VOLCANO - After two more electrical outages this month, Mountwood Park officials Monday discussed the possibility of handing over power line maintenance to the power company.
For the past 30 years, power line maintenance and the cost of electrical outages within the park have been the financial responsibility of Mountwood Park because the lines were built by the park when it was established in the 1970s. Mountwood Park Board President Bob Buchanan said electrical problems in recent years have been a tremendous financial burden.
In the past month, the park paid nearly $30,000 to fix an electrical outage from the marina to the sewage treatment plant. A second outage at the campground is in the process of being repaired.
"This has happened to us many times before; the electric goes bad and we are slammed with these major expenses," said Buchanan. "We are getting hammered with these costs."
The board agreed to request Monongahela Power to take over the maintenance of lines from the park's electrical meters to the power company's main service lines.
Buchanan said he called the Public Service Commission and was told the park would need to write a formal letter of request.
"Whether this will happen or not, I think it's worth it to write a letter," said Buchanan.
Board member Dave White suggested inviting a representative of Mon Power to a board meeting to discuss the concerns of the park.
The board Monday discussed the mounting credit card fees incurred when campers use credit cards to pay for seasonal spots.
Wood County Parks Director Jeremy Cross said credit card fees have cost the park up to $1,000 in three summer seasons, and suggested switching to checks and cash only.
Board member Jean Ambrose said campers will expect credit cards to be accepted.
"From a marketing standpoint, being able to use a credit card is a big deal," she said.
Board treasurer Blair Couch suggested charging users a three percent convenience fee for credit card transactions to counterbalance the fees charged by credit card companies.
In other park business:
