BY JOHN REED LEADER EDITOR
KNOX — Calling Bass Lake Beach and Campground “A plague that’s going to hurt us,” Starke County Commissioner Mark Milo on Monday said it was time to give the beach back to the state.
Commissioners stopped short of making that a formal decision, but they did issue orders which could result in the county taking back control of the facility from the company owned by Dana Spiewak, which is contracted to operate the beach by the county.
Commissioners told Highway Superintendent Pete Stanojevic to contact Spiewak Monday night or Tuesday morning, arrange to meet her at the beach, and gain entrance.
If Stanojevic could not gain access, he was ordered to cut bolts and locks on the gates. After gaining entrance, he was to check and make sure bathrooms and other facilities had been winterized and otherwise protected from damage.
“We need to make this place as secure as we can,” Milo said.

A dispute with Spiewak and the Bass Lake Conservancy district came to a head when commissioners received a letter from the conservancy attorneys, demanding Starke County pay for sewer service. That bill is for $9,765.29.
Commissioners contend that Spiewak's contract makes her liable for the bill. The conservancy district says the county owns the campground and thus is responsible for the bill.
That bill has been a matter of contention, and failed negotiations. Commissioners charge the conservancy district should not be charging for sewer service when the facility is closed during the winter.
During Monday’s meeting, there also was discussion that the conservancy district is pushing the issue because it would like to assume control of the beach.
Commissioners also said electricity to the site was shut off because Spiewak’s company owes NIPSCO.
“They owe NIPSCO $3,000. NIPSCO shut them off. This is a plague that’s going to hurt us,” Milo said. He also called the tourist attraction a white elephant.
Spiewak's company is the second to operate the beach for the commissioners. The first company decided not to renew its contract because of the sewer expenses.
“This one’s going because it’s not working,” Milo said, referring to the current operator.
“We need to give it back to the state of Indiana,” he said.
The state gave the property to Starke County for use as a public facility. The county cannot sell the property and, if they fail to operate it as a public site, it must be given back to the state.
Several cases of vandalism and theft have occurred at the beach, and Spiewak told commissioners earlier this year that she incurred extra expense in replacing plumbing fixtures and repairing damaged buildings.