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Committee debates jurisdiction, maintenance and proposed launch fee for Sand Lake boat landing
Summary
Committee members and department directors discussed which county entity should maintain the Sand Lake boat landing and a proposed launch fee; Highway staff estimated roughly $30,000 in preliminary annual revenue, and Forestry warned staffing limits mean jurisdiction should be clarified before installing a kiosk or moving registrations online.
Vice Chair Bob Almekinder opened a discussion about jurisdiction and maintenance of the Sand Lake boat landing after county counsel noted the ordinance empowers the county, in cooperation with the DNR, to protect county recreation areas and boat landings.
Highway Commissioner Alex Hegeman said Forestry lacks the manpower, equipment and budget to maintain the landing and that the ramp needs rock and one or two planks. Hegeman said the highway department is working with a company to administer a launch fee and that preliminary numbers indicate projected revenue of about $30,000 for the year. Forestry Director Jill Nemec said her department was close to a staffing tipping point and urged the committee to decide who has jurisdiction before putting up a kiosk or moving registrations online.
Almekinder reiterated that the landing sits in the highway right‑of‑way and that the county ordinance language he reviewed did not directly address maintenance responsibilities. Nemec added the conversation would differ if the landing were within the county forestry project boundary.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on jurisdiction or on adopting a launch fee at this meeting. Committee members directed staff to coordinate next steps, including clarifying jurisdictional responsibility with corporation counsel and the DNR before any kiosk installation or online registration changes.
The committee did not set a timetable for a decision; staff will report back with jurisdictional guidance and any recommended implementation steps.
