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.
 |
|
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. |
|
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.
Related Crater Lake News Stories
Crater Lake license plates raise
more than money -
January 27, 2004
Crater Lake license plate
available in Oregon
-
August 25, 2002
Long lines expected for new
license plates
-
August 23, 2002
Crater Lake license plate unveiled
- July 31, 2002
New plates would celebrate Crater
Lake -
March 05, 2001
