Park board tables cabin lease, welcomes new member

Members of the Hill County Parks Board, including new member Tony Reum, voted to table new Beaver Creek Park cabin lease ordinances until next year due to the outpouring of public comment.

Board Chair Steve Mariani said feedback from the public after reviewing the proposed lease changes was constructive and revealed some flaws in the proposed changes.

“It wasn’t just whining. It was all positive input. I thought it made a  lot of good sense,” he said during the meeting in a packed Hill County Courthouse Timmons Room.

Board member and County Commissioner Mark Peterson made the motion to table the lease changes for the year.

“That’ll allow us time to develop a new lease,” he said. “It’s going to be a fact-finding mission.”

After the meeting, Mariani gave an example of one person who offered feedback. He said that person had gone to hardware stores and also found some already built-sheds. He presented the measurements and by doing so, showed that an already-built shed was already out of ordinance.

Mariani said that’s an example of where the board will reconsider the height limitation on sheds. But, he added, there was also someone who wanted to put a 20-foot peak on a shed. That, Mariani said, is an example of why an ordinance is needed.

Reum was introduced as the newest member of the board, taking the place of Dave Wilson, who retired.

“I like the guy a lot,” Mariani said.

Reum, a rancher, grazes on the park, lives next to the park. He is already on the grazing committee — he has a lot to offer, Mariani said.