Game and Parks’ tight budget could close J. Lake

Post date: Mar 10, 2009 10:43:40 PM

03/10/2009 Kearney HUB on line at: http://www.kearneyhub.com, by HUB Regional Report -- Harry Perkins

JOHNSON LAKE — If the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission can’t get help to pay for a new sewer line at Johnson Lake, it could close the three area state parks.

Roger Kuhn, assistant director of Game and Parks’ Parks Division, said the goal is to operate Johnson Lake much as it was last year, at least until the July 4th holiday, which is when the fiscal year ends. He hopes the Nebraska Legislature will pass a budget that allows the commission to keep all 86 state parks open.

The parks probably won’t be closed this year, but as they join the local sewer improvement district, the three area parks will probably receive fewer services.

The 2009-2011 budget request for Game and Parks recommends a reduction of services for the Johnson Lake state park and Gallagher Canyon. Game and Parks operates two parks at Johnson Lake.

The homes surrounding Johnson Lake and its two state parks recently were connected to a collective sewer system.

The Game and Parks budget request recommends “Actions pending upon financial burden of local SID.”

The budget request states, “If relief is not provided, we will terminate agreement with (Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District) and the two permanent positions will be laid off.

“If we stay, reduce level of services and begin attrition plan for the superintendent III position. Assistance to Elwood SRA will be terminated also.”

Game and Parks will present its budget to the Appropriations Committee Wednesday afternoon.

“We have a lot of options. I don’t think we’re even at that point (to close parks). We still have a lot of tools in the toolbox,” Kuhn said. “Budget times are increasingly tough, and we will have to make some difficult decisions.”

He explained that many years ago, Game and Parks was funded 50-50 with state money and user fees. Today, user fees account for about 76 percent of the commission’s revenue.

“General funds dollars are tougher to get,” he said. A request to increase park permits from $20 to $25 failed, but the permits are the commission’s top revenue generator.

Although he doesn’t have final costs, he called the Johnson Lake’s sewer district “a significant cost increase.”

Kuhn said that if the cost were estimated at $50,000, that would be a 25 percent budget increase in Johnson Lake State Recreation Area’s operating budget.

Bruce Smith, chairman of Johnson Lake SID’s trustees, said Sunday that costs of the sewer system hadn’t been assessed.

“There has been no assessment made,” he said. “They’ve never asked for relief and haven’t talked to us.”

Joann Wieland, president of Johnson Lake Development, also was caught off guard that closing the parks was a possibility. “I just can’t believe this. I am really surprised.”

“The proposal is really sketchy,” Smith said. “It’s much too early to get excited.”

Game and Parks operates its parks at Johnson Lake under a leaser agreement with Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District.

Smith said that if Game and Parks terminates its lease with Central, then Central will get the bill for the sewer connection. “The bill goes with the property.”

Kuhn said Game and Parks has several recreation area that are leased from another entity, such as Central or Corps of Engineers.

“When money gets tight and it’s in a lease situation, we may have to say, ‘We can’t afford you,’” Kuhn said. “Are we at that point? No. That’s always an option, but we don’t plan on eliminating any parks.”

The changes at Johnson Lake are among many reductions in services at state recreation and historical areas in the. In all, services would be reduced or eliminated at 27 facilities, including Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, which will have minimal services available to the public.

War Axe State Recreation Area near Shelton may become a minimal maintenance area. It would be mowed in the spring and again in the fall. No garbage service would be provided.

Updates on other parks:

North Platte:

— Buffalo Bill State Historical Park and State Recreation Area: attempt to contract with the City of North Platte for O&M costs associated with the Recreation area and attempt to gain a partner for the State Historical Park to offset part of the O&M costs. The Superintendent I position will be used to assist other field operations. Both the Historical Park and Recreation Area will be minimally maintained. The Cody House will have limited visitor hours and tours and school groups will be appointment only. The Superintendent III position will be eliminated through attrition.

— Arnold SRA will become a minimal maintenance area. It will be mowed in the spring and again in the fall. No garbage service will be provided. Health and safety issues will be addressed to these areas only. Contact with the local community to oversee operation of this area will be considered.

— Sutherland SRA: Option out of lease with Central Platte Irrigation District and discontinue services to the area.

— Lake Maloney SRA will become a minimal maintenance area. It will be mowed in the spring and again in the fall. No garbage service will be provided. Health and safety issues will be addressed on these areas only. The Superintendent II position which oversees both Sutherland SRA and Lake Maloney SRA will be reassigned to Buffalo Bill SHP/SRA. The position will oversee minimal maintenance at Lake Maloney SRA. The Superintendent II position will be eliminated through attrition.

Grand Island:

— Mormon Island SRA Superintendent III position will be eliminated and the Grand Island Maintenance permanent position will be assigned to Mormon Island SRA. Oversight to Mormon Island will be by the Superintendent III position at Windmill SRA. Windmill SRA is located approximately 30 miles from Mormon Island SRA. As such, supervision will be limited and increase in fuel costs are to be expected. Rockford SRA will be shifted from the Lincoln Maintenance operation to Rock Creek Station SHP. This will not result in a large saving but will allow Lincoln Maintenance Staff to be used in the Salt Valley area operations to provide additional staff support.

— War Axe SRA, Cheyenne SRA, DLD SRA, and Crystal Lake SRA will become minimal maintenance areas. They will be mowed in the spring and again in the fall. No garbage service will be provided. Health and safety issues will be addressed on these areas only. The Grand Island Maintenance permanent staff will be assigned to Mormon Island SRA.

Omaha

— Memphis SRA will become a satellite of Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. The level of service will be reduced further. The Groundskeeper Leader will be reassigned to a Salt Valley area.

— Summit Lake SRA and Pelican Lake SRA. Eliminate the Superintendent I position. We will attempt to partner with the NRD for O&M assistance. If a partnership is not possible, then Summit SRA and Pelican Lake SRA will become minimal maintenance areas. It will be mowed in the spring and again in the fall. No garbage service will be provided. Health and safety issues will be addressed on these areas only.

— Fort Atkinson SHP will have minimal services to the public. The park will remain open to the public but the Visitor Center will have limited hours and any tours or school groups will need to make prior arrangements. We will reassign the Superintendent I position to Fremont SRA. Temporary assistance and operational supplies will be based on safety and health issues and preserving the Fort’s integrity. Attempt to gain a partner for portion of O&M costs will be made. Both positions will be eliminated through attrition.

Scottsbluff:

— Box Butte SRA will become a minimal maintenance area. The Chadron Maintenance permanent staff will focus their work at Fort Robinson State Historical Park. Box Butte SRA will be mowed in the spring and again in the fall. No garbage service will be provided. Health and safety issues will be addressed to these areas only.

— Oliver SRA and Bridgeport SRA will become a minimal maintenance area. Attempts will be made to contract with a private sector to provide area services. The Groundskeeper Leader will focus their work at Wildcat Hills SRA and Nature Center. Through attrition, this position will be eliminated. Oliver SRA and Bridgeport SRA will be mowed in the spring and again in the fall. No garbage service will be provided. Health and safety issues will be addressed on these areas only. Attempts will be made to partner with private sector or the NRD.

— Ash Hollow State Historical Park will have minimal services to the public. The park will remain open to the public but any tours or school groups will need to make prior arrangements. We will re-assign the Superintendent III position to Lake McConaughy SRA. The Superintendent III position will report to Lake McConaughy SRA for normal operational duties and provide minimal services at Ash Hollow SHP. Temporary assistance and operational supplies will be based on safety and health issues and preservation of the Park’s integrity. This park has provided planting to the western region. This service will be eliminated.

Norfolk:

— Willow Creek SRA – attempt to partner with the NRD to provide all services which will remain at their current level.

To view the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission budget click here and select agency 033. On the Game and Parks page open the the "Operations and Aid Budget Request" pdf