There is good news when it comes to summer activities at Council Grove Lake, although work remains to get the lake operations back to full speed.
US Senator Jerry Moran says Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has signed a hiring freeze exemption, thus setting the stage for a full-time ranger and three seasonal staff positions to be filled. On KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Friday, Moran says the process was admittedly slow in getting to Driscoll — but fast once he had the paperwork in front of him.
Moran is now urging the US Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District, which oversees the lake’s operations, to get the positions filled as soon as possible. That involves official postings through the federal Office of Personnel before interviews and hires can take place. Moran says there is at least one person interested in the ranger position.
Moran has been working with the Corps, Department of Defense, Office of Management and Budget and the White House to get an exemption for Council Grove Lake. Over 500 Council Grove-area residents also signed a petition letter asking President Trump to step in.
Concerns have been prevalent for weeks in and around Council Grove because of the hiring freeze and its impact on the area economy, which has been estimated at $9 million if the lake had to be closed for the full summer season.
Council Grove boutique owner and Council Grove Community Foundation Director Amy Honer says there is hope the positions can be filled quickly and things can get back to normal.
On the other side, though, Honer says not having the lake fully open for the Memorial Day weekend is already having a significant impact for her business and others.
Certain areas of the lake have been either closed or open with severely limited access for a week, and some areas didn’t open at all for the summer season.
KVOE News has reached out to Council Grove Mayor Debi Schwerdtfeger for her perspective.
