Throughout 2024 the Akeley City Council advanced multiple park and campground projects, funded several maintenance items, and approved a suite of contracts and grants to support a multi‑year improvement plan.
The council approved park project pay order #2 ($66,654.72) for pavement and concrete work and later settled final payments with LinnCo for trailhead parking‑lot remediation. In May the council approved submitting a Blandin Foundation grant and ultimately accepted $100,000 from Blandin to support the public restroom project; staff and Emcon continued design and permitting work into the fall.
Campground operations were a recurring agenda item. The council approved a $2,000 monthly increase to campground managers Kerri and Eric Eisenlohr’s 2025 contract and adopted a 15% increase in campground rates for the 2026 season (tent, RV and seasonal increases) after reviewing revenue and comparable facilities. The council revoked a special contract for a private seasonal occupant (the Knapper contract) after noncompliance with campsite rules.
Other park actions included purchase approvals for a new golf cart for campground operations, a replacement swim raft, trial camera installation at beach bathrooms, and payment for tree removal and porta‑potties for Paul Bunyan Days. Staff also accepted Shade Tree Grant funds ($80,000) for boulevard and campground plantings and approved a contract with Midwest Wetland Improvements to coordinate the DNR shade tree work.
Zach Thoma (Moore Engineering) and project partners continued grant work related to wastewater resilience and trailhead infrastructure; council authorized preliminary grant submissions for wastewater infrastructure and Small Cities Development Program funds that could support related site work.