Uses for Katy Allen Lake topic

Vernon County Commissioners Bonnie McCord, Neal Gerster and Everett Wolfe met Wednesday with representatives of Great River Associates, Jason Sivils and Jerani Jackson and others to discuss possible improvements to Katy Allen Lake in Nevada. The discussion was primarily centered on whether the lake and surrounding property would be used for recreational purposes or conservation.

The lake has had to be partially drained and is shallow, but it is a favorite place to observe waterfowl and other birds and wildlife during various times of the year. A family group of several rare trumpeter swans, North America's largest waterfowl, visit Katy Allen and other local lakes during the winter each year.

The lake dates back to the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad, which became known simply as the Katy Line. The lake and property is due south of and adjacent to the Vernon County Fairgrounds.

The fairgrounds have been county property since 1956 and the lake was deeded to the county in the mid 1960s.

Some of the land surrounding the lake is wetland type habitat and the group discussed preserving that but trying to provide recreation at the same time.

A walking trail was one option. An elevated boardwalk with minimal environmental impact was also considered as a way to achieve both objectives.

All agreed that there needed to be some study done on the issue to determine uses, possibilities, costs, funding and other relative concerns.

There was also agreement on the need for a master plan. It was suggested that a steering committee of local citizens should be utilized for local input on the plan.

Tom Hissink questioned the steering committee idea. He wanted to know if the steering committee was going to be 25 people or just a "lean and mean" committee that would get down to business.

Gerster suggested that a couple of the fair board members be part of the steering committee.

Jackson said that her group liked working with steering committees because it gave them more information to utilize while creating a master plan.

The meeting ended with Sivils and Jackson agreeing to put together some numbers and see what development of a master plan would cost the county.

In other business, the commission heard from two county residents concerned about closed roads in their township.

Ron Hughes and his attorney Bryan Breckenridge said they were concerned about a road in Badger Township that appeared to be closed but was still in limited use.

Traffic on the road, which has trees growing in it, is detouring around the obstructions.

Hughes said he wants the road designated as open, but according to the area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation, Darin Hamelink, the road is not on the County and Road Trust Fund inventory.

Hamelink said it is a simple matter of filling out a form to get the road back on the inventory.

Janet Hurlburt had concerns about a road one half mile north of Bellamy in Dover Township.

That road is not on the CART inventory either and also appeared to be abandoned or closed.

Commissioners said it was never formally closed. Commissioners added that both roads have been platted since 1908, so they were public roads and people continue to use them.

Presiding Commissioner McCord requested Hamelink to get both roads back on the inventory, to which Hamelink agreed.

The county does not perform any maintenance on either road. That responsibility falls on the township, said commissioners.