Jolly Mill Parking No Longer Free.

[Bill Anderson]

I drove over to Capps Creek to day from my home in Monett, and there is a brand new gate and sign At Jolly Mill that says: Cars, Vans and motorcyles $5 per day, busses $30 a day. So I guess they must be having some financial problems or littering problems at Jolly Mill.They offer a yearly membership for $50. You can still park across the road at the state conservation parking lot, but I don't know if they will try to charge you if you walk in to fish near the Mill or not.There was no one around to ask, so I didn't stop. Anyone have any more info on this?

[ollie]

News to me, but I haven't been there since spring. My guess is financial problems. There was some trash, but not much up by the mill. City of Monett does the upkeep along with donations at the Mill area itself or at least that is what I think happens. They won't get as many people going through there if that is the case. I personally won't pay to park there, but that's me. I'll have to do some asking around now.

[Bill Anderson]

The operation and upkeep of Jolly Mill is totally handled by the Jolly Mill Foundation, which is a private corporation.The city of Monett has NO connection with Jolly Mill whatsoever, inlcuding trash pickup. Monett's duties end at the city limits, which is many miles from Jolly Mill. I confirmed this with a call to Monett City Hall. So the new fees schedule that is posted at the Mill is solely the doings of the Jolly Mill Foundation. I tried again to call them on the phone today, but there was no answer. I'll keep trying to get hold of someone at the Foundation to get a handle on the new rules and fees and report what I learn here on the forum.

[ollie]

I stand corrected Bill, you are right that Monett doesn't have anything to do with the park. I'm guessing since the economy tanked donations haven't been coming in to help out. Like you I am trying to get some info on this.

[Bill Anderson]

I hope this fee thing doesn't rub people the wrong way and they just quit visiting the mill. If they had put a donation box in plain view as you drive into the park, that might have spurred more people to donate. As it was, the donation box was almost hidden and you had to actually walk up to the mill to see it, and you still could have walked by it without noticing it. I guess time will tell. Today I did speak to someone at the MDC, and they told me that if you enter the stream without crossing the mill property, you could still fish up to the mill with out paying anything, because the stream is MDC controlled. If you set foot on their property, you could be called to pay. I just talked with Jim Moore, a Jolly Mills Foundation board member, and he told me that general operating expenses and overwhelming trash problems had prompted the fees. He said it has been in effect for a few weeks now, and they had sharply reduced both the volume of visitors and the trash problem, which is now a third of what it was. Paying visitors tend to clean up after themselves, he said, and the Foundation had been running a deficit in their annual budget for the past several years, and board members were having to dig into their own pockets to make up the difference. Mr. Moore said they regret having to take this action, but with expenses continuing to run in the red, they had no other choice. The caretakers that live on the property are only paid by free rent, and it was overwhelming them to keep up with the trash. Mr. Moore said the fees had greatly reduced the crowding problem and he was sorry that it had come to this, but financial needs required to them to charge user fees. Mr. Moore was very cordial in our conversation, and I think I will take care of the fee problem myself by just buying a $50 annual membership for my family. My family and I really enjoy the park often, and I want it to continue to be available to the public.

[ness]

Well, I suspected that was the case. It's too freaking bad that people and their trash are such an issue for a small foundation like that. It frankly pi$$es me off. It's a nice little park, and I can tell the locals take pride in it, as they should. Bill -- if you can track down an address, I'd cut those guys a check, just because. I've stopped there many times on my way to Roaring River. It's a beautiful spot, and has been well preserved. It'd be nice to keep it that way.

[emjay]

darn thats sucks. I personally havent been to jolly for a year or two but it was always ok. Never really caught much on that part of the river anyways but for the ones that ruined it for the rest, its really pitiful ya cant pick up after yourselves like adults.

[timsfly]

Well, I suspected that was the case. It's too freaking bad that people and their trash are such an issue for a small foundation like that. It frankly pi$$es me off. It's a nice little park, and I can tell the locals take pride in it, as they should. Bill -- if you can track down an address, I'd cut those guys a check, just because. I've stopped there many times on my way to Roaring River. It's a beautiful spot, and has been well preserved. It'd be nice to keep it that way.

Jolly Mill Park Foundation

(417) 476-5588

11262 Jolly Mill Ln

Pierce City, MO 65723

You can send donations to this address

[ollie]

Well that is too bad I've been going there many years now and I must say I saw some pretty bad littering last year, worst than anytime I've been there. I can understand where they are coming from. It's hard when you are working only on donations and you have to deal with all the problems. Wonder if someone trashed the new restrooms, wouldn't surpise me. I know I said I wouldn't pay to park there, but now I have to reconsider. That is a special place for me as well.

[Buzz]

I love fishing the park at Jolly Mill, but since I spend a rather small amount of time at the mill,I think for me, $5.00 is a little too much to park. I'll probably catch crap for this, but I'll probably just park across the road and walk in. Donations? I'm all for it. Like was said earlier, I don't recall seeing a donation box. If I had I would gladly toss a couple of bucks in it each time I fished the mill area. Also, I have never seen the "caretaker" at any time in the years I have fished at the Mill. I also have to wonder if the fees being charged couldn't be lifted during the "off season"? Meaning Winter when there are far fewer people who are the most likely to leave the trash that seems to be a big part of the problem. I would also be available to help out with a stream clean up if need be. Let the beating begin.