Thanks to Stew Lilker for this re-post from the Columbia County Observer for the latest about the controversy over Rum Island Park. Thursday, July 16, will be the regular commissioners’ meeting at 5:30 in Lake City where decisions may be made.
Work on the park has been inexcusably slow, in early September it will have been closed for a year.
Read the original article here at the Columbia County Observer.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Columbia County’s Rum Island Park
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Comments (to add a comment go here)On July 10, 2020, Jose Martinez of Columbia County wrote” Sad ———————————————————————————————————- On July 10, 2020, Theodore Stone of Columbia County wrote:
First, I had a copy of the meeting agenda. This was available through he county website prior to the meeting. I was able to obtain a copy on Monday, July 6. Second, my complaint was that there was to be a 5$ per vehicle fee charged, presumably concurrent with the reopening of the park, and that there was to be a $25 annual permit for county residents beginning in 2021. This meant that I would have to pay the full fee for each visit from the reopening of the park until January 2021. Since I am hoping for the park to reopen soon, and as I have been a frequent visitor, I would have to pay an inordinate amount of money, far exceeding $25, to use the park this year (2020). I asked that a permit for 2020 be made available. I also asked that the park be open from 1 hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunset, to alow for activities such as fishing, bird watching and simple contemplation. Ted Stone, Columbia County resident and property tax payer since 2004. ———————————————————————————————————- On July 10, 2020, Troy Langford of Columbia County wrote: My mother and father met at rum island and I grew up there. I pay my taxes and it’s the only free spring in the county. If you all decide to charge us $5 a car I will get a waver signed and we will protest for what we want. For that park to be free to the people. You want to take are taxes to build a septic that will flood every year. |
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I’ve been going to Rum Island since 1976. How it survived those days is astounding. It was a muddy pot hole parking lot. Its pristine now. The family that donated it said it should be free for the people. I think it’s a little overkill to charge and have a person working there since it is basically vacant during the winter. The summer and holidays are a different story. Bikes should be free.
I wholeheartedly agree with Rocky Ford and others who appealed to him about limiting the number of people visiting Rum Island Park. True, this has been one of the only few free springs in this area, but that aspect is causing irreparable harm to this tiny natural refuge that way too many people are loving to death. If charging $25/year will help limit negative human impact, and especially the ones who obviously have no respect for our springs, then I am all for it. And charging out of towners a more reasonable fee is a superb idea.
If a person can’t pay the $25/year to help maintain the beauty and cleanliness of the park, then I suggest the people who are interested in the fishing aspect use the other three free boat ramps in the area.
I, for one, would love to see just one springs left alone for visual enjoyment only. We are destroying all of our springs with over use and very little regulations to protect against human exploitation. Swimming in the springs, boat docking, and even uncontrolled walking in the area trampling vegetation causes harm.
One item I’d like to address, that was only briefly mentioned but promised at the earlier special meeting/workshop, was a camp host. If this park is going to cater to people who fish and those who use the park for after dark paddles it needs to be open as was done in the past. This means that there must be someone there 24/7 with security cameras to ensure the protection of the park and it’s facilities.
Certain people should be eligible for a free access pass; those that volunteer to clean the park, seniors, military and maybe others.
And, many thanks to the commissioners and everyone who has voiced their input. I don’t mind that the park has been closed down for so long. I would rather give this park some respite from all the human interaction and have a well thought out plan than open early and not be pleased with regulations that have been thoughtlessly put into place.