Starbuck RV Park Unfairly Singled Out For Sewer Fee Increase

Dear Editor:

Starbuck City Council members Ruth Shearer and Fred White have decided that I should have sewer rates raised on the three-space McNeil RV Park and Dump.

Ruth leads you to believe that Darver put this RV park and dump in secretly or underhandedly. The facts are that former Mayor Dianne Lusk was working for Darver Tackle and was very much aware and informed on the progress of the McNeil Park, as was the council.

Darver asked Clark Posey, Columbia County planner, to lead me through this step by step just so I wouldn't be doing anything out of line. There were no comprehensive plan permits required for an RV park built in 2004. Darver Tackle did both RV parks under Clark Posey's supervision.

Darver Tackle has always done this with any and all building inspectors while doing any kind of building. Clark stated that we could put in up to five spaces on the McNeil septic tank. We hose three spaces and an RV dump so as to not overtax the system.

Approvals were all done and required through Columbia County. At that time, Starbuck City Council did not have an application to fill out. Applications and approvals came out after Darver started the Baxter Street RV Park one year later.

If you're going to charge Darver Tackle an additional $50 over what they are paying now, other businesses that have public restrooms, for example Mort's Building, Starbuck School, Huwe's Restaurant, Rawhyde Bar & Grill, Aunt Jennie's, Starbuck Community Church, Wildmans RV Park, etc., should fall into that same category.

The facts are that Darver Tackle paid a $50 monthly fee plus usage on each RV park for the entire year of 2010. This is more than 2.5 times the new $19 rate and more than three times last year's $16 rate that any and all businesses in town pay. Baxter Park has been paying the same $600 annual fee for four years. Darver felt that they should pay a little more on the sewer rate and set that up with former Mayor Lusk in 2005.

The RV dump discharged 52 loads, or one dump per week, at a rate of $4 and grossed $208 toward the $600 charge Darver pays. Now they want to add a $50 annual fee.

This has never been a money issue, but this is a little much and out and out-targets Darver Tackle.

Verna Foley Owner, Darver Tackle Starbuck