Joe Bald Rd. Park Gonna Be Locked Up?

[vernon]

MOPanfisher

Thanks much for the generous invitation and I will do just that. When it comes to COE stories, one will never run short of things to talk about!! I haven't been to Pomme in several years and for no particular reason. I appreciate you giving me an excuse to do just that.

In the meantime, please keep up the good work of speaking up for the Corps. You're obviously well connected and equally well respected. I've always been amazed at what a bad rap they get and it's almost always because they don't do a very good job of explaining the reasoning of their actions. Overall though they're a great bunch of people with nothing but good intentions at heart. Unfortunately, many times they also have the unpleasant task of initiating unpopular actions at the direction of others.

I wish that more people would make the PAO do his job by contacting his office whenever they question or don't understand why an unpopular decision has been made rather than fueling the fires of discontent by furthering rumors and speculation. Then again, it is the federal government after all. Thanks again for the invite. I hope to be in touch sometime in the not too distant future.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I will try and remember to do that MOPanfisher. We come in late September every year since early this century. It's a cousins and theirs event at the group site with as many as 40 people some years.

I hated to see Coombs go. It's isolation seemed to keep it quieter but full and the easy shallow bank access was nice for those with kids. I wonder how long Old 86 will last if it gets flooded again?

[MOPanfisher]

I have always been amazed at the COE's Public Affairs. They have for the most part fantastic people, but when it comes to getting the word out for something done well/right it just doesn't happen. But let something bad happen, say a flood, or hurricane and the Corps will happily stand up and let the rocks/stick/pichforks be aimed at them, they just as happily after the hype is over move it to begin clean up and or recovery operations. I guess its a typical military operation when if it goes wrong, we accept the blame, if it goes right we just go along looking for the next thing.

Later gentlemen.

[Bill Babler]

Went over to Beaver in Arkansas Striper fishing yesterday, and did well. Noticed and spoke to our guide about it and none of the Government parks in Arkansas are being mowed either. Noticed when we came back past Eagle Rock it was not mowed and looked horrible. Our guide Rich said none of the COE parks were being maintained on Beaver Lake other than the trash pickup and the bathrooms being cleaned. No Grass mowing. It was a jungle.

I might have missed something in this thread, but he said all the mowing was private contracts and there was not being granted.

This is starting to look pretty bad.

[Wayne SW/MO]

They should consider a program like the ones along roads for clean-up. Bass clubs, and other organizations could adopt a park for some trimming etc.?

[MOPanfisher]

I can go into more detail should you want, however the basic gist is mowing grass is a very expensive proposition. It is a balancing act between $, need, and other needs. We issue a contract to mow either and area, or the entire lake, and the contractor is responsible for mowing it within a certain time period, a lake as big as Table Rock likely has at least two mowing contracts. A desiginated person at the Project office contacts the contractor and "orders" the mowing, usually there is a minimum number of mowings and a maximum according to the contract. Volunteers can be utilized to mow areas that are not under contract, however if it is contracted out you can't mow it yourself or by volunteer lest the contractor file a claim and likely get paid, because it was his job to do. In the contractors defense he has a fair number of employees and a considerable investment in equipment that he has to pay for, he needs some security in knowing what his minimum payment will be in order to determine what he can do the job for. Also we can't just hire minimum wage kdis to mow as there are many personnel rules about what we have to pay and provide for benefits.

[Scottwold]

Attended COE info share in Kimberling City today. I spoke with one of the representatives and asked her if they were going to lock up Joe Bald Park. She said NO. There are no definite plans right now. She said that the Kimberling City Chamber of Commerce and a couple of other groups (cannot recall their names) have had a few brainstorming sessions on what they might be able to do with that area. So I guess if you want to get involved, KC Chamber might be a good start. I'll probably give them a call next week.