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County Balks At Maintaining New River Boat Launch Park

File photo

Lou Toth, of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), cruises the restored portion of the Kissimmee River.

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: March 26, 2009

SEBRING - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is finishing work on a $2-million boat-launch park which will provide access for hunters, fishermen and boaters to the Kissimmee River from Highlands County.

Featuring one of the few launch ramps in the state designed specifically for air boats, the 18-acre park is expected to open in early to mid summer.

Taking care of the park once it opens, though, remains unresolved. Highlands County officials are balking at committing funds to maintain it, as requested by the South Florida Water Management District.

Officials from SFWMD, which owns the park, are expected at the April 7 Highlands County commissioners meeting, seeking an agreement in which the county would provide weekly maintenance for the park.

Michael Wright, county administrator, said he is leaning heavily toward recommending that the commissioners not take on maintenance of the park, even though the cost would be minimal, about $25,000 per year.

"We think this is not a good time to assume those additional costs," Wright said.

"They did a nice job of building the park, there is no doubt about that," he added. But, he said, "we're not looking to add anything to our overhead (expenses)."

The commissioners will make the decision, after getting a staff recommendation from Wright, Recreation Director Vicki Pontius, and June Fisher, community services division director.

Because the drop in property values will probably require budget cuts for the upcoming 2009-10 fiscal year, Wright said, he is "about 95 percent" decided against assuming maintenance of the new park, "unless I hear a compelling argument the other way."

Located just south of the U.S. 98 bridge over the Kissimmee River, the park includes one boat launch for power boats and another for air boats, two picnic shelters, restrooms, parking, and 16 sets of picnic tables and cooking grills. The 18-acre site is on the Istokpoga Canal, which connects with the river about one-quarter mile upstream.

Pontius said maintenance of the park would cost about $25,000 per year for a part-time worker who would spend about 20 hours a week at the park, mostly for mowing and trash removal. The county would also be responsible for damages from vandalism of under $1,000.

"I don't know how we can fund another position, not even a part-time position, when there could be layoffs in this department," she said.

Fisher said she also is leaning toward recommending that the county not accept maintenance responsibility for the new park.

"When we look at the costs, it may not sound like a lot," she said. "But that could be one person's, or part of one person's, salary saved, and that's the way we have to look at it."

Dan Cotter, supervising recreational planner for SFWMD, said the opening of the park does not depend on Highlands County agreeing to maintain it.

If Highlands County does not take on the maintenance, he said, "the district would continue to search for other partnerships."

Cotter said he expects the park to be extremely popular with boaters, outdoorsmen and nature lovers.

"It provides access right into some of the beautiful areas of the newly restored sections of the Kissimmee River," he said. "The wildlife there is abundant now, it has really responded well to the restoration."

Back in 2001, the county's boat ramp on the Kissimmee River at Bluff Hammock was removed as part of the Kissimmee River restoration. As part of that project, the SFWMD and the Army Corps of Engineers agreed to build a new park for access to the river.

Highlands Today reporter Jim Konkoly can be reached at 863-386-5855 or e-mail jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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