Staff writer
The campgrounds were filled Labor Day weekend at Marion County Park and Lake.
That was the news Marion County Commission heard Monday from park superintendent Steve Hudson.
The camping sites with utilities were all filled with Hudson making accommodations for a couple more. During the July 4th holiday weekend, Hudson said the campsites were only 50 percent occupied.
However, during the peak time for camping and boating, Hudson said he is not sure how a power wash is going to work. The commission had approved the purchase of a power washer at the county lake in an effort to keep zebra mussels at bay. The mussels were found at Marion Reservoir and neighboring lakes, and in an effort to keep them from endangering the county lake, inspections are required on every water vessel at the county lake.
Hudson said there were a total of 138 vessels checked during the three-day weekend.
Commissioner Randy Dallke said Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks also was conducting inspections at the same time which may have been part of the wait for boaters.
In other business:
- The commission was informed that the county treasurer is out-sourcing all tax statements. In the past the county has inserted information about county-sponsored programs such as the neighborhood revitalization program. Since the statements are no longer being done in-house, a cost of .015 cents per insert will be charged to the county. The county appraiser also will out-source valuation notices next year.
- Sheriff Lee Becker informed the commission that a prisoner is going to have knee surgery at the county’s expense. The surgery could cost between $7,000 and $11,000.
- A chili cook-off is being planned at the county lake from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4. Entry applications are available at the lake office or online. Entry fees are $15 and a sampling kit is $5.
- The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.