The Lawton Water Authority voted to buy out the Ralph’s Resort lease and concessionaire agreement, and spurned renewal of the lease on the Minnow Marina campground at Fisherman’s Cove.
The Water Authority and John Perry entered into an agreement on Dec. 14, 1999, for the “operation of a lakeside concession located near Lake Ellsworth and commonly known as ‘Ralph’s Resort.’” The lease was amended in February 2010, and once again in October 2011 to add the names of Perry’s son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Sandra Perry. In January 2015 the lease was revised one more time to remove John Perry’s name after his death.
The Perrys notified city officials that they “are no longer interested in extending the lease agreement” for operation and management of Ralph’s Resort recreational area at Lake Ellsworth.
That lease expires Dec. 31, 2024.
After negotiations between city staff and the Perrys, the City Council acting as the Water Authority voted May 2 to offer the Perrys $300,000 to buy them out.
The city staff was directed to initiate a request-for-proposals for management and operation of the concession area. If a new lessee is found before the end of the year, the City and the Perrys “may agree to terminate” the agreement “prior to the normal expiration date.”
The Water Authority also voted not to renew the concessionaire agreement for the lease of the Minnow Marina campground at Fisherman’s Cove at Lake Ellsworth. Consequently, that campground area will be absorbed into the city’s lakeside day use areas after the lease expires June 30.
“We’re concerned about environmental issues” at that site, Deputy City Manager Dewayne Burk said.
Campground sewage is routed into a cistern and later pumped out, he said. One pump in the sewage lift station works but another one doesn’t, the Authority was told.
Additionally, city and state officials are concerned about the potability and chlorination of water flowing through a 1.5-mile water line that serves the campground. Also, the campground has been plagued with motorcyclists, vagrants and trash, Water Authority members were told.
Supporters of the campground, including Tonya Gates, maintained that they mow the 40-acre site and claimed the water and sewer systems are operational. But a city official who examined the electrical wiring said, “There’s not a line in there that’s from the original electric system.”
“Until the city has the desire and/ or the funds” to ensure that the water and wastewater systems serving that area are adequate, city staff recommends “turning it into a day use camping area,” Burk said. In the meantime, the sewage collection system should be shut in, he said.
The City Council’s Fee Committee “considered several factors” before recommending denial of the renewal application, Burk said. Those factors included “the absence of a sustainable sewer system” and “health concerns pertaining to the existing water line.” Repairs needed to make the campground area feasible for leasing to a concessionaire “would be extensive and not cost-effective at this time,” he said.
“We already have problems with the Department of Environmental Quality over our sewage system” without adding to them by renewing the Minnow Marina campground lease, Councilman George Gill said.
The Authority voted 5-2 against the requested extension.