Lights at county lake will be the county’s responsibility after all

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BRENDA CONYERS
Marion County Commissioners voted Monday to resend a decision made at last week’s meeting and will accept financial responsibility for five lights located around the Marion County Lake.


Members of the Chat-n-Dine Club, which had been responsible for the lights, came before the commission to offer additional information and costs which had not been available at last week’s meeting.


Monty Thomas, former officer of the club and a 16-year member, said the cost to operate the five lights during the last three months was $62.31 for May, $63.85 for June and $64.18 as opposed to the $700 to $800 per month reported by Dale Snelling, lake manager.


Thomas also told commissioners the lights were placed as safety measures for areas which might be a danger to vehicles or walkers.


The lights are located at: low-water bridge, the “s” curve on the lake’s east side, on the corner of the road at the southeast corner of the lake (where the road continues to meet U.S. Highway 77), at the corner of Jerome and Lake Road, and the American flag.


“I have been over the low-water bridge at night when there was water over it and no lights,” Thomas said. “There really needs to be something there.”


He said the lights were put up for the safety of everyone.


Thomas has also been the volunteer to raise and lower the American flag on the north side of the lake for the past 10 years.


He, along with Reuben Zerger and Jim Hefler, worked with Snelling to erect the pole and stone base about 10 years ago.


In an earlier interview, Thomas said, “We are very disappointed to see the commission not take at least the flag light over. We are very proud of that.”


Thomas also told commissioners a member of the club had supplied the flags used for the last eight years, and there were now five or six flags left.


Flags are purchased as a group from Topeka after a day of flying in the capital city. After several months of wind and sunshine, the flags begin to look worn and are then replaced.


Dan Crumrine, a member of Chat-n-Dine, told commissioners the club membership was growing older and was unable to have the fund-raisers they were once known for.


He said the younger people moving out to the lake are not participating in the club, and this year the organization had made the decision to become strictly a social club.


Thomas had said earlier the club was responsible for several improvement projects at the lake through the years, totaling just over $30,000 since 1965.


Some of the projects included the addition of several cement benches placed around the lake, two groups of trees including a group of red bud trees, the new bulletin board located by the lake office, two new cookers for lakers, and fish.


Commissioner Howard Collett said he made a trip during the week to see the lights and thought the issue of financial responsibility should be reviewed.


Commissioner Bob Hein said he had not had a chance to check the situation, but felt Snelling could handle the costs of the light in his budget.


By a 3-0 vote, commissioners voted for the cost of light costs to be paid out of the lake budget.


Thomas will continue to raise and lower the flag and be in charge of replacing the flag as needed.

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