Tick Ridge being designated ?wildlife refuge?

Tick Ridge, a park in Wayland, will be back under the jurisdiction of the Conservation Department and made into a wildlife refuge.

The 10-acre park, which sits between two gravel roads, was found no longer useful to the Conservation Department a decade ago. However, because of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program the Conservation Department received for Tick Ridge in the 1970s, the land is in perpetuity, Conservation Director John Pullis said during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14. LWCF is a federally funded grant program that provides match funds of 50 percent for outdoor recreation area development and acquisition.

While the Conservation Board sought to transfer the LWCF designation to Water Works Campground, they were told they could only do that for the creation of a new park of equal or lesser value.

While the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) used to come out to inspect LWCF parks every other year, the Conservation Department is now responsible for self-inspection, Pullis said.

The responsibility of the land was handed over to the county 10 years ago because anyone on the grounds would get ?dusted out,? Pullis said. Pullis said the board won?t pay for dust control on those roads.

?It?s beautiful timber, but you better bring a dust mask,? Pullis said.

In other news, the Conservation board is considering charging groups to reserve the disc golf course. Pullis said there is a group of people who use the disc course to host a tournament every year. Their ?handshake? agreement was that any profit the group made would be donated to a nonprofit in the county.

Over the years, the group has demanded more and more, such as wanting the disc course mowed, Pullis said. Because of the demands, the Conservation Board is considering attaching a rental fee to the disc course for people looking to reserve the space.

The disc course would have a rental agreement on the My County Parks website similarly to the department?s cabins and campsites.

The disc course would still be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis unless it is reserved.

The construction of two new cabins on the grounds of the Conservation Department is moving steadily forward. Siding on one cabin is completed and siding on second cabin is expected to be finished soon.

Construction remains 7.5 percent under budget, Pullis said. Initially, each cabin was estimated to cost $92,000 to build, but Pullis said they will be ?well under that.? Opening of the cabins, however, has been delayed until Jan. 1, 2019. Pullis had originally hoped to open the cabins in late fall.

During the Conservation?s board meeting on Monday, Aug. 13, an Eagle Scout presented a project to complete Mud Creek, including repainting the restrooms, shingling the roof, repairing bracing on the shelter house and pruning the trail, which opens up to Hayfield Native Grass. The Conservation board approved the project.

The Conservation board tabled their visit to Water Works campground during their meeting because not all board members were present. They will visit the campground during their September meeting to further investigate whether or not it should be moved to higher elevation.