Lake campers gaming the system

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

An Abilene couple appear to have found a way to “game the system” of camping rules at the county lake.

“I am wondering if anyone is aware of the camping situation at the county lake,” frequent camper Arlene Stitka told county commissioners Monday. “One couple in particular from out-of-county use two campers and come in under two names and trade out the campers.”

The couple monopolizes an especially well-shaded campsite behind the lake hall, she said, even though campers must move after 14 days.

Stika said the couple seemed to think the spot was “their” campsite and nobody else’s.

Park and lake director Isaac Hett said Stitka was correct, but the couple technically was not breaking any rules.

“That’s exactly what’s going on,” he said. “They’re following our rules. They have a loophole.”

Both the man and the woman bought their own individual annual camping pass.

They come with a camper. One checks in for two weeks. When the two weeks are up, they take the camper away and bring a second camper. The other one then checks in.

“Are they technically breaking the rules? No,” Hett said. “The way they are doing it follows the rules. It doesn’t say the same people can’t be there. It just says ‘camper.’”

Other campers have not complained about the couple, Hett said, and seem to know them well.

Since it’s July, Hett doesn’t plan to make changes for this season, but he will meet with commissioners during the off-season and consider changes to the rules.

“To be honest with you, they’ve been coming out here supposedly for 30 years,” Hett said.

They’ve certainly been camping there the six years Hett has managed the lake.