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Collecting and removing garbage, keeping bathrooms in working order, maintaining records and wait-lists and enforcing campground policies were only a few of the jobs Monkus holds at the campground.
Following debate at the previous commissioners meeting, Leek called TVA and asked for their opinion of the campgrounds at Chatuge Reservoir and Gibson Cove. TVA recently reviewed both campgrounds and found them under compliance with standards.
Local builder Tighe White was the first to speak when the meeting opened for public comment. "I've been out there at Gibson Cove a few times," he said. "There are campers with no wheels or tags. There are semi-permanent structures that I think are really not allowed in your policies."
He continued, mentioning that he believed some campers had satellite dishes which were a violation of current regulations.
"I became aware that some of the sites were permanently reserved," he said. "How does that actually benefit our county? [Gibson Cove] should be like other campgrounds in the country, reserved for two weeks or so [at a time]." White suggested that campers currently findout who's leaving and quickly put up a tarp or other property so that they can claim the site for the next 14 days.
Commissioners responded by saying that the issue was "somewhat addressed in the last meeting."
"We're in the process of meeting with TVA and getting policy in effect as to how it should be addressed," they said. They also stated that some camp sites are available for eight months at a time- not permanent and indefinable.Other sites, they said, were for use for 21 or 14 days at a time. "The TVA would like for us to address that issue and we will."
One woman attending the meeting voiced concern over the time-slot issue as well. "We have some friends who bought a camper with a permanent spot this year, rather than having a lottery," she said. "Some people have been there for six years in a row and haven't moved."
The new policy, according to commissioners, will be that campers cannot be sold with spots and family members can't give spots to other family members. They cautioned that the new procedures are not focused on making money, but on providing a service to the county. "Yes, I know we have issues. We've been trying to address those issues.... Tourism is a major industry in this county"
The same woman responded, saying that there is no room for others to enjoy the campgrounds and that camping units with broken windows would fail to attract people to the county. Commissioners reminded her that approximately 40 campsites were added in recent years, helping to build the local economy.
One man suggested that the system be run similarly to that of the National Park Service, where campers would be limited to 14 days at one spot and registration could take place online. A woman compared the lack of a reservation system to airplane tickets. "It would help people come to Clay County because they know they've got a spot," she said. "You wouldn't go to the airport to get on a plane if you didn't have a reservation."
Another suggested the possibility of adding "camp hosts" who would relieve the pressure of duties placed on one campground manager.
Shirley Parker, a Gibson Cove camper for the past decade, said she began camping lakeside in 1996 every time she could get a spot. "At that time Gibson Cove had no water or electricity," she said. "I put my name on the seasonal lot list. I have maintained the spot ever since. We don't camp October- April. We've been allowed to leave our campers there- no one can go in and spend one night. It makes it easier. It's very deserted looking."
Parker said she's been faithful to Gibson Cove ever since she got a permanent location. "My husband and I have put over $1,500 into improvement on the property...No one used to want to camp there until the power came in and now everyone wants the lake sites."
Ultimately, she suggested that the TVA add more campsites during the winter months as a solution. "I'm disabled but I feel safe over there. They do a good job keeping it up." One man argued that she had a permanent site but Parker rebutted that she had a seasonal site.
Another man, who said he currently made use of a seasonal site for two-thirds of the year, criticized the idea of 14-day campsites. "Everyone wants them for the holidays but no one else wants them when it's not. We understand that campground funds are for recreational purpoises. I''ve talked to a lot of campers and we would like to help you guys take care of these issues if we can. The people who are there for the season contribute [to the county]. I'm afraid if you go to a 14 day system, not many people will be there during non-holidays; you'll lose your revenue."
Parker agreed. "We pay taxes on our campers and we feel like a part of the county." Another camper said that if a camper was untagged, they still payed taxes on it and that the problems are in the process of getting solutions.
The last to speak on the issue, a Buncome County resident stated that she brought her family to camp at the local campground many times. "We most always got a site, fortunately," she said. "When we got a site where we could leave our camper, it was more convienent at our age to leave the camper there."
The commissioners closed the topic by stating that they appreciated the comments and would continue to address the subject in upcoming meetings.
To comment on this article, e-mail Harrison at hkeely@ gmail.com.
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