Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Herington outlines phased plan for lake improvements, considers grant matches
Summary
City staff proposed a phased two‑ to three‑year plan for lake improvements using roughly $200,000: campsite redesign, upgraded electrical pedestals, a paid fill station with card reader, a possible shower/bathroom structure (and optional leased storefront), dock repairs, and allocating $25,000–$50,000 for grant match to pursue external funding.
Herington staff presented a multi‑year, phased plan to use approximately $200,000 for improvements at the city lake and reservoir, prioritizing campsite design, electrical pedestal upgrades, a controlled fill station, and amenities intended to boost tourism and manage utilities.
Brad Rovmati said staff want to avoid spending all funds immediately and instead budget a two‑ to three‑year approach to design campsites that limit multiple hook‑ups to a single pedestal and reduce breaker issues. He explained the city may add pedestals sized for larger RVs to prevent electrical overloads and to designate camping pads to help staff manage site use.
On potable water and sewer, staff said extending central services is costly and complex; the fill station idea would allow controlled access for water with an automatic shutoff and a card reader to collect a nominal fee. “I would suggest that it’s a pretty nominal fee…so it shuts off automatically,” Rovmati said. Commissioners asked staff to research past campsite revenue and provided direction to assess leveling or pad construction costs and the number of existing pedestal posts.
Staff raised the option of a shower/bathroom structure or a leased storefront (bait shop or seasonal vendor) on the Campos lot near the lake; commissioners discussed flood‑proofing and the need to identify water and sewer solutions. The city manager noted the lake master plan already contains campsite and shower‑house designs and recommended staff review the existing master plan before commissioning new designs.
On funding strategy, staff recommended earmarking $25,000–$50,000 as a grant match to pursue CDBG or other grants, acknowledging that some grants require a local match. Commissioners generally supported reserving a modest match amount rather than committing the full balance immediately.
Why it matters: Improving lake facilities aims to increase tourism and user safety while balancing capital costs and long‑term maintenance. Bringing utilities and sanitary facilities closer to camping areas affects construction cost, environmental considerations, and operational oversight.
Next steps: Staff will research campsite revenue and pedestal counts, share the lake master plan with commissioners, develop initial campsite design options, obtain cost estimates for water/sewer extensions and shower facilities, and return recommendations and grant‑match proposals at a future meeting.
