Gaming camping

To the editor:

Last week’s Marion County Record article “Lake campers gaming the system” cites many comments that are misleading half-truths.

If the unmarried Abilene couple mentioned technically are not breaking any lake rules, per lake supervisor Isaac Hett, why is there a need to deceitfully rotate a small travel trailer stored at the lake’s open-area storage with a motorhome that leaves the campsite after 14 days?

Lake camping rules state: “Overnight camping in the electricity area and around the lake shall be limited to 14 consecutive days. Thereafter, the camping unit or person must leave the lake premises for seven days before returning to the lake.”

Uncomplaining friends of this couple also are guilty of overstaying the 14-day policy. They likewise are non-county residents.

According to the rules, the lake superintendent has the authority to require campers to move their camp in the best interest of the park.

Hett has the authority. Why not ask monopolizing campers to move to another campsite in one of the other lake campgrounds?

Apparently, the lake budget needs extra revenue, but is it OK to look for dishonest loopholes because of poorly written lake rules?

Are these the practices Hett wants to continue? He has allowed them for the past six years.

Let’s not open a can of worms that may not be to everyone’s liking. Maybe instilling fairness and harmony in all campers would be in the best interest of the park.

Arlene Stika
Lincolnville