Posted on May 15, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Efforts to prevent erosion in the Bass Lake Beach area have hit a funding snag. The Starke County Park Board has obtained glacial stone, and the county commissioners agreed to let the Highway Department install it.
But during Tuesday’s park board meeting, board member and highway superintendent Rik Ritzler said a change in state regulations means that installation can’t continue as planned. “The rules have changed on January 1, and now we cannot pay for anything outside of the county right of way with [Motor Vehicle Highway] funds,” he explained. “Anything out of that has to be from a different fund.”
Ritzler said the commissioners have asked the park board to cover the cost of Highway Department employees’ labor, which he estimates would amount to between $2,500 and $3,500. The problem is that the park board only has a little more than $1,300.
In the end, the park board agreed to contribute $1,000, and ask the commissioners to look into other funding sources for the rest.
Showing posts with label erosion repair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label erosion repair. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Concerns Remain with Bass Lake Beach Patio, Nearly a Year After Repairs Were Suggested
Posted on June 20, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
As work gets underway to protect the Bass Lake Beach from future erosion, concerns remain about the beach house patio. Last summer, a group of local residents and Starke County Park Board members studied the site and pointed out that the fill that’s supposed to support the concrete patio had mostly washed away.
One of the members of that group, Rick Anderson, told the park board last week it’s been almost a year since those concerns were raised, and it still doesn’t look like the problem has been fixed. He noted that without anything supporting the concrete, the patio is in danger of collapse, and it will only get worse if nothing is done. Board members agreed that the issue is a safety hazard, and County Attorney Marty Lucas said he would send an email to the facility’s operator, Callahan Development, LLC.
While the repairs themselves don’t seem to have been made, related work to prevent future damage by installing glacial stone is being undertaken by the county.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
As work gets underway to protect the Bass Lake Beach from future erosion, concerns remain about the beach house patio. Last summer, a group of local residents and Starke County Park Board members studied the site and pointed out that the fill that’s supposed to support the concrete patio had mostly washed away.
One of the members of that group, Rick Anderson, told the park board last week it’s been almost a year since those concerns were raised, and it still doesn’t look like the problem has been fixed. He noted that without anything supporting the concrete, the patio is in danger of collapse, and it will only get worse if nothing is done. Board members agreed that the issue is a safety hazard, and County Attorney Marty Lucas said he would send an email to the facility’s operator, Callahan Development, LLC.
While the repairs themselves don’t seem to have been made, related work to prevent future damage by installing glacial stone is being undertaken by the county.
Friday, June 15, 2018
Bass Lake Beach Erosion Prevention Project Underway
Posted on June 15, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A project to reduce future erosion at the Bass Lake Beach is finally underway. During Tuesday’s Starke County Park Board meeting, President Roger Chaffins said that the delivery of glacial stone was set to begin yesterday. The goal is to protect the beach and patio from incoming waves.
Chaffins said attorneys Marty and Steve Lucas helped obtain the necessary permit. The Starke County Highway Department will haul the stone, while inmates from the Starke County Justice Center will help take it to the installation site.
Chaffins said the reason it’s taken so long to get to this point is that he wants to make sure the work is done correctly. He also noted the limited availability of the facility’s managers. “A little bit of the reason why I was slow about it is Larry and Mara [Clarich’s] house burnt,” Chaffins said. “They’re still working on fixing that. They both work, so they’ve only got the weekends to work on this with themselves because you know [Richard] Callahan’s not going to give any help, and there’s not enough help out there. And I realize, yeah, well, we want it done, but my thing is bear with the man because he’s busting his ass to get stuff done for us.”
But board member Debbie Mix pointed out that many of the problems at the facility existed long before Larry and Mara Clarich got involved in its upkeep. “My issue is not with Larry,” Mix said. “My issue is with Callahan. And since eight years of not doing anything, because Larry’s working his tail off through the last two years, that doesn’t excuse Mr. Callahan for not getting someone else to get it done.”
“I’m sure he’s in Florida, and he’s not too worried about it,” Chaffins said. “It’s all on Larry’s shoulders.”
“But that’s our responsibility to make sure it gets done,” Mix replied.
She continued to voice concerns that the proper permits were not obtained for the repairs that have taken place. That would mean that they may not have been re-inspected, to make sure the work was done correctly. Chaffins said he’d discuss the matter with Building Inspector Terry Stephenson.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A project to reduce future erosion at the Bass Lake Beach is finally underway. During Tuesday’s Starke County Park Board meeting, President Roger Chaffins said that the delivery of glacial stone was set to begin yesterday. The goal is to protect the beach and patio from incoming waves.
Chaffins said attorneys Marty and Steve Lucas helped obtain the necessary permit. The Starke County Highway Department will haul the stone, while inmates from the Starke County Justice Center will help take it to the installation site.
Chaffins said the reason it’s taken so long to get to this point is that he wants to make sure the work is done correctly. He also noted the limited availability of the facility’s managers. “A little bit of the reason why I was slow about it is Larry and Mara [Clarich’s] house burnt,” Chaffins said. “They’re still working on fixing that. They both work, so they’ve only got the weekends to work on this with themselves because you know [Richard] Callahan’s not going to give any help, and there’s not enough help out there. And I realize, yeah, well, we want it done, but my thing is bear with the man because he’s busting his ass to get stuff done for us.”
But board member Debbie Mix pointed out that many of the problems at the facility existed long before Larry and Mara Clarich got involved in its upkeep. “My issue is not with Larry,” Mix said. “My issue is with Callahan. And since eight years of not doing anything, because Larry’s working his tail off through the last two years, that doesn’t excuse Mr. Callahan for not getting someone else to get it done.”
“I’m sure he’s in Florida, and he’s not too worried about it,” Chaffins said. “It’s all on Larry’s shoulders.”
“But that’s our responsibility to make sure it gets done,” Mix replied.
She continued to voice concerns that the proper permits were not obtained for the repairs that have taken place. That would mean that they may not have been re-inspected, to make sure the work was done correctly. Chaffins said he’d discuss the matter with Building Inspector Terry Stephenson.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Starke County Park Board Gets $5,000 Grant for Bass Lake Beach Erosion Prevention Project
Posted on March 1, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Efforts to prevent and repair erosion at the Bass Lake Beach have gotten a financial boost from the Starke County Community Foundation. The Starke County Park Board announced Tuesday that it was recently awarded a $5,000 Community Support Grant for the installation of glacial stone, as well as additional sand.
The project would involve buying 80 cubic yards of stone, which would be placed around the beach house. Meanwhile, 500 tons of sand would be purchased to replenish the beach. The Starke County Park Board has agreed to install the stone and sand, while the operator of the facility, Callahan Development, LLC would repair the seawall surrounding the beach house patio.
The Community Foundation grant wouldn’t cover the whole cost of the project, though. The park board is also applying for $5,000 from Arrowhead Country Resource Conservation and Development and $2,500 from Kankakee Valley REMC’s Operation Round Up program.
Board members also hope to save money by using the Starke County Highway Department’s crews and equipment. The Starke County Park Board does not currently have a dedicated source of taxpayer funding.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Efforts to prevent and repair erosion at the Bass Lake Beach have gotten a financial boost from the Starke County Community Foundation. The Starke County Park Board announced Tuesday that it was recently awarded a $5,000 Community Support Grant for the installation of glacial stone, as well as additional sand.
The project would involve buying 80 cubic yards of stone, which would be placed around the beach house. Meanwhile, 500 tons of sand would be purchased to replenish the beach. The Starke County Park Board has agreed to install the stone and sand, while the operator of the facility, Callahan Development, LLC would repair the seawall surrounding the beach house patio.
The Community Foundation grant wouldn’t cover the whole cost of the project, though. The park board is also applying for $5,000 from Arrowhead Country Resource Conservation and Development and $2,500 from Kankakee Valley REMC’s Operation Round Up program.
Board members also hope to save money by using the Starke County Highway Department’s crews and equipment. The Starke County Park Board does not currently have a dedicated source of taxpayer funding.
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