By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – A project to improve a Tomahawk campground will receive funding from Lincoln County.
During its meeting at the Lincoln County Service Center in Merrill on Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution authorizing up to $100,000.00 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to be allocated to the City of Tomahawk for the development of campsites at the SARA Park Campground.
Lincoln County received roughly $5.5 million in ARPA funds in 2021 as part of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, the board has voted to designate ARPA dollars to numerous areas, including covering losses at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, improving county roads, implementing electronic timekeeping for county employees and developing parks and campsites.
ARPA funds have also been earmarked for promoting Lincoln County. In April 2023, the board gave the thumbs up to a vision statement and branding with the goal of boosting tourism. The following month, the board voted to earmark $500,000.00 in ARPA funds to be used for marketing the county.
A pair of resolutions approved by the board in Dec. 2023 will allow for ARPA funds to be used for further county promotion and to add a chatbot feature to the county’s website to help users navigate the site.
All ARPA funding requests are vetted by the county’s Administrative and Legislative (A&L) Committee against the criteria that the requests create economic growth and generate revenue for the county while not creating base building.
SARA Park Campground
Supervisors in May 2023 approved a resolution setting aside $500,000.00 in ARPA funds for upgrading and marketing campsites in the cities of Tomahawk and Merrill and interested townships. Under the resolution, municipalities are responsible for developing “specific and detailed” proposals funding would be used for.
The City of Tomahawk recently put forth a plan to develop campsites at the SARA Park Campground, located at 900 W. Somo Ave.
The campground currently features ten sites with electric and non-potable water on 2,000 acres of water on the Wisconsin River and Lake Mohawksin, according to the city’s website. The surrounding area includes public restrooms and showers, as well as a public beach, boat landing, playground and baseball diamond. An RV dump station is available at the City Garage at 415 W. Spirit Ave.
According to the resolution given the green light by the board last week, the city’s plan includes two phases. In phase one, electricity and water will be supplied to 20 campsites. Phase two involves the construction of a bathroom and shower facility, as well as additional campsites.
The resolution said the project – including site preparation, gravel, landscaping, electric, water, picnic tables and fire rings – will carry an estimated price tag of $100,000.00.
The board ultimately voted to approve the allocation of up to $100,000.00 to the City of Tomahawk for the project. The city will be required to provide invoices or receipts for related expenditures.
Under the resolution, the City of Tomahawk “must initiate all expenditures resulting from the ARPA funding by Dec. 1, 2024.”