WAHOO, Neb. — The long-awaited opening of Lake Wanahoo is now only a few months away.
There is one detail that needs to be worked out between now and April: the recreation area's operation plan.
Lake Wanahoo coordinator Mike Murren said that plan could get finalized in the next few weeks.
Representatives from the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District will meet again with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission this week. Murren said the goal is to have an operational plan ready for the NRD Board of Directors meeting Jan. 9.
He said they would continue to work with the Game and Parks Commission to come up with a solid plan of operations with the least cost to the project's local sponsors.
Although the Game and Parks Commission originally agreed to take over operation of Lake Wanahoo, that pledge came with the understanding that state money would be available. The Legislature did not allocate that money in its last session.
Commission officials said they were still willing to take over operation of Lake Wanahoo but requested $75,000 from local sponsors to help offset operational costs.
Over the past several months, Murren and other NRD staff members have been working with the Game and Parks Commission on a proposed operating budget.
"We are still working to get that number as low as we can," he said.
As of last week, the NRD's cash contribution was down to about $19,600, about equal to the deficit that the Game and Parks Commission estimated after projected revenue was subtracted from the operating costs.
In-kind services have been added into the mix to bring down the cash contribution. For example, Murren said, the NRD would agree to provide office space for Game and Parks Commission personnel working at Lake Wanahoo. The NRD would also hire an additional staff person who would have duties at the lake.
The Game and Parks Commission is also considering a shower house on the campground side of the lake. A shower house had been removed from the plans before bid letting when costs came in over budget.
Murren said the Game and Parks Commission's projected $74,000 in revenue for the first year includes money collected from shower house users.
"They are willing to put 50 percent into helping us build that," he stated.
The Game and Parks Commission has found money in another fund to help build that structure.
The shower house, which would be similar to the restrooms already on site, is projected to cost $150,000. Murren said the concrete building could serve as a storm shelter.
Murren said a three-year agreement with the Game and Parks Commission likely will be proposed.
"That gets us through the first years when there are so many unknowns," he said.
But he said he understands the concerns voiced by NRD directors earlier this month about long-term operations.
The discussion at the Dec. 12 board meeting centered on whether any local money should be given to the Game and Parks Commission for operating the project.
NRD Director Don Kavan said if the Game and Parks Commission wants to have Lake Wanahoo after someone else paid for most of the construction, it shouldn't ask for money.
"If we can't get anybody to run it, it can sit idle," Kavan added.
Murren said money from other sources has been put into the recreation aspect of the project. If the recreation area does not open, that money may be in jeopardy.
"They may want their money back," he said.
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