Tama Co. Conservation Director Curtis Behrens, left, presents his FY25 budget draft to members of the conservation board as well as staff during the board’s monthly meeting held on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Otter Creek Nature Center. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

OTTER CREEK – From native seed and fire equipment to a new skid steer and trailer, Tama Co. Conservation Director Curtis Behrens presented his draft budget for the next fiscal year during the Jan. 3 monthly meeting held at Otter Creek Nature Center.

Many of the “needs” Behrens listed for the 2024-25 include replacing various equipment and making upgrades around the nature center. One of the biggest ticket items he listed was $125,000 for a new skid steer/trailer for forestry work, snow removal, construction, and excavating.

Also included under “needs” was $15,000 for nature center deck railing; $10,000 for fire equipment including packs, clothes, engines, tanks, and tools; $10,000 for retaining wall repair at the nature center; a total of $8,000 for rock for resurfacing both Wolf Creek Trail and various park roads and campsites; $6,000 for native seed for up to 40 acres of native prairie; $6,000 for concrete around the nature center; $2,000 (county match) for an AmeriCorps naturalist intern; $750 for parking posts; $3,000 for two sets of truck tires; and $15,800 for a new mower to replace the oldest model in the conservation fleet.

Behrens also presented a short list of “wants” which included $30,000 for a new roadway exit at Otter Creek Lake & Park; $15,000 for a tow behind seeder for small plantings, food plots; and $2,000 for interpretive signage.

While the board’s feedback was overwhelmingly positive, they did advise Behrens to ask the board of supervisors for a slightly larger overall budget increase “as a starting point” than what he was initially proposing.

Behrens will be presenting his budget to the Tama Co. Board of Supervisors on Monday, Jan. 15.

Alcohol policy

Also during the meeting, the board returned to the issue of updating Otter Creek Nature Center’s alcohol policy which currently allows no alcohol of any kind on the premises.

Behrens told the board he had met recently with Tama Co. Attorney Brent Heeren to discuss the ordinance the county passed in 2005 that prohibits the use, possession, or consumption of alcohol including beer or wine inside the nature center and on the grounds surrounding the building within 300 feet.

Behrens said his conversation with the county attorney “was not productive at all” and the question remains whether or not the supervisors had the authority to make such an ordinance all those years ago and which board can repeal it.

“We aren’t encouraging parties,” Behrens said at one point in regard to possible criticism about adding alcohol to the policy. He also said any money earned from wedding/graduation rentals under the possible new alcohol policy could be used to upgrade the nature center’s basement, making the animal displays, etc. more open to the public.

Ike’s range

During the public comment portion of the meeting, rural Toledo resident Marty McCoy provided comments to the board for roughly 15 minutes regarding the Izaak Walton Shooting Facility located in rural Toledo Township. McCoy lives next door to the range.

McCoy gave “his two cents” about updating rules at the range. He provided an historical perspective as someone who has lived by the facility both before and after the board updated the rules previously.

“I don’t want it closed,” McCoy said at one point before later adding, “but we don’t want to make it any easier than it already is [to use the range].”

He told the board he would prefer a strengthening of the rules if anything; more awareness surrounding the annual training; and adding electricity to the facility.

“You have to show responsibility to use it,” McCoy said while also stating, “The more people we can get to use it, the better off we all are.”

Later in the meeting, an update was provided on Ike’s to the board. 2024 training and rain dates have been set. A padlock with a house key will soon be installed, while users of the facility will access the range with a code rather than a key going forward.

Mobile unit update

The use of Otter Creek’s mobile unit was also discussed. Last month, the board approved allowing Behrens to stay in the unit during the week for up to 12 months rather than commute from his home in Jones County (which he is currently readying to place for sale).

Behrens told the board he had framed around the unit and insulated it for winter at a cost of roughly $1,000. While he has not stayed in it yet, he planned to do so this week.