CLEARFIELD – At Wednesday’s regular meeting, board members of the Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority mulled over who was responsible for the previous and current financials at the Curwensville Lake and Recreation Area. Bill payment was tabled as a result.
Joan Robinson-McMillen, board member and county commissioner chairwoman, brought the board’s attention to the financial statements. She initially questioned why two electric bills were received from different service providers but later pointed out that the present authority had been billed for the 2007 audit.
“That’s a big one and is prior to the authority’s creation. I will not vote to approve these bills. They are wrong. Who can authorize this bill payment? No one here has the authority (to do so),” she said after reviewing the paperwork.
James Kling, lake authority board member, called the board’s attention to a bill from J.J. Powell, Inc. He said that they were notified the services would be terminated if the bill went unpaid. He said the bill hadn’t been paid since October 2008.
“We’re almost starting in a deficit and being expected to work miracles,” he said.
Nancy Micks, acting chairperson, said the recreation and tourism authority needed to move quickly to resolve the present issues at the lake.
Following a lengthy executive session, she suggested that the executive committee meet immediately and determine the general steps toward doing so. She said that the board’s other committees could become involved at a later stage.
“We must get a grip on the situation at Curwensville Lake,” Micks said, adding that she hoped they could within the next couple weeks.
Charles Giuarino, lake authority board member, expressed that he is interested in working with the CCRTA to complete a smooth transition.
Micks said she had the understanding that a lake authority representative would be meeting with Chairman Wilson Fisher and County Commissioner Mark McCracken to help further the transition process.
Giuarino later asked board members about how to promote the lake and recreation area.
Holly Komonczi, marketing director for the CCRTA, suggested that the lake authority enter a partnership with them. She said that they’d experience a lot of benefits to get them started.
Micks agreed and said the two entities must move forward with the transition.
“We need to identify what each is doing, and then we can identify what more each can do,” she said.