked commissioners through revenue trends by department and explained the schedules feed long‑term planning and the 2026 budget.

Parks Director John Davis described three options for marina slip customers: a 10% increase for nonresidents, a 20% increase for nonresidents (matching the county's current nonresident rate for day passes), or no change now and a comprehensive revision after the master plan. Davis reported there are 379 resident slip holders and 239 nonresident holders, 618 slips total, so roughly 40% of slip holders are nonresidents. He said the parks master plan is expected to be finished by June or July next year and recommended waiting for the master plan’s recommendations before making a permanent change.

Commission discussion stressed the value of waiting for the master plan’s comparative analysis. Commissioner Johnson moved to delay any marina slip rate changes until the master plan is complete; the motion passed 4‑0.

The commission also reviewed proposed new and adjusted fees for other departments. The Road and Bridge department is adding a $100 right‑of‑way utility permit. The sheriff’s office proposed schedule entries for inmate housing charges to cities (no change for 2026) and initial rental rates for the Law Enforcement Resource Center, which Hilbert presented as an early estimate: $300 for a full day range rental and $175 for a half‑day facility rental. Sheriff Will Aiken added operational context for inmate housing, saying the jail’s inmate population was 402 on a recent day while its design capacity is 380, a shortfall that has required housing inmates in other facilities.

Commissioners and staff framed the Law Enforcement Resource Center fees as intended to cover operating and maintenance costs rather than to generate profit. Hilbert said the range alone cost about $1,300,000 to construct and that the county wants an operating reserve for maintenance rather than returning to the commission for small repair requests.

The commission approved Ordinance 2025‑25 as presented. Commissioners recorded that fee revenue comprises a modest share of overall county revenue but is useful for budgeting and service cost recovery. The body did not implement marina slip price increases and directed staff to await the parks master plan before changing slip rates.

Looking ahead, staff noted the parks master plan timeframe (expected mid‑year next year) and that any comprehensive fee overhaul would likely be implemented after that plan’s recommendations.