2/1/2007 8:41:00 AM Looking to the future for RFL Alliance wants Rocky Fork Lake area to realize its full potential
A sign off North Shore Drive marks a campground entrance to Highland County’s Rocky Fork Lake State Park. A new alliance of lake-area residents has been established to help plan the future for the state park and surrounding area. (Photo by Gita Balakrishnan)
By GARY ABERNATHY For The Times-Gazette
Ever since the first waters flowed over the dam in 1953, Rocky Fork Lake has battled an identity crisis.
On the one hand, it remains one of the most physically beautiful park resorts in the state of Ohio, offering fishing, boating, camping and picnic vistas unsurpassed in their beauty and accessibility.
On the other hand, the lake region is often regarded as a haven for transients and the target of a criminal element engaging in activities from common theft to illegal drug sales.
Over the years, local residents and public officials have worked to overcome the more unsavory aspects of the lake's reputation, and organizers of a new lake association believe restoring pride in the lake and all it has to offer is an important facet of rejuvenating the lake region.
Dan Cowdrey, president of the new Rocky Fork Community Alliance, says the organization wants to bring various factions under one umbrella and "pull together information for people in the area" on issues that affect their everyday lives, with a goal of deciding how to more efficiently and economically deal with those issues.
The new association has applied for non-profit status and is governed by 12 directors, with 50 to 60 individuals volunteering to serve on various committees, focusing on issues like facilities, adjoining landowner policies, residential areas, cleanliness, and the lake itself.
For example, Cowdrey says insurance rates at the lake are expensive, so the alliance wants to explore ways to reduce those costs. He and Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton say one area of exploration is the installation around the lake of "dry fire hydrants," which essentially would pull water from the lake for fire emergencies, thereby making insurance rates lower.
Cowdrey says residents have discussed the implementation of a lake area library, community center, fire department or sheriff substation.
"How do you do it economically for everyone?" is the kind of question Cowdrey says he hopes the new alliance can help answer.
Earl Hughes, a longtime Hillsboro area businessman and vice president of the alliance, says, "We need to restore the allure of the lake so people want to use it more."
Hughes and others say that among the main problems at the lake are cheap rental properties - often trailers - owned by out-of-town landlords who sometimes pay little attention to the background of the people to whom they rent.
Cowdrey says the alliance wants to provide information to landlords to "help them help themselves" when renting their properties, and the Highland County Sheriff's Office has agreed to allow landlords to use the department for free background checks of prospective renters. Former State Senator Cooper Snyder, a lake resident and member of the alliance, says one of the goals of the new organization is to serve as a focal point to unite what he calls the "fractured interests" at the lake.
"We want to build support for the economic and social value we have at Rocky Fork Lake," says Snyder. "It would be good to get everybody working together with park management."
Snyder recalls that when former Gov. James Rhodes made park development a priority in the 1960s and '70s, the purpose was to "develop economic value for rural Ohio." Snyder says the best state parks in Ohio each have specific defined missions, something Rocky Fork lacks. Snyder says Rocky Fork's purpose should be to develop the lake recreationally and for sportsman use.
Snyder fears that private businesses interested in promoting or sponsoring events at the lake are often thwarted by a state government insistent on receiving part of the revenue, something Snyder says should only happen after events become dependably profitable.
The former senator and businessman believes the state lake restaurant should be reopened, something which is not economically feasible as long as the state insists on receiving a share of sales.
While economic development is a prime goal of lake enthusiasts, dealing with lake area crime and property issues takes up much of the time and resources of county law enforcement.
Sheriff Ron Ward's department frequently deals with criminal activity largely involving transient residents from the cities who rent cheap properties for a short time and are in the area for the sole purpose of stealing property or dealing drugs "like cockroaches trying to hide until the light comes on."
Ward says many property owners need to adopt stricter standards when leasing their homes.
"We need responsible landlords," said the sheriff, who hopes property owners will avail themselves of the background checks he is offering.
Most officials involved with the lake region agree that zoning ordinances would go a long way toward solving many problems, but also recognize the difficulty of passing zoning laws among voters who don't want restrictions on their property rights.
Short of zoning restrictions, Hughes says his association's efforts are targeted at restoring pride among landowners and residents.
"We need to instill pride in the people we have to work with," said Hughes, who points out the fact that people are not as inclined to engage in recreational activities at the lake as they once were, with the growing popularity of indoor activities such as the Internet and expanded television and home entertainment options.
Hughes said the sheriff's department is "doing a wonderful job" policing the lake region, considering its limitations of manpower and funding.
Ward said Paint Township - the dominant township in the lake region - accounts for the largest source of calls to his department among the county's 17 townships.
Ward said the majority of calls to the lake region are in regard to domestic violence issues - which are frequently related to alcohol or drugs - as well as theft and property disputes.
Ward has discussed the possibility of establishing a permanent substation at the lake for his department, but so far does not believe the cost associated with such an endeavor would necessarily result in better patrolling.
"Even if you had the station, you have to have the staffing," said the sheriff, whose department, like most, is faced with budget issues and limited manpower.
Ward has both a professional and personal interest in the well-being of the lake region, since he owns a lakefront home and docks a boat there as well. The sheriff said the lake region continues to grow, which is a two-edged sword.
The average population of the widely defined 125-square-mile lake region is typically around 6,000 to 7,000, making it the largest community in Highland County, even if it's an "unofficial" community.
Ward points out that during the summer, the population often swells to more than 10,000.
Despite ongoing problems with crime, Ward sees improvements in recent years.
"The (new) sewer system has been a big help," said Ward, who also points to the recent development of a new convenience store, Subway shop, pizza shop, movie rental store and Dollar General store on North Shore Drive near North Beach Road.
"Property values are way up, and they keep going up," notes Ward, adding, "Some of the nicest homes in Highland County are at the lake."
Ward calls the lake region "the best resource the county has," and understands the challenges facing permanent residents who want to create a more positive image of the lake.
Heaton thinks the new alliance represents "a positive step forward," a step that could result in issues being solved simply by everyone working together.
All three commissioners have attended alliance meetings, and Heaton believes the organization is on the right track, noting that the latest figures show that Rocky Fork drew more than 800,000 visitors last year.
"We need to do everything we can to get those people to spend more money here and come back more often," said Heaton, who says there is talk of more new businesses locating in the lake region.
Heaton agrees that zoning laws are difficult to pass, but says the day may be coming when residents across the county need to re-evaluate their opposition to zoning laws.
For his part, Cowdrey said the Ohio Department of Natural Resources changed its philosophy in regard to the lake a couple of years ago - a change not necessarily for the better.
Recently, though, ODNR officials seem to be gaining a better understanding of the challenges facing Rocky Fork, and Cowdrey hopes for a more cooperative spirit in the future.
Cowdrey is also trying to focus the attention of Ohio's new governor on Rocky Fork Lake, and says a visit to Highland County to meet with officials regarding the lake is on Ted Strickland's agenda.
"We just want to improve the lake," says Cowdrey. "It has much greater potential than what has been developed."
Gary Abernathy, a former editor of the Hillsboro Press Gazette, is a political consultant and freelance writer contributing stories to The Times-Gazette.
