Park director warns of staffing crisis, building decay and a possible FLSA overtime liability

An unnamed park director told the wage committee that West Bogs (the park he represents) has doubled revenue over a decade but is struggling to retain front-line staff because low pay and difficult hours are driving turnover. "We've actually doubled revenue it looks like within 10 years," he said, arguing that the activity director job now requires nights, weekends and event planning and should be paid enough to attract experienced candidates.

The director said the park has had six activity directors in five years and that raising the activity director and gate-manager pay into the high $50,000s or low $60,000s would improve retention and generate more revenue through better bookings and sponsorships. He described the activity director as responsible for fundraising, booking large entertainment and managing the camp store and said an experienced hire could "result in hundreds of thousands of dollars" in additional revenue.

He also showed photos and described long-running facility problems: chronic leaks, mold and rodents in office space and aging restroom buildings built between about 1968 and 1972. "The office has been leaking for like 20 years," he said, and called the buildings at or near the end of their lifespans. The director said he plans to apply for a Department of Natural Resources 50/50 grant that requires a local match, with a grant deadline in August, and asked the committee to consider potential county support and fundraising partners.

On payroll and classification, the director said an office position had been improperly designated as exempt and that, after consultant review, the park faces more than $20,000 in retroactive overtime payments, though federal rules limit liability to a two-year lookback in this case. He said the park is working with a consultant (Addie Roker) to rectify the issue and urged the committee to allow an additional experienced office manager hire (temporary) to handle a transition to modern accounting software (QuickBooks or similar) and to reduce future overtime exposure.

The director asked the committee to weigh temporary staffing and pay adjustments against the park's potential revenue gains and capital needs. He said outside contributions (foundations, tourism board) and grant matches have helped but that core infrastructure needs new offices and restrooms are essential for public health, staff retention and long-term efficiency.

The committee did not make formal decisions at the meeting; members suggested further site visits and follow-up conversations about grant strategy and staffing timelines.