County repaid for Crater Lake license loan
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, OR
January 07, 2003
By LEE JUILLERAT
Chuck Lundy, Crater Lake National Park’s superintendent, shows off his special park license plate. More than 22,500 of the plates have been sold since late last August.
Popularity of the Crater Lake centennial license plates is proving to be good news for Klamath County.
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Chuck Lundy, Crater Lake National Park’s superintendent, handed over a $156,635.55 check to Klamath County Commissioners this morning, a repayment plus 4 percent interest, for a $150,000 loan from the county that made issuance of the license plates possible.
“We do want to get your new year started in a financially eventful way,” said Lundy while presenting the check.
Last year, the county loaned $150,000 to the National Park Service Foundation, which in turn loaned the money to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Although the Oregon Legislature in 2002 approved a bill creating the license plates, uncertain funding for designing and producing the plates probably would have prevented them from being ready until 2004.
With the help of a loan from Klamath County, the plates were made available during last August’s Centennial celebration at the park.
Lundy said 22,500 of the plates, which feature an image of Wizard Island and the lake, had been sold as of Monday. The sales have generated $450,000.
Profits from the plates will be used to help fund a planned Crater Lake Science and Learning Center. Two of the park’s historic buildings will be converted, one to the center, the other to a dormitory that can house teachers, students and researchers.
Lundy said National Park Service architects are working on engineering plans. The project will be put out for bid late this year with construction expected during the 2004 construction season.
Lundy singled out Commissioner Steve West for playing a pivotal role in lining up support, especially from Sen. Jason Atkinson of Jacksonville. When it appeared the necessary money to design and produce the plates would not be available in time for the centennial, “The county commissioners came to the rescue.”
“Contrary to popular belief,” quipped West, “this was not a second mortgage on the park.”
West said “it took a lot of convincing” to pass legislation allowing the plates and then working with state agencies to have them produced. He also praised Mary Rasmussen, a park employee, for promoting the idea of creating a special license plate.
Crater Lake license plates are available through DMV (Driver & Motor Vehicle Services) offices in Klamath Falls, Lakeview and elsewhere throughout the state. The one-time $20 fee goes to the park to help finance park programs, with the science and learning center the designated project.
Regional Editor Lee Juillerat covers Lake, Siskiyou, Modoc and northern Klamath counties. He can be reached at 885-4421, (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at lee@heraldandnews.com.
Other pages in this section
- Obituary: Marion C. ‘Rib’ Ribble – December 29, 2003
- Crater Lake historic home to be restored – December 10, 2003
- Park officials seek public comments about plan to rehabilitate superintendent’s house – December 01, 2003
- Crater Lake vendor gets serious about recycling – November 12, 2003
- Rim Drive closes at Crater Lake – November 07, 2003
- East Rim at Crater closes for the winter – November 04, 2003
- New composite tour boats airlifted into Crater Lake – October 2003
- Governor appoints former KF woman to state travel council – October 19, 2003
- County claims Crater Lake – October 16, 2003
- Look up – Skies above Crater Lake are clear, too – September 25, 2003
- Friends of Crater to meet Saturday – September 29, 2003
- Norton cancels Crater Lake visit – September 17, 2003
- Researchers delve into lake’s clarity – September 15, 2003
- Sinnott Memorial Overlook: new exhibit provides answers to lake’s geologic history – September 02, 2003
- Participants call Rim Run volunteers the ‘best anywhere’ – September 02, 2003
- Crater Lake boats refloated: builder modifies engines; allows tours to resume – August 25, 2003
- Roadwork proposed near entrance of Crater Lake – August 20, 2003
- Geologist honored for Crater Lake work – August 19, 2003
- Project aims to keep Crater Lake black bears wild – August 18, 2003
- Lindgren wins 2nd straight women’s 6.7-mile run; Gregg wins men’s – August 11, 2003
- Klamath Falls native wins marathon – August 11, 2003
- Winners have no trouble with hills at end of race – August 11, 2003
- Boats land in Crater Lake: new boats to start service on Sunday – July 23, 2003
- Geologist receives research award – July 22, 2003
- At Crater Lake even ordinary years are pretty sensational – July 07, 2003
- New fleet for Crater Lake – July 07, 2003
- Rim Drive is open – July 07, 2003
- North entrance ready for travel: road to Crater Lake near Fort Klamath open to travelers – June 07, 2003
- Hartzogs honored – May 29, 2003
- Crater Lake ski patrol earns national honors – May 29, 2003
- Comments sought for Rim Village project – May 25, 2003
- Look at the local top 10 attractions first – May 12, 2003
- Crater Lake back to normal, spectacular self – May 12, 2003
- National Award for Crater Lake Ski Patrol – April 29, 2003
- Fee collection starts Saturday: unpredictable weather opens Crater Lake’s busy season – April 24, 2003
- Volcanic Scenic Byway gets large grant – April 21, 2003
- Local pair to help promote the Volcanic, All American Scenic road – February 03, 2003
