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Carroll County Conservation Gifted House To Be Used As Rental Cabin At Swan Lake

Carroll County Conservation Director, Jason Christensen, apologized to the Carroll County Board of Supervisors for such short notice, but presented them with a newly-developed, affordable option to place another rental cabin at Swan Lake State Park. Christensen said a roughly 900-square-foot home, owned by Pat and Kelley Derner of Carroll, was being donated to the Carroll County Conservation Board.

Christensen told the board the expenses associated with the house would be moving it about a mile from its current location and construction of a basement. He has begun the process of soliciting estimates, but has not received all the information needed. He believes the total costs would fall in the $35,000 range. Christensen is proposing the cabin be placed either near the current cabin, which is close to the camp site, or at the north shelter location. Both of these sites already have electrical and water access.

The board also discussed two different options for payment of the project. Christensen had asked if they would be interested in going half in since a new cabin was already being discussed at a much higher price, between $135,000 and $185,000 seen on projects in other area parks. This option is a considerable cost savings, but Mark Beardmore pointed out there was money set aside for just such improvements in the conservation capital account, which currently has a nearly $93,000 balance. Christensen said not all of that money would necessarily be immediately available.

The supervisors agreed it was in everyone’s best interest for Christensen to move forward with the project, to discuss the payment options with the Conservation Board and then to return, if necessary, to make a more formal request for a loan or gift to help fund the project.

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