Du Quoin Lake Assoc. seeks higher bass tourney fee

The $225 the Du Quoin City Lake Association received this year from local bass club fishing tournaments doesn't begin to cover the $1,800 to $3,000 a year the association spends for conservation and stocking efforts at the local lake.

With that said, lake association president Tony Rapp Monday asked the city council to consider doubling the tournament fee from the current $25 to $50. He argues that in a tournament with 25 fishermen that raises their cost only $1 each.

Rapp gave a very detailed overview of the association's work to restock the lake annually and how the association closes off one neck of the lake between April 15 and June 30 to create a bass hatchery using Bassmaster-engineered half-barrels near the surface to raise bass.

Bass clubs pay their $25 fee for a tournament to the city which, in turn, rebates it back to the association. Rapp said the best year in recent memory was 2007 when the association received $425. The city turned down a request two years ago to raise the fee to $100.

Mayor Rex Duncan said the answer may lie not in raising fees, but better enforcing the current $25 fee for tournaments now held. Duncan said doing that is not Rapp's job nor is the lake policed.

Rapp said he lives on the lake, enjoys the eagles that are nesting and raising their young there. He said the association installs hazard markers and burns off old duck blinds.

Du Quoin health and safety officer Ron Darnell--a bass fisherman--took issue with some of the association's work, disagreeing with populating the lake with grass carp and placement of anything that might be a boating hazard. He also said bass clubs' loss rate during a tournament is far less than Rapp's belief that 38% of fish die between being caught and being released. In fact, it is almost non-existent. The council took no action on the fee. Bass fishermen will address the council at the next meeting. Both sides may get together in-between to find another solution like dock registration fees or boat launch fees.

In other action, the council:

• Approved a zoning change for the Bridal Originals property to facilitate construction of the new REA medical clinic. It also approved abandoning the old sewer line on the property and construction of a new line at REA's expense.

• The council approved the appointment of Doug Clark as Du Quoin's new Emergency Services coordinator, filling the vacancy of the retiring Chuck Genesio. The council expressed its appreciation to Mr. Clark for accepting the role.

• The council rescinded the condemnation action on a property at 409 Winters Ave. The council thanked John and Tammy Melvin for purchasing the fire-damaged property and renovating it.

• The street commissioner was asked to consider installing sidewalks in front of St. Paul's Church, located near North Linden and West Perry Street.

• The council received a clean 2012 audit, which reminded the city to be mindful of its pension obligations, which are being fully funded.