Wakefield's Eddy Park may see 2018 rates rise even higher

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Wakefield — For the second time in a little more than a month, the Wakefield Planning Commission voted Monday to increase 2018 rates at the city’s Eddy Park Campground.

On Oct. 2, the commission already had proposed a series of fee hikes, and the Wakefield City Council voted on that recommendation at its Oct. 9 meeting.

At the same Oct. 9 meeting, however, council members also voted to form a committee to consider the interests of the campground.

The campground committee consists of one city council member (Amy Tarro), one planning commission member (Marco Movrich), camp hostess Joanne Popkowski and two at-large members.

At the planning commission meeting, campground committee members recommended the 2018 rates should be higher than those voted on at the Oct. 9 city council meeting.

As a result, planning commission members voted to recommend the new, higher rates to the city council, which meets Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building.

The new rates are as follows, in relation to three tiers of sites whose rates are scaled according to lakeside status and/or other amenities such as water, electricity and drive-through ease:

—Level 1: $25 per night, $125/week and $325/month.

—Level 2: $35 per night, $150 per week and $350 per month.

—Level 3 (premium): $40 per night, $200 per week and $400 per month;

—Tents: $15 per night, $60 per week and $150 per month.

By comparison, 2017 premium rates were $30 per night, and monthly rates were $325. Tent rates in 2017 were $10 per night and monthly rates were $145.

No change was suggested Tuesday in relation to the city council’s Oct. 9 vote to reduce seasonal rates from $1,100 to $1,000 for all sites.

Regarding the proposed campground hikes, commission number Marco Movrich said, “The last time these rates were increased was in 2013, and it’s 2017. I would actually like to see us re-adjust this every year.”

Movrich said raising the rates is necessary, so as to “fight inflation and improve the park.”

“Things need to be done over there,” added commission chair Dale White.

The planning commission also voted to change its campground registration time from Jan. 1, 2018, to Feb. 5, 2018, which represents the first full week of that month.

City manager Richard Brackney said persons reserving campground sites also will be asked to put down half of the site fee in February (instead of the $50 down payment that was due this year), with the second half being due by May 1.

In addition, the commission voted to “abandon” several campground sites that were deemed of little value due to odd shapes or small sizes. If the city council votes to approve the recommendation, the space from most of those sites then would be absorbed by neighboring sites.

Movrich moved that the commission recommend to the city council the higher campground rates. His motion also included recommendations of the other campground issues noted.

Commission member Marsha Vestich seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Commission member Joe DelFavero thanked members of the campground committee for their consideration of park needs.

In other action, the commission also voted to recommend to the city council:

—To place this year’s city Christmas tree, to be donated by city council member Pat Mann, near the Wakefield Visitors Center on Sunday Lake, so it will be visible to drivers on U.S. 2 and M-28-Sunday Lake Street.

—To grant a side yard variance to Neil Shipley, of Wakefield, so he can build a carport with a three-foot clearance, instead of the standard five-foot clearance. Brackney, who assured that no front yard variance is needed, said he will send out letters to seek any possible objections from neighbors.