Commission looks at park fee increases
- Charlene Sims, Journal staff
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
By Charlene Sims
MOUND CITY – After hearing a report from Linn County Park Manager Sheri Loveland on Monday, Dec. 8, the Linn County Commissioners decided to review profit and loss reports from 2024 and 2025 and other information before deciding on price changes for the services at the park. The commissioners also wanted to look at how to cover the increases made by Evergy for electricity.
Commissioner Jason Hightower asked Loveland to break down what the costs were for water and electricity.
Loveland proposed increasing daily rentals for campers and recreational vehicles (RV) one dollar a day or $30 month for 2026. These are some of the price changes Loveland proposed:
• Keep daily and yearly parking passes for Linn county residents the same.
• Keep the yearly pass for out of county residents the same at $30. The second yearly pass is proposed to go up to $15 from $10.
Camping with no hookups $13 per day. Additional tents will stay at $10.
Camping with 30 amp electrical service only will go from $17 to $18 per day.
Camping with 30 amp service and water will go from $18 to $19n.
Camping with 30 amp service, water and sewer will go from $19 to $20.
Camping with 50 amp service and water will go from $20 to $21.
Camping with 50 amp service, water and sewer will go from $21 to $22 per day.
The first vehicle with camping will be free but additional vehicles will be $5 per day.
Shelter rental prices will stay the same.
Daily boat slip rental will stay at $8. Monthly boat slip rental will be either $150 or $180 depending on what the commissioners decide.
Loveland and the commissioners discussed the average electricity rates for Marina Lane and Viewpoint and the new Evergy increase.
Cabin rentals were also discussed but no decision was made as commissioners wanted to look at different options available. They discussed the success of Cabin No. 7, the newest cabin that is rented out through Airbnb.
Hightower asked if the commission should retrofit the other cabins to be more like Cabin No. 7.
Loveland said that was on her project list. She brought up some estimates that Randy Page, Linn County construction consultant, gave to her for about $2,000 a cabin to bring them more up to date.
Hightower said he remembered that there were three things that the commission had asked Loveland to work on, the cabins, the dock and the swim beach.
Loveland replied that the dock was completed, a new roof had been completed on Cabin No. 4 and the swim beach was set aside during a time that saw the park’s supervision responsibilities change three times.
During 2025, Loveland’s position has been under the supervision of former Public Works Director Shaun West, former Economic Development Director Chasity Ware and now under the commissioners.
Loveland also suggested that the old rental house foundation have a pole barn type roof added so ie could be either a gathering place for the horse riders or made into a corral area.
Commissioner Alison Hamilton said that she thought it should be renovated as an Airbnb rental property.
Loveland said a bid several years ago to renovate the house was $170,000.
Commission Chair Jim Johnson and Hightower said that it had already been been voted on to allow the fire department to use the house as a fire practice site. Hamilton asked that the motion to do that be brought to the next meeting for the discussion.
More discussion on the park will be held in a week or two at the Linn County Commission meeting.
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