More than 20 trailer-home owners from Marion County Lake attended the Marion County Commission meeting Monday to protest what they said were ?erroneous data? used to justify potential rate increases for their lot rentals.
Jim Bratt, chairman, spoke for a new Marion County Lake Association recently formed to ?support and foster the historic values of the lake and its environment? while representing its citizens as a result of recent commission discussion about raising the rent for trailer lots.
Commission Chairman Roger Fleming assured the MCLA members that ?our intent is to work with the people for reasonable lake rents and rules.?
Commissioner Randy Dallke said the county has no intent to hurriedly and arbitrarily raise trailer rents, but probably will review them in another three months for any changes.
He said the commission will work with residents to keep rate increases reasonable.
Commissioner Dan Holub said statements about raising rental fees should be attributed to him, and not three commissioners. He said the rates were last raised three years ago, and he doesn?t feel the rates meet current market conditions.
Holub also said the commissioners need to address trailer residents who use excess electrical appliances in violation of county rules.
Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson said ?there are a lot of gray areas? in the county?s 40-year history with trailer owners, but it has been a tradition of mutual help to the county.
The commissioners said they would welcome recommendations from MCLA members for improvements to the agreement and the lake.
Bratt said the commissioners have acknowledged trailer owners contributed $30,000 to the lake in 2010. He said recent statements from commission meetings have subjected the owners to ?ridicule and contempt.?
He said discussion contending trailer spaces filled quickly through more lucrative camper rentals has failed to be supported by real demand.
Bratt said a suggestion that trailer owners might be subjected to a doubling of annual fees, plus a storage fee, is ?arbitrary and capricious.?
