Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2016 19:36:49 GMT
It seems that ever where we go we have to pay a USE FEE to Stop and Park even if only for a moment. One really has to wonder how far the Special Interest Groups (Governmental Agencies: local, State and Federal) are going to take the application of USE FEES?
There was a time was when I would stop at several locations up ad down the coat in an effort to take mussels and clams. I would often turn a trip for shellfish into a combination trip for shellfish, fish and/or ducks. The day is coming when every county will have use fees in place to offset the rising cost to maintain recreational facilities. There has to be a point of diminishing returns where recreational enthusiast become more selective when choosing were to invest precious recreational dollars.
Douglas County is part of the story. The County Commissioners in addition to the Douglas County Parks Department have bee proactive in their effort to restore structural integrity to the Winchester Bay crabbing dock. Even with USE FEES in place Douglas County will have a problem finding the money to repair the Winchester Bay Crabbing dock.
In recent years the Parks Department has reduced staff, decreased expenses and closed some small outlying parks and waysides in an attempt to balance the parks department budget. It is apparent at this point in order to maintain our parks in their current condition additional revenue is needed. In addition our parks have a significant amount of deferred repairs and maintenance that needs to be accomplished to keep them safe and operable. Much of the parks infrastructure was built in the 1960’s and 1970’s and is either past its useful life or in need of significant upgrades or repair. Examples are the bathrooms at River Forks Park and Windy Cove, the pavilion roofs at Amacher and Stanton Parks and the deteriorating Crab Dock at Winchester Bay.
Who made the decision to initiate parking fees?
The Douglas County Parks Advisory Board recommended in March, 2014 to support parking fees at some county parks and voted in March 2015 in favor of fees at all parks. A hearing was held before the Board of Commissioners on December 10, 2014 to amend the County Parks Ordinance to allow parking fees and the ordinance was adopted by the Board of Commissioners on March 11, 2015.
Many of Oregon's governmental agencies have initiated Use Fees to fund maintenance of recreational resources and some have not. The choices we have are repair or removal.
There was a time was when I would stop at several locations up ad down the coat in an effort to take mussels and clams. I would often turn a trip for shellfish into a combination trip for shellfish, fish and/or ducks. The day is coming when every county will have use fees in place to offset the rising cost to maintain recreational facilities. There has to be a point of diminishing returns where recreational enthusiast become more selective when choosing were to invest precious recreational dollars.
Douglas County is part of the story. The County Commissioners in addition to the Douglas County Parks Department have bee proactive in their effort to restore structural integrity to the Winchester Bay crabbing dock. Even with USE FEES in place Douglas County will have a problem finding the money to repair the Winchester Bay Crabbing dock.
In recent years the Parks Department has reduced staff, decreased expenses and closed some small outlying parks and waysides in an attempt to balance the parks department budget. It is apparent at this point in order to maintain our parks in their current condition additional revenue is needed. In addition our parks have a significant amount of deferred repairs and maintenance that needs to be accomplished to keep them safe and operable. Much of the parks infrastructure was built in the 1960’s and 1970’s and is either past its useful life or in need of significant upgrades or repair. Examples are the bathrooms at River Forks Park and Windy Cove, the pavilion roofs at Amacher and Stanton Parks and the deteriorating Crab Dock at Winchester Bay.
Who made the decision to initiate parking fees?
The Douglas County Parks Advisory Board recommended in March, 2014 to support parking fees at some county parks and voted in March 2015 in favor of fees at all parks. A hearing was held before the Board of Commissioners on December 10, 2014 to amend the County Parks Ordinance to allow parking fees and the ordinance was adopted by the Board of Commissioners on March 11, 2015.
Many of Oregon's governmental agencies have initiated Use Fees to fund maintenance of recreational resources and some have not. The choices we have are repair or removal.
