A Miola Lake Committee meeting held Thursday for concerned dock and lease owners came close to contentious at times over rate hikes, foam replacement and an inadequate lease document with the City of Paola.

Most dock owners or renters said they felt they had been left out of the decision-making process. Dock owner Allen Everhart asked the committee early in the meeting to go over fee increases, even though he felt the rates were already a done deal.

“I’m really not sure why we’re here,” he said. “You promise us this kind of meeting prior to final recommendations, and yet you’ve already finalized the recommendations. Why have this meeting?” Everhart asked.

Paola City Council member Pete Bell, who was sitting in the audience, responded.

“Wait a minute, I don’t recall voting yet on this. So it’s not a done deal. The council still has to vote on it,” he said.

In response to Bell’s comments, lake committee member Gerry Bieker said, “Our committee has a responsibility. We make recommendations to the city. Discussions between the city council and lake committee about the rate increases has been ongoing for about two years. The council directed us to send out the letters. It was a consensus. We might as well disband this committee. Why have it if we can’t make recommendations?”

The lake committee’s recommendations included raising fees for docks from the current $35 to $100 on June 1, 2009. Rates will continue with $25 increases each year through 2015, when fees will be set at $225.

Also, in a letter dated September 22, dock owners were informed about dock standards and codes, something they were familiar with, all except for new foam. By June 1, 2010, every dock must have encapsulated foam, even though one dock owner had just built a new dock under the guidance of the building inspector two years ago. Because there will be no grandfathering, he will have to add the new foam or give up his dock space.

“The Paola Lake Committee has spent two years working on this, and you know we support you. The city council reviewed your requests made at a previous council meeting, and we have been in discussions with the lake committee,” said Mayor Artie Stuteville in an opening statement.

“We want to make sure the docks are maintained and safe. Many of you take pride in your docks, and the pride shows. Yet, the dock fees have not increased in 30 years. This has been a long time. We knew it was necessary to develop a long-term plan for the docks. We also needed to increase the user fees to help pay for things like mowing, inspections, and this takes money to pay staff. We had to start somewhere,” she said.

Visitors such as Everhart asked why the money from the higher fees would not be put in a trust fund rather than the general fund.

“If you set these funds aside in a trust fund specifically for Lake Miola, for dock owners to use for improvements or for city improvements, at least those of us paying the higher fees would feel our money is being better spent and accounted for,” Everhart said.

The lease agreement came under fire because the city has little control over what actually goes on at the lake, several audience members said. Dock owners are currently sub-leasing, instead of deferring to the now non-existent waiting list.

“It would be nice to have a way to police all the fees out there, especially those that don’t get collected, so this is another reason a trust fund might be a better idea,” Everhart said.

Bieker said strong standards are essential.

“It’s impossible to manage the lake from the city view if we try to meet individual situations. This is why we need strong dock standards. The rates haven’t changed in so long that I’m not even sure we could pay for the mowing. You really are getting a lot for nothing,” Bieker said.

Most dock owners or leasers said they understood the need for the fee increases, but they questioned what they would get in return.

“Can you tell us what value will be added for us?” asked Mark Holscher. “More receptacles for electricity? What improvements over time? Most dock owners might be able to take the increases in stride if they could see better reasoning.

“If a dock is fine, then why the expense? I can see this maybe in two to three years or longer, when the dock needs improvements. Why not postpone the encapsulated foam to 2015 or when it fails? The foam isn’t federally mandated for city lakes,” Holscher said.

Bell agreed.

“Dr. Holscher has a good idea,” he said. “Why not phase the foam in, especially if it’s not federally mandated?

“I don’t have a problem with the taxpayers demanding something for their money. We should see some betterment out there from the city from this kind of money,” Bell added.

Committee chair Eric Schindler described the work of the lake committee as always searching for ways for local citizens and people from elsewhere to enjoy Lake Miola.

“This committee makes recommendations to the city council,” he said. “We assist the city in their lake planning, and so we are here to serve the Paola population and those who use the lake. But we gave everybody fair warning. There was enough neglect, and the docks weren’t up to standards and being ignored.

“We got tired of the ongoing tugging match. No compliance, no repairs being done on some docks. We told you we meant it for some time now. We really mean it now,” he said.

In reply, Blake Heid said, “Most people out there take care of their docks, pay their fees and stay in compliance. Why go after those of us who take care of our docks, pay our fees and taxes? It’s those people who live elsewhere that aren’t taking care of their docks. It’s like you’re mixing up too many things in this.”

Schindler responded, “The fees and docks are two different issues,” he said.

The Sept. 22 letter from the city addressed both issues: boat dock upkeep and rental agreements.

“While we were working on compliance issues, we decided to deal with the fee structure,” Bieker explained.

“But why such an excessively high, such a huge percentage all at once?” Heid asked.

Everhart, who agreed with Heid, said, “We understand the rate increase, but the excessive demand for such compliance in these hard economic times. And no real representation on dock fees before any of this was decided on. That’s not right.”

“You knew it was coming,” replied Bieker.

In a letter first sent to the city and then restated at the meeting, Ryan DeBok shared a concern about pricing some people out of dock space.

“An increase in rates has the potential to serve only those who can afford it,” he said. “It may also leave behind many people who have poured many resources into the docks over the years and can’t afford the rate increases.

“Two years ago, I brought in a free dock from Lake of the Ozarks. This dock has served me and my family well. And as an area youth pastor, this dock has been a great place for the teenagers in our church to gather together and use the lake. The $70 per year for two sides has been a great investment to serve our teenagers. However, $450 annually causes me to reconsider this,” DeBok said.

“I also don’t understand how raising rates forces people to get into compliance,” he added.

Bieker responded, “We were directed by the council to raise fees. They wanted to move ahead on this. We could review the foam issue, but I’m not sure that’s what the council wants.”

Lake homeowner Tom Newman wanted to know if he could get a long-term lease commitment.

“I want a guarantee that I’ll have a slot,” said Newman, who owns a covered dock. “You mean you can change the rules anytime you want? I have to have a guarantee, something better than this, before I decide to stay. And now, I will be required to replace a perfectly good dock?”

Schindler responded, “Yes, it’s a huge personal risk, but our job is to the city and patrons and to lead in the right direction.”

Paola City Councilman Jack Rowlett Jr. tried to ease the worries of the dock owners.

“The city council has every intention of keeping everybody out there,” he said. “We’re not trying to get rid of anybody.”

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