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Seasonal campers protest Long Lake Park rules; county forms ad hoc committee to review ordinance
Summary
Seasonal campers told the Alpena County Finance Ways & Means Committee they were left out of recent parks ordinance changes that limit decks and boat parking at campsites. The committee formed an ad hoc group to work with the Parks Commission and said it will consider campers' concerns.
Seasonal campers urged Alpena County commissioners on Nov. 12 to reconsider recent changes to the parks camping ordinance that they say bar decks, limit rug sizes and prevent keeping boats at campsites.
The most direct appeals came during the public-comment period, when Melanie Kaszubowski of Posen said campers "feel their comments are disregarded" and asked the board to include campers in any review. Other commenters — including Dana Barbeau of Ossineke, Sharon Wirgau of Long Rapids Road and Bob Lang of Alpena — described similar concerns about losing site amenities and asked for more outreach and compromise.
The appeals prompted Commissioner Brenda Foumier to present the Parks Ordinance to the Finance Ways & Means Committee and for Commissioner Dan Ludlow to take the lead as point person on the issue. The committee discussed options for review and agreed to form an ad hoc committee consisting of Commissioners Todd Britton, Travis Konarzewski and Dan Ludlow, with Board Chairman John Kozlowski serving ex officio, to meet with the Parks Commission and work toward revisions or clarifications.
Committee members framed the step as a fact-finding and reconciliation effort rather than an immediate policy change. Commissioner Lucille Bray commented broadly on state parks' strict rules during the discussion; no formal change to the ordinance was adopted at the meeting.
The ad hoc committee will meet with the Parks Commission and report back; campers said they can provide contact lists and additional examples of how the new rules affect users at Long Lake, Beaver Lake and Sunken Lake. The committee did not set a firm public timeline for returning ordinance recommendations.
The meeting concluded with public requests that any interim enforcement allow campers to retain existing decks and boat parking until ground restoration and leveling permit safer, long-term changes.
