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Akeley moves ahead on park, campground and trailhead projects; approves manager contract and 2026 rate increases
Summary
Council approved funding and contracts for park and campground improvements, approved a $2,000 monthly increase for campground managers, a 15% campground rate increase for 2026, accepted a Blandin Foundation grant portion for bathroom work and paid final invoices for the trailhead project.
Throughout 2024 the Akeley City Council advanced multiple park and campground projects, funded several maintenance items, and approved a suite of contracts and grants to support a multi‑year improvement plan.
The council approved park project pay order #2 ($66,654.72) for pavement and concrete work and later settled final payments with LinnCo for trailhead parking‑lot remediation. In May the council approved submitting a Blandin Foundation grant and ultimately accepted $100,000 from Blandin to support the public restroom project; staff and Emcon continued design and permitting work into the fall.
Campground operations were a recurring agenda item. The council approved a $2,000 monthly increase to campground managers Kerri and Eric Eisenlohr’s 2025 contract and adopted a 15% increase in campground rates for the 2026 season (tent, RV and seasonal increases) after reviewing revenue and comparable facilities. The council revoked a special contract for a private seasonal occupant (the Knapper contract) after noncompliance with campsite rules.
Other park actions included purchase approvals for a new golf cart for campground operations, a replacement swim raft, trial camera installation at beach bathrooms, and payment for tree removal and porta‑potties for Paul Bunyan Days. Staff also accepted Shade Tree Grant funds ($80,000) for boulevard and campground plantings and approved a contract with Midwest Wetland Improvements to coordinate the DNR shade tree work.
Zach Thoma (Moore Engineering) and project partners continued grant work related to wastewater resilience and trailhead infrastructure; council authorized preliminary grant submissions for wastewater infrastructure and Small Cities Development Program funds that could support related site work.
