Snelling to retire as lake superintendent
Trailer house rent will be a flat rate of $1,000 per year
After more than 40 years as Marion County Lake superintendent, Dale Snelling is retiring.
Snelling made the announcement Monday to Marion County Commission that he will retire on or before May 1.
Snelling and wife Tootsie have lived and worked at the lake for 43 years. Prior to that, Snelling worked for two years in the county road and bridge department.
After much discussion, the commission approved a $1,000 per year lot rent for each trailer, regardless of the size. The previous week, the commission approved a $100 per year increase with varied lot rent prices that were based on trailer size. The lot rent includes all utilities.
Snelling reported of the 57 lot spaces, there were 56 trailers with one lot vacant but rented. Of the 56 trailers currently in use, only one is owned by a county resident. The remaining 55 are owned by out-of-county residents.
After conducting an inspection of locating a HUD seal which indicates it meets basic building standards, Snelling said 38 had HUD seals, and seals couldn't be located on 18 trailers. Of those, nine trailers are newer than 1978 and nine are older.
"Most trailers are older than the acceptable age to meet building codes," said commission chairman Randy Dallke.
The county has a 50-year rule at the lake for trailer houses. When a trailer becomes 50 years old, it must be removed or replaced.
Commissioner Dan Holub said county tax dollars are subsidizing the rent and should be producing revenue.
"We're using tax dollars for their convenience," Holub said. Snelling said the trailer house owners are paying taxes.
The trailers are taxed as personal property since they are not located on a foundation. County appraiser Cindy Magill said property taxes are based on square footage of the trailer, not the age, and generally is charged $20-$35 per trailer per year.
The commission also approved a $15 per month boat or boat trailer storage rental. Currently, trailer house owners are able to store boats or boat trailers for free on county property. The open storage area only will accommodate boats and boat trailers.
Snelling was pleased with the outcome. Currently trailer house owners are billed two times a year. The commission asked Snelling if he would consider billing four times a year. It was determined that the increase was not substantial and most owners probably will be able to pay lot rent in two payments.
