BROKEN BOW—Two stalls could possibly be added to the Tomahawk RV park in Broken Bow. During Monday’s Park Board meeting, the board voted to recommend approval of the two new camper stalls to the City Council. The two stalls would be added on the east side, with access to water, electric, and sewer hookups.
Parks Superintendent Darren Marten recommended using concrete rather than rock for the new stalls. He said concrete is about $1,500 more than the rock, but the concrete would require less weed maintenance long term. The whole project could cost between $8,000 and $10,000 and will be discussed in the future at a city council meeting.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) shocked the Melham Lake last week and found low numbers of fish but an increase in the number of invasive bait fish, gizzard shad, which have caused the water to become murky. Marten said the problem “is not going to get better by itself.” The board discussed options to reduce the number of shad but will not make any decisions until receiving the NGPC full report. As indicated in the park board minutes, if the lake is killed off, it would take three years for the water to be fishable again. The water usually contains largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill for catch-and-release fishing.
The board looked at park and pool financials, some of which are currently over budget. Marten said the overage is due to winter maintenance, renovation projects, painting, and bathroom updates that were needed after the August 2017 storm.
“Maintenance and repair of our grounds, on the parks side, as soon as we collect all of our insurance from the storm that we had last August, there will be some money credited back to that line,” Marten said.
There is an opening on the board as member Sandy Bates and her family will be moving. Contact the city for a park board application.
Grants are available through the NGPC and the board discussed potential projects including the Indian Hills playground, a picnic shelter at Melham, and possible walk trails on City property by the lake at Melham. Potential grant projects will be discussed further at the next meeting on Monday, July 9 at 5:10 p.m.
