“Due diligence has been served”
Officials reconvene for update on Dworshak’s fate
By Alannah Allbrett
Seated in the front row at the Nov 9, meeting to determine the future of Dworshak State Park are (L to R) Steve Klatt, Chairman of the Board – Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR); Nancy Merrill, Director IDPR; and Dave Ricks, Deputy Director IDPR.
As meetings continue, officials rehash statements that there is no money, beyond this 2009 fiscal year’s budget, to continue operating the Dworshak State Park components: Big Eddy Marina, Freeman Creek, and Three Meadows Group.
At a standing-room-only meeting at the Clearwater County Courthouse Monday all the players were there, including welcome representation from the Moscow and Lewiston Chambers of Commerce who came out to show their support in an issue that is vital to those communities as well.
What was not new was the rhetoric. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) gave a PowerPoint presentation on budgetary figures, visitation counts, and their reasoning for Dworshak being the only state park to receive the axe.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) representatives continued saying that they look forward to partnering with IDPR and for opportunities to enter into discussions. What is new is a formal letter of termination as the lessee, dated Nov. 3, and has been sent to USACE from Parks and Recreation.
Nancy Merrill, Director of IDPR, stated they are confident, “We have done due diligence, looked in every corner [for solutions], and we are still in the same position.” She likened the situation to a bank owning a home, with the renters unable to pay, and needing to move out. In this scenario, the IDPR would be the renters/lessees, and the USACE would be the owners.
The natural question raised was, “Why Dworshak?” out of all the other 30 parks in the system. Deputy Director, Dave Ricks, of IDPR gave the particulars: Dworshak is “Owned by USACE,” and IDPR sees that as an “Opportunity by the owner to manage the park.” “There is no cost share agreement. Revenue vs. expenditures costs the state money.” And, “Federal agencies are in a better position to continue to provide recreational opportunities.”
Budget
The expenses vs. revenue figures given were: operational costs – $434,500; revenue offsetting costs – $287,100; and state funds needed to make up the difference – $147,400.
IDPR said the measures they have taken to reduce their expenses include leaving positions vacant, a lay off, and reducing seasonal employees during the summer by 25% (70 to 75 seasonals not being hired) at a time when visitations were up and customer demands increased.
Clearwater County Commissioner Don Ebert, asked for the board to reconsider the decision, and failing that, extend more time. He said, “Clearwater County is the county that can least afford this. We are always in top contention for the highest unemployment in the state. I believe we can afford this least of all.”
Next Steps
The next steps IDPR identified in this progression of events are to “Turn to partners for financial assistance, and to terminate management agreements.”
“IDPR is willing to consider any and all ideas that would allow our agency to continue to manage the recreational opportunity within Dworshak State Park.”
Questions
Three major questions were raised by participants: How long will Parks and Recreation actually continue to run the park? Secondly, how long has IDPR known this was going to happen? Lastly, how can saving a shortfall of $147,000 be compared to the potential millions of dollars in lost revenue to the area and to the tax base as a whole?
Answers
The answers so far are: residents have one year, from the Nov. 3, letter of termination, before IDPR will cease to be the lessee. But, as was pointed out, the next part of the lease allows IDPR out of the time restriction of one year if they do not have the funds to continue operations.
Nancy Merrill, who inherited this problem, as the decision had already been made by IDPR Board members prior to her hiring in September, told this reporter, “I do not feel as if I have been ‘thrown under the bus,’” as has been repeatedly heard in these talks. “I feel like a partner,” she stated. She maintains that the department “loves parks” as is evidenced by how well Dworshak has been maintained with low staffing.
The general feeling is appreciativeness for her efforts and positive attitude, while reeling from the possible losses that a park closure would cause this area. Mayor Ryan Smathers said, “We can’t take another hit.”
Merrill stated that “We are committed.” [These meetings] “Are not a step we had to take; we could have moved through the action of the board” [to go ahead with closure.] Merrill reiterated that, “The reason for the termination letter was to start the process of working with the Corps.”
To address the second question above, how long has IDPR known that closure was imminent, Orofino Councilman, Ron Banks said that the problem had been identified by the board back in September and that “a lot of valuable time has gone by, where we might have had the chance to start working [towards a solution] sooner.”
Steve Klatt, Chairman of IDPR’s Board, calls himself a “Rural, Bonner County guy” who understands the impact on a community. He said that it would hurt whatever community had a state park closure.
Addressing the timeline of notifying Clearwater County, Klatt said they had been operating without a Director for awhile. “Nancy came on in September,” he said. “We had to work on it as a cooperative partnership.” There was a three week delay which Merrill called, “Fast, for government.”
Klatt said realistically, they are not going to reconsider the issue. He did not want to raise false hopes. IDPR said they would rather sacrifice one park than render all the other parks dysfunctional.
Corps’ Response
When asked what the Corps’ response is – do they intend to padlock the park, Todd Czarnecki, Chief of real estate for the Corps (Walla Walla District), said their intention is to “Help the lessee come up with options, begin discussions on the transition, and do a close out analysis,” Summarizing, he said they would “start to transition and establish a timeline for solicitations for a new lessee.”
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Clearwater County Commissioners is Monday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Courthouse.
The next board meeting for IDPR will be Nov. 17, 18, and 19.