Trustees of the Marshall Village Board are in the process of deciding the future of the village-owned Whistle Stop Campground after having a candid discussion at the board’s Tuesday, June 11 meeting.
The conversation has mostly been spurred by the campground’s recent financial underperformance, turning the asset from a revenue generator to a liability for the village.
According to village financials, Whistle Stop ended 2022 with a surplus of $28,273. By the end of the year in 2023, the script had completely flipped to a $17,305 deficit.
A main focus of the discussion on June 11 was the help that the village has contracted to take care of Whistle Stop, Kiefer Management.
During the 2023 season, the village fielded a host of new complaints from campground visitors. Village trustees met with Chet Kiefer of Kiefer Management to discuss what went wrong in 2023 and how to improve at the village board meeting on Feb. 13.
During the discussion that evening, the board and Kiefer tried to get on the same page about complaints regarding cabin conditions, changes to daytime activities offered, problems with Whistle Stop’s swimming pond and other issues.
At the time, both parties expressed frustration towards the situation. Trustees wanted better communication with Kiefer, and the management company seemed to be in search of more clearly defined expectations and protocols.
After current Village President John Schuepbach was reelected to the role in April, he named the subject for future discussion at the end of the board’s May 13 meeting.
Schuepbach played a large role in the first years of Whistle Stop ownership for Marshall after the village purchased the property in October, 2018.
He appeared committed to finding a way to right the ship quickly at the June 11 meeting.
Schuepbach stated he was not happy with the board’s past decision to switch management from Bud Styer & Associates to Kiefer. He questioned whether the current management team was present enough or equipped to run the campground profitably for the village.
Former Village Trustee Andrea Andrews spoke during a public appearance at the June 11 meeting to shed light on the board’s past decision for the change.
She specifically called former campground manager Styer as hard to work with and a bully to staff, citing one of her own children’s experiences while working at Whistle Stop.
“The prior campground management; and I’m going to say his name, Bud Styer, was a bully who intimidated not only little kids but his own staff,” Andrews said.
The former trustee pleaded with the board that if they did choose to change management, that Styer would not be rehired.
Schuepbach later stated that he did not have a desire to bring Styer back, but did float the idea of hiring a new village staff member for the role.
Village Administrator Brandon Bledsoe explained that finding someone willing to take on the role for the price the village is paying Kiefer would not be likely.
“Just my two cents budget-wise, the fee we pay them is $75,000 dollars. there is very close to a 0% chance that you’re going to get an employee in here for that salary plus benefits,” Bledsoe said.
Seemingly at a loss of options, the board decided that their next step would be to meet with Kiefer in hopes of resolving their issues or choosing to terminate the contract.
It should be noted that the village’s 24-month contract with Kiefer does expire on Nov., 1 of this year and will renew for another year upon that date.
The village or Kiefer can terminate the contract, but it must come with a written notice 60-days prior to the expiration date. This means that the clock is ticking for the board to make a decision by August or September.
Bledsoe and staff were instructed by the board to reach out to Kiefer with a certified letter of intent in hopes of bringing a representative into the next meeting for a conversation. Bledsoe mentioned that the management company has been a challenge to get a hold of in recent months.
Regardless of if Kiefer comes to the village’s next board meeting, village trustees will have to make a decision for next seasons’ management soon. All members in attendance seemed committed to finding a solution even if it meant staying with Kiefer, finding new management or even selling the property.
“We had a $44,000 loss last year, and that’s not how you run a business. This board or any board is here to do what’s in the best interest of Marshall. Maybe changing management was in the best interest of Marshall, but what we got is not,” Schuepbach said on June 11.
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