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Pawnee City adopts stricter camping-payment and enforcement policy; utilities to be locked until paid
Summary
Council approved a new camping policy requiring campers to register and pay within two hours of arrival, imposing staged late fees and authorizing locked hookups and collections for unpaid balances.
Pawnee City’s council adopted a new camping-payment and enforcement policy on Nov. 10 designed to address repeated nonpayment at the city campground.
Council Member Susan Eisenhauer introduced the measure, which requires campers to register and pay within two hours of arrival. Failure to pay within two hours triggers a $10 late fee; if the balance remains unpaid after seven days an additional $10 fee applies, after 14 days a further $25 fee is added and campers will be barred from camping until the balance and fees are paid. If unpaid for 21 days the debt may be sent to a collection agency. The council also authorized locking electrical boxes and water hydrants until camping fees are paid and discussed towing repeat violators.
Eisenhauer said the policy aims to protect the campground’s condition and prevent extended, unpaid occupancy; Council Member Pat Hatfield seconded the motion and the council voted unanimously among members present. The council asked staff to update signage at the Pawnderosa entry and to provide a payment envelope system at the restrooms for weekend arrivals.
The new policy pairs administrative enforcement (locked utilities) with financial penalties and potential referral to collections rather than court action, which the council said would likely be more cost-effective for small balances.
