Deer Lake Beach is set to open this season in full capacity.
‘What we’ve done is extended the hours between 10-8 instead of 11-7,? said Independence Township Parks and Rec. Director Mike Turk. ‘What we’ll do is keep a close eye on beach usage during the day and if it’s down then we can close part of it, reduce the staffing as the weather dictates.?
In January, budgetary concerns prompted Turk and the township board to consider three options.
The board asked Turk if he could come back with some sort of a ‘hybrid? between options two and three and if he could keep the cost within the $55,000 range.
After doing some homework, he presented his plan at the March 16 meeting.
Along with extending hours, Turk said they will be increasing fees for daily users of $2 for residents and $4 for non-residents, as well as increased season passes and boat launch passes.
‘This is all contingent on good weather. If we have good weather, we’ll have a great year,? he said. ‘We’ll have a 911 pole installed just in case something unforeseeable happens. We’ll still have that as a crutch, so to speak, to use if something happens budget wise.?
Through the increased prices as well as being able to break even on swim lessons, Turk was able to reduce the net loss of $55,200 down to $30,000.
‘I think this is excellent,? said Trustee David Lohmeier. ‘You took our advice at the last meeting and went back and did exactly what we asked you to do.?
However, Trustee Mark Petterson was still struggling with the loss.
‘I’m having a very difficult time trying to spend this kind of money year after year after year. I agree the beach needs to stay open, but I’m just not so sure it needs to stay open to quite the level we want it too,? Petterson said. ‘Every department in this township has taken a serious hit. Every little thing in the township has taken a hit, and then we’re fully manning Deer Lake Beach.?
Treasurer Curt Carson also was having a hard time ‘stomaching? the cost.
‘I was totally under the conception we were coming up with some sort of hybrid that was going to reduce our cost so we would have something between breakeven to a $5,000-$10,000 loss for the year,? Carson said. ‘Every time we’re spending $1,000 or $3,000 for anything, that’s $3,000 or $5,000 that can go toward something else.?
Trustee Neil Wallace said this year may be the last the beach is ‘fully manned,? due to the ‘big hit? the township is going to take in their 2011 budget.
‘Not a lot of places in the general fund for us to go to find cuts and it may be for 2011 that the (911) pole is all there is or we may not be able to keep the beach open,? he said. We’re budgeted for this and we’ve honed the number so it’s even better and I think for the time being we should go forward with that.?