Response from Dan West of ODNR to Letter Below from 1/23/09

Thank you for taking the time to share the comments below. I really appreciate your interest regarding the Middle Bass Island State Park Marina and the Dock Lottery program currently being considered. Sorry that I didn’t respond right away but I wanted to carefully review and consider your comments.

As a public agency we are charged with the responsibility to administer our public resources fairly and equitably for the public. As you might know, dock lottery programs are not unique to our division. We manage a number of marinas in our State Parks utilizing a dock lottery system. They are considered to be a fair and equitable method of offering seasonal dockage. As you shared, we do have at issue a "handful of residents who depend on their boats for daily transportation to and from work". You might or might not be aware that we spend considerable time over the past several years to meet with residents, local officials and the general public to find an equitable solution to the above. In an effort to uphold our commitment to these people we are conducting a year round resident’s lottery in addition to the general lottery.

You propose as an option to the two tier lottery, a three tier lottery. I appreciate your taking the time to put forth thought and offer a possible alternative to the current plan. This option was considered when we were preparing our lottery plan. However, it fell short of the given parameters in how we are able to structure our lottery system. We did our very best to provide an equitable system that would still take in consideration those that need a dock slip for their work and the general public at large that want a slip for recreational purposes. By defining various classes of residents we are creating unequal opportunities for the public as a whole. When the master planning was started for the marina, through public meetings, we heard the concern and need for dockage for the residents on the island who depend on their boats to get to and from work. You have shared your understanding of this point as well in your letter. By providing a two tier lottery we are able to provide for this consideration. However to extend the lottery program to a third tier as you ask, for those who own property there but do not reside on the island as their primary residence, is comparable to a person who lives in one part of Ohio, yet owns property near a marina in another area of Ohio. Does this person have increased opportunity of use – yes – by the mere fact they have a home near the marina gives them an expectation of increased opportunity. However, should this person be given increased privilege of use to a public facility? No, unless there is a deed or property title providing for such. Using this guideline, we are striving to serve everyone equally and still maintain a balance with those residents whose livelihood is derived by year round residency on the island. Given that the state and federal government is investing well over 12 million dollars in the Middle Bass marina, there comes a greater expectation that the facility will be open to everyone. We think by offering the two tier lottery that provides permanent residents a separate lottery, and still allowing seasonal residents to apply for the general lottery we will accomplish what we initially promised at the onset.

Finally are there enough docks being offered in the seasonal lottery for those who may be interested; we think there will be. As you state we are increasing the number of docks available beyond what had been offered in the past. Those offered previously were designated for anyone interested, not exclusively to island residents. At this time we feel this will be enough to accommodate the demand. However, if this does not prove to be the case we do have options available. If in the future additional capital dollars are available, the marina has design space for additional dock capacity. Therefore, additional docks can be added. With additional docks it is within reason to expect there would be additional seasonal dock opportunities.

As with any new operation, product or service, private as well as public, reviewing and improving are instrumental to its success. This is also a part of our philosophy. At the end of this year, we will be evaluating and taking further steps to improve our facilities for the equal benefit of our constituents.

Again thank you for taking the time to share you thoughts. I will share them with the Lake Erie Islands Regional Manager, Scott Doty. Direct communications with our field managers is always encouraged. He can be reached at Lake Erie Islands State Park, 4049 E. Moores Dock Rd. Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. Phone 419-797-4530

Dan West
Ohio State Parks
2045 Morse Road Bldg C3
Columbus, OH 43229-6693
(614) 265-6561

Dock Lottery Application Procedures and Rules

The Middle Bass Island State Park dock lottery application procedures, rules and forms can be found at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/middlebass/mbidocklottery/tabid/21465/Default.aspx.

The Year Round Island Resident Boat Lottery application (for Tier 1) is at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=L8K6PG84Uzo%3d&tabid=21465.

The General Boat Lottery application (for Tier 2) is at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=EhHn%2b8PsLh0%3d&tabid=21465.

Note that the deadline for applications is February 25, 2009.

For further information, contact Scott Doty or Karen Beckman at Catawba Island State Park at 419- 797- 4530.


Letter to Dennis Murray, the local State Representative for the island area 80th district

(from an islander who wishes to remain anonymous)

01/31/2009

Representative Murray

I am writing to you today due to the concerns myself and many other residents residing on Middle Bass Island have as a result of the publication of the newly renovated State Park Marina operating policies and procedures with regard to the allocation of seasonal dockage. Ever since the State of Ohio purchased the Lonz property, residents had voiced concerns in regard to making sure the island residents who for years had access to seasonal dockage would not be displaced. Fast forward several years, and what we had feared is about to come to fruition. The state recently posted rules for seasonal dock allocation and the concerns voiced by residents full and part time have gone unnoticed. While they have acknowledged year round residents and the few that require boat transportation on a daily basis, the remaining other 40 to 50 seasonal dock holders from Jim Roesch’s old marina (purchased by the state) have now been displaced. With the upcoming lottery system for dock allocation, the current taxpaying summer residents of Middle Bass Island will now be thrown into the pool of all other Ohio residents that apply for a seasonal dock. If the infrastructure existed on the island to absorb the 50 displaced, families, I do not think anyone would be concerned or have complaints. That is not the case however, there are only two other marina facilities on the island, both being full now for several years.

Following is the letter of concern I sent to Dan West and Tony Celebrezze of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. As you will see I not only voiced my concerns but provided what I and many think to be a very proactive, logical and amenable solution for all parties involved.

I am hopeful as the State Representative to the island area, you will also see and acknowledge the need for a modification of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources policies regarding the allocation of seasonal docks at the new State Park on Middle Bass Island. At this point they have failed to see the uniqueness of the Island area and the needs of the residents of Middle Bass Island in regard to maintaining access and providing infrastructure opportunities for the taxpaying residents of the island. If they are allowed to follow through as they have stated, the state of Ohio has come to Middle Bass and taken vital infrastructure away from the residents / families.

Thank you for taking the time to look into the current situation now being encountered by your constituents.

__________________________________________

Date: 1/23/2009

TO: Dan West; Chief Parks and Recreation

CC: Monica Drake; Put–In-Bay Port Authority

Tony Celebreeze, III; Deputy Director Resource Management

Subject: Middle Bass Island State Park Dock Lottery

Mr. West

My family has owned property on Middle Bass Island for the past 89 years. Being the 4^th generation of our family to have grown up enjoying everything Middle Bass and the surrounding islands have to offer, I read with great interest the latest update of the Middle Bass Island State Park Marina development project, provided by Scott Doty.

We are one of the families who have the potential to be negatively impacted by the upcoming lottery system used to allocate seasonal dockage in the renovated marina. I have maintained from the beginning the State of Ohio had the potential to be “good neighbors” and a true asset to Middle Bass Island, as the plans for the park have unfolded.

Our family was one of the 50 plus residents that were displaced from Roesch’s marina with the sale to the State of Ohio. My present concern is with the proposed lottery system that was rolled out and presented to the public within the last couple of weeks via Scott Doty. I appreciate the fact the State has recognized and acknowledges the genuine need for guaranteed seasonal dockage to the handful of residents who depend on their boats for daily transportation to and from work. It also hasn’t gone unnoticed that an additional 20 slips have been added for seasonal dockage within the renovated marina.

While there has been a 29% increase in seasonal dock slips provided in the marina renovations, those 20 along with 50 that were present in Roesch’s marina are now available by lottery to any resident in the state of Ohio. Without the addition of another tier for seasonal residents, those property owners paying taxes at Middle Bass but not residing on the island year-round, it would appear the State of Ohio has taken away vital infrastructure opportunities from the island’s residents, not added to their community. I am confident that this is not the intention of the State of Ohio and only an initial oversight in the current lottery structuring system.

If 50 additional seasonal slips were available elsewhere on the island, I do not think there would be the level of concern regarding the dock lottery system for seasonal dock allocation the state presently has in place. This, however, is not the case. The infrastructure simply does not exist on Middle Bass Island to absorb the displaced boats from Roesch’s marina, which in the past guaranteed the island residents, which includes seasonal residents, a place to keep their boats during the boating season.

I would like to propose a modification to your current dock lottery system for the Middle Bass Island State Park Marina. Instead of being a two tier system as is currently presented, increasing this to a three tier lottery system would better meet the needs of all parties involved and in doing so would acknowledge the unique circumstances of both The State of Ohio and Current Middle Bass Island Residents.

1. Tier one – Would continue to be for those “year round” residents who can prove / validate they require their boats for their primary mode of transportation to and from work. I.e. back and forth to the bay or mainland on a daily basis. (Pay stubs or copy of w-2)

2. Tier two – This tier would be for all Middle Bass Island property owners. Documentation by providing a notarized copy of current year tax bill to be included with application.

3. Tier three would be for all other interested parties. This number would vary based on Island resident participation in both tier one and tier two lotteries. It would however provide the opportunity for other interested state residents to participate in the lottery system if they wished.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to read and consider proposed changes in the current dock lottery system for the newly renovated Middle Bass Island State Park Marina.