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Proposed Shawnee fee increases stir debate

BY BECKY MALKOVICH, THE SOUTHERN

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 10:48 PM CST

Proposed recreational fees, if approved, will help the Shawnee National Forest cope with rising costs, a shrinking budget and a scaled-back labor pool, a Shawnee official said.

While controversial, the Recreational Enhancement Act fee proposals will help maintain and improve trails, day use areas and campgrounds, Recreation Program Manager Tim Pohlman said.

The proposed fees at developed recreational facilities in the forest include a $5 per car per day fee at Johnson Creek and Pounds Hollow beach and picnic areas, Little Grand Canyon and Garden of the Gods and Bell Smith Springs interpretive and picnic sites.

Fees would also be increased by $5 or $6 at certain campgrounds including Johnson Creek group, Pine Hills, Pine Ridge, Camp Cadiz and Pharaoh.

A $5 per day fee is also proposed for equestrian use of designated trails in the Shawnee.

Frequent Shawnee visitors could purchase yearly passes at $50 for use of the trails or day use areas.

"The budget for developed recreation is down, while expenses are up. We pay the same price for gas and electricity as everybody else. Those two factors, coupled with the loss of the Senior and Community Service Employment program have put us where we are today," Pohlman said.

The SCSE program for many years provided the Shawnee with dozens of employees whose salaries were paid for by the U.S. Department of Labor, Pohlman said.

"As recently as five years ago, there were 50 people working in the program. They provided maintenance service - mowed grass, painted signs, picked up litter - basically cared for and tended the recreation sites in the forest at a vastly reduced price," he said. "Now there are just a couple of workers. That's made a huge difference. I can't stress enough how important they were."

To make up for the loss of workers, the forest has either reduced services or is forced to contract out for services, he said.

The budget has increased for designated trails in the past few years, but with a backlog of planned trail maintenance and reconstruction projects, Pohlman said there is no guarantee that the budget increases will continue long enough to complete all of the projects.

"We've done a lot of work, but there is much more to be done," he said. "The trails are our No. 1 priority. Equestrians are big customers for the forest and we want to accommodate that use. We are working diligently to bring the trails up to the standards of use they require."

Pohlman said he is aware of opposition to the proposed fees. Businesses that serve Shawnee visitors are concerned about the economic effect the fees might have, while county boards, including those in Hardin and Pope counties, are considering passing resolutions opposing the implementation of fees.

Users of the forest also have concerns about the proposed fees. At a recent informational meeting held by concerned citizens, some audience members expressed their distrust of the forest service and their doubts that the money would be used for the stated intentions.

"The Act is very specific about how the money is spent," Pohlman said. "Specific accounts must be set up; the money doesn't go into a general fund. The accounting side will be very transparent."

Ninety-five percent of the fees collected will be returned to the Shawnee and 80 percent must go back to the facilities where they were generated, he said.

Costs to administer fee collection cannot exceed 15 percent of the collected money.

The forest service must submit reports to Congress and the public annually detailing exactly how much money was collected and where it is spent.

"The forest service supervisor is committed to making sure people can see how their money is being spent," he said.

Public comment on the proposed fees will be accepted until April 15. After that, public comment will be scrutinized and the proposal will be modified, altered or left the same before reaching an advisory committee that will make a decision on whether to implement the fees.

If the proposal is accepted, fees could be put into place by fall at the earliest, although the Shawnee would likely wait until spring 2009, he said.

Comments and recommendations regarding the Shawnee National Forest's Recreation Enhancement Act fee proposals can be sent to Hurston A. Nicholas, Forest Supervisor, Shawnee National Forest, 50 Highway 145 South, Harrisburg, IL 62946 and must be submitted before April 15.

beckymalk@gmail.com

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