County lake club seeks
to make improvements
Staff writer
Marion County Park and Lake residents are raising money to make improvements, including replacing wooden benches at concrete picnic tables.
Donna Kaiser, co-president of Chat and Dine Club, said the group began discussions a couple of months ago.
The club has raised $1,700 through bake sales and plans additional fundraisers.
“That’s what Chat and Dine Club is all about,” Kaiser said. “It was organized in 1961 for the betterment of park and lake. Originally they purchased some lights for out there.”
Kaiser said she checked with Hillsboro Lumber for the needed type of board and prices.
“The 10-foot table benches are $99 apiece,” Kaiser said. “To replace all of the ones that need it would cost $4,000. We’d like the county to match it and let’s get it done.”
The club also wants to scrape and paint portable picnic tables at the west side of the lake near the campground.
Kaiser sent a letter to county commissioners asking for permission to do the work and money to help pay for the projects.
Commissioners discussed the request Monday but decided to get more information on prices before making a commitment.
Kaiser said she won’t let the matter go on and on.
“I’m going to stay on this because I don’t want it to drag into the fall,” she said.
The club doesn’t plan to hand the money to the county.
“We want to make the purchase, making sure we are following the requirements,” Kaiser said. “Also, we are interested in knowing who will need to complete the actual removal of the old boards and adding the new boards.”
Kaiser asked whether the county was willing to pay for part of the boards and pay for fasteners to secure the boards.
Kaiser and Sharon Williams became club co-presidents in April.
Kaiser’s husband, Roger, told commissioners Monday he thought the county should rent to interim superintendent Adam Benson the county-owned house where former lake superintendent Steve Hudson lived.