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County will utilize lottery system for Wildcat campsites
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
After listening to nearly an hour of testimony, the Houston County Board decided to continue with the proposed campsite lottery for Wildcat Landing and Campground, but will postpone its implementation for one year. The board action was taken following a public hearing on proposed park rules and regulations, which was held April 8.
A number of persons who hold seasonal camperships at the campground located on the Mississippi River near Brownsville, asked the board to reconsider the campsite lottery that was planned to go into effect at the end of the 2008 camping season.
Wildcat Campground is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and leased by Houston County. It includes approximately 70 modern and primitive campsites, three picnic shelters, two boat landings and one fishing pier.
While the majority of the camping sites are temporary ones, about 20 sites are rented out for the entire camping season. A growing number of persons are looking for season campsites. The county’s policy has allowed persons to carry over their seasonal campsite from one year to the next. A waiting list was developed a number of years ago, but the Corps policy is to offer Wildcat Park to everyone’s equal enjoyment and use. This includes seasonal campsites, and the Corps wants the county to do away with the waiting list and instead utilize a lottery.
Several Caledonia residents, a couple from Wykoff, and another from Racine, Minn. urged the county board to omit the lottery portion of the proposed regulations. They complimented the county board on the excellent condition of the park, and stressed that they wanted to keep their “home away from home.”
Don Link of Caledonia felt the county should increase the number of seasonal campsites, since the annual rate of $1,450 per site per season, generates much more money for the county than the temporary sites, which are only completely filled three weekends of the summer.
“If you added another 20 seasonal sites, it could bring in another $16,000 for the county, and there wouldn’t be a waiting list,” Link pointed out.
“It’s not our decision as to how many seasonal sites we can have,” County Personnel Director Tim Comstock noted. “The Corps will allow no more than 30 percent of the sites be seasonal.”
Tom Molling, of the County Highway Department reported the county is looking at adding seven new camping sites this year, which will help some. “We’re hoping to encourage the Corps into allowing 35 percent of the sites be seasonal. But I can’t promise the Corps will go along with that,” Molling said.
Caledonia resident Randy Mell said he and his wife were on a waiting list for two years and then purchased a camper when they found out they were granted a campsite at Wildcat.
“We feel this is a great resource for the area, and we have a great neighborhood at the park,” Mell told the board. “We certainly understand why we can’t put up permanent fixtures, but we are concerned with the lottery. We waited for a site to open up, and were very happy to get a site. I feel there is some movement, as far as people moving on and campsites opening up. It isn’t that stagnant.”
Commissioner Dave Corcoran said he was told by the Corps if there are too many issues with the waiting list, they will institute the lottery system. “If the Corps tells us this year we need to go to the lottery system, we institute the lottery,” Corcoran said.
Molling pointed out if the county went to all transient campsites, the county wouldn’t bring in enough money to make it work, and would have to give it back to the Corps. “I guess that’s a bargaining tool we could use,” Molling added.
The county board encouraged those opposed to the lottery system contact the Army Corps office in La Crescent.
“I don’t think it’s the county’s intension to institute the lottery,” Commissioner Tom Bjerke said. “This is something the Corps has been proposing. With seven camping sites being added this year, I feel that should help ease the pressure as far as seasonal campsites. I feel we should let the Corps know we are not in favor of the lottery.”
Following the public hearing the county board and staff continued discussing the lottery issue. Several members of the county staff felt a “squatters” mentality exists with some of the parties that have held seasonal camperships for many years.
“These campsites are not theirs, and they’re not time shares,” Corcoran said. “We’ve had problems with this issue in the past. The lottery system probably would be the best way to handle this.”
Commissioner Larry Connery agreed with Corcoran and made a motion to approve the proposed rules and regulations, with the exception of altering the wording dealing with the lottery. The county will continue using the existing waiting list system for 2008 and 2009, but will put the lottery system in place for the 2010 camping season, unless the Corps dictates it be put in place for 2009. Connery’s motion was seconded by Corcoran. Bjerke cast the lone dissenting vote.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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