By Jane Smith
02/28/07 — After reviewing a proposed master plan for future operations of Conneaut Lake Park, LeRoy Stearns said Tuesday he supports the plan — and will ask the court to be relieved of his duty as court-appointed overseer “within 20 to 25 days.”
The plan calls for a five- to seven-member board of directors to be appointed to assume control of the 115-year-old amusement park.
“I support it 100 percent,” said Stearns of the plan prepared by the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County and a final copy given to him Tuesday.
Stearns hopes the new board will be in place within the month and will be in charge of opening the park this summer.
Before he leaves his position, Stearns said he will petition the court for three actions that he has been working on: sale of 3.3 acres of land to Greg Sutterlin; approval of an easement for Jeff Davenport of Snow Waters Development; and an easement requested by Carl Burkett of Conneaut Lake for a piece of land adjacent to property he owns.
Stearns had planned to use part of the sale proceeds to open the park for 2007, noting without that money he has no funds to guarantee opening.
“Maybe the board of directors will find the funds to open the park. We have no money,” he added, except for deposits for events planned for 2007, which are in an escrow account and will be transferred to the new board.
“Now that I have seen a full and final copy of the plan, it convinces me they (those who developed the plan) have a way to deal with the back debt, which I am saying is $2.3 million,” he continued.
“I can’t open without the 3.3 (acres) sale,” Stearns said. “I will not borrow any more money,” referring to loans that have been used to open the park for the past several years.
The plan calls for:
–– Leasing all business operations — Hotel Conneaut, the Beach Club, Camperland and the gift shop — to private developers.
–– Appointing a board of trustees to operate core services such as the park and “otherwise support corporate obligations such as the satisfaction of debts.”
–– Hiring a chief executive officer and chief financial officer.
–– Positioning the park as a year-round community-based asset.
–– Rehabilitating Hotel Conneaut and Conference Center.
–– Developing high-density residential property (condominiums).
–– Developing lakeside/lakeview multi-tenant residential property.
–– Expanding Camperland.
–– Maintaining and managing the boardwalk and public beach.
–– Expanding public access to the lake by developing and improving the quality of access to the beach and a public marina.
Revenue zones identified include Hotel Conneaut. The plan said to effectively position the hotel for investments, the hotel will be closed temporarily during a transition period.
Residential zones will be developed consistent with the master plan and shouldn’t interfere or conflict with other anticipated priority developments of the park. A map shows “future development” in the same boundary area of the proposed 3.3-acre sale.
The plan identifies several areas as revenue zones and what’s proposed for their use. They include:
–– Hotel and Conference Center — Now the Hotel Conneaut site.
–– Entertainment — The Beach Club and Dock Side as well as the area across from it and down to Comstock Street.
–– Recreation — Comstock Street to Route 618.
–– Recreational vehicle park — Now the site of Camperland.
–– Future development — The land now used for parking adjacent to Camperland.
–– Future residential — Route 618 to the former Jo-Winn Trailer Park, now the Snow Waters project.
–– Future retail commercial — From Route 618 to Inlet Drive, now the site of picnic groves and adjacent houses.
–– Future development — A private marina on the lakefront in the area of the former Flynn House all the way to and including the Convention Center along Comstock.
Mark Turner, executive director of the EPA, and George Deshner, court-appointed custodian, weren’t available for comment.
Resumes are being accepted for the new board of Conneaut Lake Park Trustees.
The master plan, developed by the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, is seeking appointment of five to seven members.
Those interested may contact LeRoy Stearns, court-appointed overseer, at 382-5115, or Mark Turner, director of EPA, at 333-2299.
Once court approval is given for board appointments, resumes will be reviewed and recommendations made.
The board would be responsible for hiring personnel to manage the park, but not to get involved with day-to-day operations. It is to set policies for implementation.
