Club Update, Commodore Steve Scherschel

TelltalePage 4 January 2009Prairie Creek Update (The following article appeared in The Muncie Star Press)2009 Prairie Creek fees pushing higherThe parks board increases user fees at the reservoir in aneffort to make it self-sustaining.By NICK WERNER, January 8, 2009Prairie Creek Reservoir users will pick up more of the tab in2009 in the form of increased fees as Muncie officials look tomake the park more financially self-sustaining. The most significantincreases involve daily fishing permits, which jumpedfrom $2 to $5, and the boat ramp launch fees, which doubledto $10 a day or $100 annually. A few boaters and fishermanhave complained already, but Muncie Parks Department superintendentDoug Zook said the city had no choice but toraise fees. "With the city of Muncie being in the financialstraits we are in, we had to do what we could to make PrairieCreek a self-sustaining operation, instead of a liability againstthe tax base," Zook said.The parks board approved the increases in December and theybecame effective Jan. 1. Prairie Creek Reservoir is owned bythe Indiana-American Water Co. and leased to the city at anominal fee for use as a park. It is used for camping, sailing,picnicking, swimming, fishing, off-road vehicle riding andother activities. The fee hikes would generate an additional$100,000 to $120,000 for the reservoir if business at the reservoirthis year were to remain near levels from the previous fewyears, Zook said. "That would make Prairie Creek selfsustaining,"he said.While fee hikes might benefit reservoir finances, Steve Goad,owner of Lighthouse Bait and Tackle, said he worried they couldscare customers away from his business. Specifically, Goad isconcerned about the boat launch and fishing permit fees. "Onthe other hand, I understand where they are coming from," Goadsaid about the parks board. "They have to pay for stuff outthere."In light of the hikes, anglers might favor state reservoirs, such asthe nearby Summit Lake in Henry County, where $20 gets amotorized boat on the water for a year, or public access sites,where launching a boat is free. But Goad pointed out that launchfees at private lakes such as Geist and Morse, both near Indianapolis,are much higher than even the increased Prairie Creekrates. Chanette Harris, who owns Dry Dock Marina at the reservoirand serves with Goad on a Prairie Creek advisory board,said the increases won't mean much until the city does a betterjob of enforcing and collecting fees.SPECIFIC FEES:(What's it gonna cost to use Prairie Creek Lake?)Beach Admission:Prairie Creek 2008: Prairie Creek 2009:Under 3: Free Under 3: FreeChild (3-15): $2 Child (3-15): $2.50Adult: $3 Adult: $5.Dock FeesPrairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009:City resident: $275. City resident: $375County resident: $325. County resident: $425Out-of-county: $350. Out-of-county: $475Flotation Pier: $325. Flotation Pier: $425Mooring pier: $200. Mooring pier: $250Boat Launch fees:Prairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009Daily: $5. Daily: $10.Annual: $50. Annual: $100.Fishing permit:Prairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009Daily: $2. Daily: $5.Annual: $15. Annual: $25.Campground:Prairie Creek 2008 Prairie Creek 2009Daily RV: $15. Daily RV: $20.Daily tent: $10. Daily tent: $10.Annual: $800 Annual: $900.A Glance Around The State:Eagle Creek:Sailing Club Family Membership $425Dry Dock/Bouys $550Lake Monroe:Dry Dock $312 (for boats under 20')Slip 12'x26' $1,395Brookville:Quaker Marina Docks & Bouys $1,590Geist:24' Slip $1,750Dry Dock $1,000