After approving a request from Allan and Stacey Brown of Covington to build a boat dock at Southern Shores Point, Lot 106 at the Jan. 25 meeting, members of the Carroll County Watershed Authority Board discussed fees for using the Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreation Lake’s RV Park. Since no action was taken, discussion will continue at the 2 p.m. Feb. 22 meeting.
Secretary Kim Carter had gathered rates from four other campgrounds to compare rates. The local Watershed Authority’s rates were mostly lower except for Beech Lake’s daily rate and the only one with senior rates. The current local rates for daily use is $35 and $30 for senior; weekly – $175 and senior is $150; monthly – $350 and senior, $300; and annual – $2,000 and senior – $1,700.
Beech Lake (Lake Side Sites), daily – $35; weekly – $205, monthly – $475 and seasonal, $2,800 from Apr. 1 – Nov. 30. Beech Lake (Interior Sites), daily – $28; weekly – $175; monthly – $395; and seasonal, $2,600 from Apr. 1 – Nov. 30.
Birdsong Resort, daily – $45 to $65 (with one AC unit, varies from 2 to 6 people); weekly – $315 to $455, based on daily rate; no monthly or annual rate listed.
Land Between the Lakes, daily – $42; weekly – $294 based on daily rate; No rate listed for monthly or annually.
Natchez Trace, daily – $54; weekly $336; no rate listed for monthly and annually.
Parkers Crossroads, daily – $45.56; weekly – $264.44; monthly – start at $400 plus sales tax; no annual permanent or seasonal sites.
Board member Joe Smothers questioned if some of the other campgrounds had more sites than the local RV park’s 12 . According to Carter’s research some had as many as 55 sites. The local RV park now has two sites open, Carter said. The sites offer water, sewer and electricity hookups.
“ Consideration should be given to adding more sites,” said Smothers. “We are looking for a fair price.”
Board member Brad Chappell suggested that all the rates should be raised and do away with the annual rate.
Walt Reaster, who lives on the lake, questioned how much is owed on the lake and that a plan should be developed to pay it off.
State and federal funds will be used to pay off the $11 million owed on the lake, Smothers said.
Reaster also said the Watershed should place a boat on the lake to patrol and erosion control should be put in place at the dam.
Rick Jahnke, who lives on the lake, proposed some changes to the lake rules. At this time, the Board has not responded or taken any action on his proposal. Citizen Ricky McGee who fishes on the lake, said the RV Park bathroom facilities should be locked because outsiders are taking showers there and vandalizing them
