Maynard: State fee on Ft. Yargo bike trails ‘goofy’

“Because of their work, (the state) probably saw a big increase in park passes already, and now they want to make them pay to use the trails?” Maynard said. “Only the state would think of doing it this way.”

Winder provides free utilities to the park, and until a few months ago was also providing free garbage service.

Councilman Bob Dixon said state officials should have sought the input of city officials before proposing the new fee.

“We contribute to that park, but they never asked us about this,” Dixon said.

Time likely is running out. The public comment period ends Friday, Jan. 20. And based on a presentation at last week’s public meeting at Fort Yargo, it appears that a decision could be imminent. The next meeting of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board is next Wednesday, Jan. 25. However, an administrative assistant for Becky Kelley, the director of the DNR’s State Parks & Historic Sites Division, said the decision on the fees would be the director’s alone, not the board’s.

“We are considering all the input,” said the aide. “The decision should be made within 60 days. It is going to come from director Kelley’s office.”

For the full story, see the Jan. 18 issue of the Barrow Journal.